KABUL, Afghanistan -- The 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment has stayed busy this year conducting simultaneous operations in five separate Regional Commands (RC) in Afghanistan: RC-Capital, RC-East, RC-North, RC-South, and RC-West. These missions consist of requirements to provide security forces (SECFOR) to a host of organizations that require security in order to conduct their own assigned missions.
Regardless of the requirement, the Paratroopers of "Task Force 2-Fury," as the battalion has come to be known, maintain the quintessential attributes of the Airborne: flexibility, adaptability, and lethality.
Deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XIV, the Paratroopers of Task Force 2-Fury find themselves in an environment that has changed dramatically. The changes are significant even when compared to experiences during the battalion's previous deployment a little more than a year ago. Afghan National Security Forces are firmly in the lead of their own security, while Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines work hard to teach, coach, and mentor their Afghan partners
"This deployment for OEF XIV differs greatly from our last deployment in OEF XII in regards to the amount that our Paratroopers are influencing," said 1st Sgt. Nick Barnes, the senior noncommissioned officer of Company A, 2-508th PIR. "Last deployment found our platoon's fully partnered with our ANSF counterparts, conducting daily dismounted patrols that had a great effect on villages within the Zharay district. This deployment has seen the transition to ANSF leading the way and the 82nd Airborne Division helping enablers train the ANSF at a strategic level."
"Our Paratroopers are securing general officers, field grade officers and senior noncommissioned officers as they set Afghanistan up for success: logistically, administratively and in regards to security," said Barnes. "What our Paratroopers are doing now is affecting the entire country of Afghanistan and will affect it for years to come."
Although the Coalition Forces that have the role of mentoring ANSF are well-equipped to accomplish that mission, they are often not fully prepared to provide their own security while doing so. That becomes the role of Task Force 2-Fury.
Paratroopers from 2-508 PIR trained hard prior to their deployment in order to ensure they could provide secure transportation in armored tactical and non-tactical vehicles and conduct security oversight during the ANSF training events: a role currently referred to as "Guardian Angel." They do it all without interrupting the coalition trainers and mentors while they conduct their duties.
"Our Paratroopers are uniquely qualified to conduct SECFOR in that they are experienced at operating in small groups with little specific guidance beyond a known intent and end-state," said Lt. Col. Andrew Zieseniss, the 2-508 PIR commander. "Also, partially a result of the many, and diverse, deployments that the Paratroopers have experienced, they have a good understanding for how a seemingly benign situation can rapidly transition from peaceful to violent."
"The Task Force 2-Fury Paratroopers thrive on opportunities to exercise individual initiative and leadership, and operating in small teams while supporting their civilian and military counterparts of all branches allows them to do just that," Zieseniss said.
Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Kelly, the senior NCO of the deployed battalion, agreed, "Our men are well-versed at taking initiative in the event the situation doesn't turn out exactly as briefed and can react rapidly to an evolving situation."
"When the situation requires an escalation of force, supported elements recognize that their 2Fury "Guardian Angels" are prepared to do just that," Kelly said.
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