Escorting the ANA to their new home
By: Trooper Corey Pembleton, TF 3-09 Battle Group Recce Sqn
By: Trooper Corey Pembleton, TF 3-09 Battle Group Recce Sqn
Picture this: 131 Afghan National Army trucks of different makes and models, carrying approximately 450 newly trained Afghan soldiers moving 120 km across the country to partner with ISAF troops in the volatile south. This is a battalion of soldiers. To “deliver” this much firepower from one province to another is no Sunday drive - not to mention delivering it with less then 20 Canadian armoured vehicles.
When given the task, we thought that the Task Force 3-09 Reconnaissance Squadron would be escorting 50 vehicles max. When told that it would be over 130 vehicles, most of us laughed, however, it was true! The battalion of ANA had just completed their training and was being escorted to their new Area of Operations. Through river crossings, high-threat ambush sites and a city of nearly one million people, Recce Sqn took the job of escorting them part of the way. If you imagined a10km convoy of Canadians and Afghans then you imagined correctly. From the very beginning, the Sqn planned for every variable - alternate routes, IED and ambush situations, lost vehicles and loss of communications between ISAF vehicles. One thing we didn't plan for was the Afghan Commander having a plan of his own. Within the first hour of meeting with our Afghan National Security Forces’ friends, a partnered plan was created. You would not have thought that it was a new plan, as it was executed as if it had been considered all along. This is the flexibility that makes Recce Sqn such a successful organization.
Was this quick operation successful? Judge for yourself - all vehicles and personnel arrived in their proper drop-off point, all Canadians returned to their respective pieces of tactical infrastructure and all ANA checkpoints throughout the move acknowledged and aided our move, without our needing to ask. We even had time to stop for lunch! This massive road move embodies the ISAF mission itself - ISAF soldiers across the country working together to help the Afghan army move into areas that they are most needed. The Afghan military is growing both in numbers and experience. The great success of this convoy proves that someday, the Afghan government will be able to bring peace to its country.
When given the task, we thought that the Task Force 3-09 Reconnaissance Squadron would be escorting 50 vehicles max. When told that it would be over 130 vehicles, most of us laughed, however, it was true! The battalion of ANA had just completed their training and was being escorted to their new Area of Operations. Through river crossings, high-threat ambush sites and a city of nearly one million people, Recce Sqn took the job of escorting them part of the way. If you imagined a10km convoy of Canadians and Afghans then you imagined correctly. From the very beginning, the Sqn planned for every variable - alternate routes, IED and ambush situations, lost vehicles and loss of communications between ISAF vehicles. One thing we didn't plan for was the Afghan Commander having a plan of his own. Within the first hour of meeting with our Afghan National Security Forces’ friends, a partnered plan was created. You would not have thought that it was a new plan, as it was executed as if it had been considered all along. This is the flexibility that makes Recce Sqn such a successful organization.
Was this quick operation successful? Judge for yourself - all vehicles and personnel arrived in their proper drop-off point, all Canadians returned to their respective pieces of tactical infrastructure and all ANA checkpoints throughout the move acknowledged and aided our move, without our needing to ask. We even had time to stop for lunch! This massive road move embodies the ISAF mission itself - ISAF soldiers across the country working together to help the Afghan army move into areas that they are most needed. The Afghan military is growing both in numbers and experience. The great success of this convoy proves that someday, the Afghan government will be able to bring peace to its country.
ANA vehicles getting ready for the 120km road move.
The end of a 10km ANA and Recce Sqn convoy.
Copyright 2010 Royal Canadian Dragoons, All Rights Reserved
