Week 16 - Commanding Officers Notes

It was with a great deal of relief that we welcomed OMLT 2 and Kandak 2 back safely to Shorabak after their 3.5 month deployment in the Musa Qaleh Area of Operations. The boys arrived on the evening of Rangers' Day after a 14 hour desert trek without incident. Major David Kenny and his entire team are to be congratulated on an excellent and really disciplined fight in Musa Qaleh over an extended and tough period. OMLT 2, in partnership with Kandak 2, tamed the fairly wild and threatening town and its surrounds. Through their efforts they have extended Afghan governance and security more broadly and deeply than ever before. The local nationals now welcome the presence of the ANA and have the confidence to reject the Taleban. Major David Middleton and his OMLT 1 team have taken up the reins in Musa Qaleh and have begun to familiarise themselves with the people, the villages and the challenges. 

I, and the BG HQ team, spent much of the middle part of the week shoring up support for our endeavours with the various chains of command that sit above the OMLT BG. This involved briefings to the 3 principle organisations that influence how we conduct operations. All of the HQs above the Afghan 3/205 Bde sit in Kandahar. Amongst others who received briefings were the 205 Corps Comd (Afghan), the Regional Corps Advisory Command (American), the Deputy Commander Regional Command (South) (Dutch), the RC (S) DCOS Security Sector Reform (Australian) and the Afghan Regional Security Integrated Commander (South) (American). In theory, our endeavours should now be better understood and supported.

The fight to the west of Lashkar Gah became more intense this week. Foreign enemy combatants displaced from Garmsir have reinforced the ugly nexus of resident Taleban and narco-warlords in the fertile opium latticework of Marjah. The enemy have been systematically attacking and destroying police checkpoints. As a result, the ANA and our OMLT have been ordered in to try and interdict the enemy and provide a security framework for the police. This has not been easy. Twice the enemy has sprung organised and protracted RPG, indirect fire and small arms ambushes against us – twice the OMLT have fought through and come out on top. The situation remains extremely precarious.

Finally, a word of acknowledgement to wish all those well who gathered to celebrate and mark the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Irish Rangers. A number of old Rangers out here thought of you and would have raised a glass of something suitable, had circumstances permitted. We'll put it in the diary for 2018. Faugh a Ballagh!                  

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