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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Feb 21, 2012 - 6:01:21 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| U.S. Army Pfc. Zachary Hayes Bolin, a combat medic, assigned to C Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, dresses the wounded hand of an Afghan National Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal Soldier, who was injured when an improvised explosive device exploded during an operation in the Panjwa’i District, Dec. 29, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Nazly Confesor, 319th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) |
PAN KALAY, Afghanistan - As improvised explosive devices remain the weapon of choice for insurgents, U.S. forces and the Afghan National Army (ANA) continue to fight against the threat of IEDs, caches and home-made explosive compounds.
In the Panjwa’i district of southern Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Soldiers from C Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division from Fort Wainwright, Alaska are doing their part in providing security as the ANA along with the Afghan Explosive Ordinance Disposal team lead the way in planning, organizing and executing IED clearance operations.
Recently, the ANA 1st Brigade, 205th Hero Corps successfully took the lead in searching the village of Pan Kalay to disrupt future insurgent attacks and activities.
Operation Creature Pan Kalay was one of the many operations marking the beginning of a transition phase, where Afghan National Security Forces are taking the lead in independent operations.
As U.S. forces plan to drawdown in 2014, ANSF have been working together to bring stability and security to the region.
“A few months ago, U.S. forces planned and executed missions, while the ANA supported us,” said U.S. Army Capt. Jeremiah Sasala, platoon leader assigned to C Company, 3-21 Inf.” Now, the ANA is coordinating its own missions. We provide security and support.”
Sasala’s platoon along with 1-5 Inf. and Airmen from the U.S. Air Force 466th Air Expeditionary Squadron Explosive Ordinance Disposal team provided support, resources and guidance during the 3-day operation.
On the second day of the operation, the ANA EOD technicians along with Air Force EOD technicians started the mission first as their counterparts and U.S. forces provided security.
During the clearing, they found seventy-five pounds of HME before striking an IED at the gate of a home-made explosive facility. The explosion injured three ANA EOD technicians and one U.S. Air Force EOD technician.
The ANA provided security as U.S. forces provided medical treatment to the wounded. Meanwhile, Air Force EOD technicians eliminated the remaining IEDs by controlled detonation.
U.S. Army Spc. Zachary H. Bolin, a combat medic with 3-21 Inf. said he has seen a shift in attitudes with their ANA counterparts in the past few weeks.
“The ANA has become more confident ever since they started operating on their own,” he said.
The mission resulted in the confiscation of 400 pounds of HME, IED making material, 1,150 pounds of marijuana seeds, numerous caches and 11, 560 lbs of Hashish.
Overall, Operation Creature Pan Kalay was successful in removing dangerous IED’s from the battlefield and delivered a blow to the insurgent financing from hashish and marijuana seeds to fund their insurgency.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| An Afghan National Army Solider provides security during an Afghan-led operation in the village of Pan Kalay in Southern Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Recently, the Afghan National Security Forces have been planning and executing their own independent operations. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Nazly Confesor, 319th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) |
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