CAMP BLACKHORSE, Afghanistan -- It has been over a month since a First Army Division West task force arrived in the mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan.
Capt. Sean Scarcliff, 2nd Armor Battalion, 358th Regiment, 189th Infantry Brigade, said the Task Force Soldiers have settled in and are quickly finding ways to contribute to the effectiveness of their coalition and Afghan partners.
"Morale is high," Scarcliff said. "The food is good, living conditions are good, and the mountain views are awesome."
Soon after successfully relieving their predecessors and assuming their roles working with the Afghan National Army, the Task Force Grizzly Soldiers participated in the validation of an Afghan Infantry Kandak (Battalion).
"The validation process was the culminating training event before they were sent to their duty stations to join the fight," Scarcliff said. "It took three days and was similar to what U.S. Soldiers might experience at the National Training Center."
The biggest challenge the Task Force has encountered thus far is in dealing with cultural differences, according to Lt. Col. Audley Williams, commander, 2nd Armor Battalion, 358th Regiment, 189th Infantry Brigade.
"(The Afghan Soldiers) are a pleasure to work with and appear eager and willing to learn anything and everything we can teach them," Williams said.
In the time Task Force Grizzly has been at Camp Blackhorse, some members of the team have found ways to make contributions not only to the training, but to the camp itself.
One of the most evident contributions is the establishment of the fire department on the camp.
Although there was already equipment, "when Task Force Grizzly arrived at Camp Blackhorse there was no fire department in existence," Williams said.
Three members of Task Force Grizzly -- Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Greenwell, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Harper, and Capt. Sean Scarcliff -- have had training in Fire Safety or have volunteered at fire stations in their hometowns.
The three Soldiers saw a need and, within 48 hours, had the main fire truck operational, the water pump working, and the secondary small fire truck's pump fixed.
Greenwell, Harper and Scarcliff cleaned up the fire station, constructed some basic storage facilities for the equipment on hand, identified equipment shortfalls and set out to requisition the necessary missing equipment.
Following two days of hard work, Camp Blackhorse had a functioning fire department.
Greenwell has taken on responsibility of fire chief, while Scarcliff and a member of the Canadian Army serve as the firefighter captains.
"Since their initiative to restart the fire department began, it has attracted more and more attention, and the list of volunteers is rapidly growing," Williams said. "Camp Blackhorse is lucky to have them."
Related Links:
Like Division West on Facebook
See Division West photos on Flickr
Social Sharing