Week 7 - Commanding Officers Notes

It must be a mark of how long we've been here, but this week the CO and RSM found themselves in Sangin again. The aim of the visit was to broach an agreement between Comd 3/205 Brigade, CO BG(N) (Lt Col J S S O'Sullivan, ex R IRISH), the CO of Kdk 1 and the OMLT OC, Maj Vance Crow to reduce and rationalise patrol bases. The usual round of chai-drinking and gossiping pleasantries with the local dignitaries, whilst seated uncomfortably on the floor cross-legged, preceded any progress towards our goal. Eventually an acceptable resolution appears to have been achieved - but the real work still needs to be done. OMLT 3 have settled in well and made impressive advances in the pursuit of joint operations with C (Ranger) Company, the ANA and what is left of the beleaguered Afghan National Police. It was also good to catch up with Ranger Company and Maj Grahame Shannon. C Coy has been busy extending its reach and influence into the Green Zone around Sangin.  The atmospherics in the area are noticeably improved since last we visited. However, much of this can be attributed to the poppy harvest. Most of the adult population is frantically engaged in scraping opium extract, from the acreage of poppy fields that skirt the town and line the valley, before the sun dries out the lucrative plants.

Midweek, 'Major' Jonathan Toomey accompanied Col Sarwar, the 3/205 Bde S3, to Kandahar for border discussion meetings with the Pakistanis. The meeting exposed the animosity and distrust between Afghans and their southern Asian neighbours. The CO and RSM also spent time in Kandahar en route back from Sangin. The occasion was a chance call on the Afghan Corps Comd by Gen Muhaiyodin to appeal for more vehicles, radios, spares, weapons and....pots and pans! Slowly we are getting used to the eccentric military mind of the Afghan soldier.

 

The Commanding Officer at the Shura

The latter part of the week has seen some frantic military planning for future operations on both the R IRISH and Afghan sides of our desert base. Battle procedure is stymied by having to decipher our own orders from Task Force Helmand, before simplifying them and having them translated into Dari. Next, comes the briefing to the ANA and negotiations over whether they agree that they could, and wish to, play the particular requested role. Next, comes tempering their ambitions with the reality of their equipment and capability limitations. As for conducting mission analysis and an estimate well…..suffice it to say that, it is not easy. The ANA are meant to be taught the US doctrine of Military Decision Making Process (MDMP), but it is overly detailed, complex and labourious for Afghan tastes. For those mentoring the Afghan Brigade Staff, there are 2 fundamental requirements: a sense of humour and the patience of a saint.  I have asked the Quartermaster if he can issue me the latter!

Major Max Walker, Capt Shan Shannahan, 'Major' Jon Toomey and Capt Martin Leach flew this week to cement our planning efforts with the overarching plans of Task Force Helmand HQ in Lashkar Gar. Remote distributed planning with only helicopters as the viable means of transportation is something that we are trying to improve and finesse. Communication and joint understanding is vital, but the constraints on movement and the distance and threat between locations certainly challenge how we would wish to conduct business. That said, we are learning and adapting all the time.

Best wishes to all of our supporters in Tern Hill, Market Drayton, Northern Ireland, the Republic and more broadly. We hope the garden party at Hillsborough was a success, and that the Secretary of State looked after you in fitting style. 

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

 

Sangin Bazaar

 

The RSM on Patrol