Operation Mesmar

Canadian Forces 3rd KANDAK 1/205 Corps and the U.S. Army Charlie Company 2508 Task Force Furry worked together mentoring the 3-1/205 Afghan National Army for a successful execution of operation Mesmar, Feb. 5, 2010, Southern Afghanistan.

The mission objective was to clear several villages, and fruit orchards in the southern most half of Terot Kulacha in search of Improvised Explosive Devices, weapons caches and illegal drugs.

Thick mud and wretched weather was an obstacle for each team, but as the clouds lifted and medical evacuation crews were able to return to standby status, the dismounted patrol, led by the ANA kicked off.

"My team, along with the Coalition forces and the ANA conduct missions such as these quite often," said 1st Lt. Matt Jarmon, U.S. Army, Charlie Company 2508, Task Force Furry commanding officer. "We patrol this region and are responsible for finding and clearing any IED's, weapons caches, or illegal drugs the Taliban may have hidden."

Canadian Forces members take a second to discuss tactics before moving forward.

Upon entering each village, both mentoring forces stood by as members of the ANA found the village leader and explained what was taking place.

"It's important that we only mentor the ANA and let them learn as we conduct each of these missions," said 2nd Lt. Bryan Riddle, Canadian Forces, 3rd KANDAK 1st Brigade 205 Corps mentor company detachment commander.

"It's a challenge for us to pull back and not just do it ourselves, but it's something we have to do as mentors to the ANA to help them learn and be able to eventually conduct operations, such as this on their own."

Expressions of happiness and excitement appeared on the faces of children and teenagers as ANA, U.S. and Coalition forces members patrolled through each village. Members from each team took time to stop and talk to the children which further indulged their laughter and happiness of the presence of the soldiers.

Canadian Forces Master Cpl. Dan King, company quarter master, pulls rear security

The presence of the ANA, U.S. and Collation forces patrolling through villages seems to have given village member's a sense of security.

According to U.S. Forces intelligence, several families who had moved to other villages have slowly begun to return to their original village in Terot Kulacha, where the Taliban was once thriving but has since been driven away by ANA, U.S. and Coalition forces.

"We are happy to have the ANA in our village," said Mohammad Dude, an Afghan teenager, and resident of Terot Kulacha. "When the ANA is around the Taliban stays further away."

After numerous hours of clearing rooms, only a bag of marijuana was found. Each unit regrouped and prepared for the long trek back to camp.

The Mesmar operation and others like it have contributed to U.S. and Coalition efforts in mentoring the ANA to learn and apply different techniques so they can eventually become a strong independent Army.

"The residents of each village were happy with our operations today" said Ghlimriz Khivery, 3-1/205 ANA, First Sergeant. "The ANA has become more organized over time thanks to the help of our mentors. The process has been slow, but we get better with each mission."

Afghan National Army, talks with a village resident during a dismounted patrol

Story by: Senior Airman Kenny Holston
205th Coalition Mentor Team Public Affairs
Forward Operating Base Lindsey, Kandahar Afghanistan