PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Maj. Jerry Wood, 3rd Cavalry Regiment's chief of Operations and Lawton, Oklahoma native, lead a tour of the regimental tactical operating command on Forward Operating Base Lightning to Afghan National Army's 203rd Corps operations officers Col. Said Ahmad and Col. Zek Mail Sept. 2, 2014.
In preparation for retrograde out of Afghanistan, U.S. forces are leaving behind infrastructure for Afghan National Security Forces. Wood orchestrated a TOC indirect fire drill for the Afghan officers, so they could see how the U.S. uses some of its assets.
Spc. Hannah Garvey, 3rd Cav. Regt. air-space coordinator, helped prep the TOC for the Afghan visitors.
"Adapting to life without us will be difficult for them, but I believe they are going to be successful," said the Groton, Connecticut native.
As members of the TOC donned protective equipment, Wood explained the procedures taken by the 3rd Cav. Regt. in case of an actual attack to their Afghan counterparts. The 3rd Cav. troopers in the TOC assessed the situation, identified the notional enemy combatants and took the necessary steps required to return fire.
"They are further ahead than I thought they would be," said Wood. "They were asking all the right questions primarily about air-to-ground coordination."
When asked about the use of the facility Wood stated, "I hear the ANA's 203rd Corps has a pretty nice set-up they will probably put one of their Brigade TOCs in this location."
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