.1st BCT to embark on historic, unique mission
FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- One battalion is already there, 222, the Triple Deuce. More are on the way.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team is headed to Afghanistan as part of President Obama's call for a surge in troops. Officials are calling it not only a historic mission, but a unique one as well.
The 3,500 soldiers will be spread out all over Afghanistan, rather than stationed in one area. Triple Deuce is in Kabul. The 1-71 Cavalry will be South, in Kandahar. The rest of the brigade will be up north.
It's only the second time Fort Drum's commander has seen such a strategy, but it's been successfully used before by an embedded training team known as Task Force Phoenix
"Those embedded training teams in fact, historically have been spread out all over Afghanistan," Fort Drum Commander Major General James Terry said. "So there's actually a lot of precedence for this."
"We're really all doing the same thing and that's building capacity in Afghan National Police more specifically, but also border police and the Army," 1st Brigade Combat Team Commander Col. Bill Burleson added. "I think that's the uniqueness of what we've been asked to do, which is increase the capacity of the host nation's security forces."
It's training that's been going on for years, with success measured by who you ask. Before the Afghan security forces can become self-sustaining and earn trust, there's a lot of work ahead.
"In terms of teaching, coaching, mentoring and training the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police in some places so they can build a capacity," Terry said.
"By doing that, those security forces will gain the trust and confidence of their people," Burleson added.
Many of these soldiers have already been deployed two or three times. For some, it'll be number four. And for a handful, it's a fifth trip.
General Terry says it'll be a great day when the Army officially goes to the proposed plan that allows soldiers two years at home for every year away.
Soldiers say for the last five months or so, they've been learning about the terrain of Afghanistan, as well as the cultural aspects to allow for better partnership
News10Now
The 1st Brigade Combat Team is headed to Afghanistan as part of President Obama's call for a surge in troops. Officials are calling it not only a historic mission, but a unique one as well.
The 3,500 soldiers will be spread out all over Afghanistan, rather than stationed in one area. Triple Deuce is in Kabul. The 1-71 Cavalry will be South, in Kandahar. The rest of the brigade will be up north.
It's only the second time Fort Drum's commander has seen such a strategy, but it's been successfully used before by an embedded training team known as Task Force Phoenix
"Those embedded training teams in fact, historically have been spread out all over Afghanistan," Fort Drum Commander Major General James Terry said. "So there's actually a lot of precedence for this."
"We're really all doing the same thing and that's building capacity in Afghan National Police more specifically, but also border police and the Army," 1st Brigade Combat Team Commander Col. Bill Burleson added. "I think that's the uniqueness of what we've been asked to do, which is increase the capacity of the host nation's security forces."
It's training that's been going on for years, with success measured by who you ask. Before the Afghan security forces can become self-sustaining and earn trust, there's a lot of work ahead.
"In terms of teaching, coaching, mentoring and training the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police in some places so they can build a capacity," Terry said.
"By doing that, those security forces will gain the trust and confidence of their people," Burleson added.
Many of these soldiers have already been deployed two or three times. For some, it'll be number four. And for a handful, it's a fifth trip.
General Terry says it'll be a great day when the Army officially goes to the proposed plan that allows soldiers two years at home for every year away.
Soldiers say for the last five months or so, they've been learning about the terrain of Afghanistan, as well as the cultural aspects to allow for better partnership
News10Now
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