FORWARD OPERATING BASE PASAB, Afghanistan -- Leaders from Combined Task Force Spartan hosted a conference here Aug. 11, named "Hamkari V," to discuss with the Kandahar deputy provincial governor and the commander of International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command South, the previous six months of operations in the area, as well as plan for the way ahead.
Deputy Kandahar Provincial Governor Qaderi and Maj. Gen. James L. Terry, commander of RC South and 10th Mountain Division (LI), attended the four-hour meeting, hosted by Col. Patrick Frank, CTF Spartan commander.
The meeting also was attended by the Zharay and Maiwand district governors and their chiefs of police and the 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan Army Corps commander.
The meeting started with a current security assessment of Zharay and Maiwand districts. Frank then highlighted several operations and mission accomplishments, including:
* Construction of Combat Outposts Shia Choy and Nalgham in central Zharay District;
* Completion of 20 joint air assaults by Spartan Soldiers and their Afghan Army counterparts;
* Seizure of more than $380,000 of illegal narcotics from the two districts; and
* Removal of more than $6.5 million in insurgent threat financing.
Emphasizing that the districts "have a pulse," Frank proceeded to brief the deputy governor and RC South commander about the Spartan Brigade's way ahead. Using a concept of three central themes for the next six months, Frank laid out a plan with three distinct goals.
The first theme, "to the river," is an ongoing plan to continue pushing insurgents and strongpoints south to the Arghandab River. Once insurgents are cleared from southern Zharay District, the brigade plans to build a wall that would solidify its efforts to secure the people of the district.
Following the "to the river" theme, Frank then briefed the next phase -- "to the core." Beginning in early September, this phase emphasizes reintegration of insurgents back into their villages and communities, as well as increasing recruitment of Afghan civilians into the Afghan Local Police program, an Afghan Ministry of Interior-run program that places security in the hands of villagers where there is little to no established Afghan security forces presence.
Finally, the last phase briefed to the audience was the "to the summit" phase, which will begin in November and continue through December. This final phase includes alternate crop harvest for local farmers and landowners, improvements along Highway 1 and developing the Afghan National Security Forces.
More than 150 people attended the "Hamkari V" event, and each of the Spartan battalions was partnered with their "shona" Afghan Army kandak commanders.
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