Week 17 - Commanding Officers Notes

OMLT 1, under Maj David Middleton, is now well established in Musa Qaleh. They have already had some success against the enemy. In Sangin, OMLT 3/Kdk 3 under Capt Duggan have been working hard exploiting local intelligence to conduct a number of successful search and arrest operations. The haul of bomb-making equipment and ammunition removes an important lethal capability from the enemy. In Gereshk, the relatively new Counter Narcotics, or 5th Infantry Kandak, has taken over from the CS Kdk, although elements of the CS OMLT remain to reinforce the US Embedded Training Team, that provide limited mentor support to the 5(CN) Kdk. One of our CS mentor vehicles hit a landmine yesterday. Thankfully, the 2 soldiers sustained relatively minor injuries – a broken ankle and crushed vertebrae. OMLT 4 have had a busy week patrolling Marjah and suffered a grim reminder of the callous and evil ways of the Taleban. Yesterday, the Taleban used 2 children to carry and detonate a suicide bomb to the patrol base in Marjah. Sadly, 2 ANA soldiers died and a number were injured.

 

The MPs arriving at Camp Shorabak

This week we hosted a batch of MPs from the House of Commons Select Committee on Defence. A number of them were particularly well informed and engaged in useful debate about operations, progress and the future of Afghanistan: James Arbuthnot MP, Adam Holloway MP and Bernard Jenkin MP. It was also a pleasure to welcome and brief Lt Col Dougie Chalmers (late R IRISH), now CO 2 PWRR, who will be taking over in the south of the Province and working closely with the OMLT BG and ANA. His return inspired the thought that with Joe O'Sullivan commanding BG(N), we would have 3 commissioned Royal Irish Rangers in command of Battlegroups in Helmand. That alone should give the Taleban pause for thought!

The BG COS, Maj Max Walker accompanied Gen Muhaiyodin to Kandahar for a midweek series of meetings to plan how security for Highway 1 would be re-apportioned between the police and the ANA in Helmand Province. The meetings exposed the rivalry and lack of trust that needs to be overcome even at a high level between the 2 main security forces. Progress here is happening – but slower than we would wish.  On Saturday, I flew down to Lashkar Gah with Comd 3/205 Bde for meetings with Governor Mangal, General Andiwal (the Police Chief), Satar Khan (the Dep Gov) and Dr Naim, the Director of the NDS (National Directorate of Security). It was important for us to laydown the priority of commitments against current threats and ensure the Governor understood future ANA plans and moves.  This followed a useful aerial recce of the south of the Province.

E B M FREELY
Lieutenant Colonel
Commanding Officer
1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

R IRISH Afghan Command Hat-Trick

 Lt Col Doug Chalmers          Lt Col Ed Freely          Lt Col Joe O'Sullivan

Op HERRICK 8 has seen the remarkable reunion of 3 Officers commissioned in the mid 1980s into the Royal Irish. All are now Commanding Battle Groups in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Lt Col Ed Freely is Commanding Officer 1 R IRISH, the Operational Mentor Liaison Team Battle Group. Lt Col Joe O'Sullivan is Commanding Officer 2 PARA, Battlegroup North. They have been joined in 16 Air Assault Brigade by the arrival of Lt Col Doug Chalmers from Cyprus, Commanding Officer 2 PWRR, who is commanding Battle Group South in the Garmsir area.