ARLINGTON, Va. - As operations in Afghanistan ramp up, the Soldiers of the Illinois Army National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team continue to excel in their mission of training and mentoring members of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, a senior Army official said Feb. 15.
Army Maj. Gen. Richard P. Formica, commander of the Combined Security Transition Team in Afghanistan, said in a video teleconference with Illinois family members that the BCT's successes are part of the overall strategy in Afghanistan.
"It's not just about clearing and fighting," said Formica. "It's also about developing good governance, and it's about development—social and economic development and the rule of law."
The 33rd IBCT, which falls under the Combined Security Transition Team, deployed to Afghanistan in December and has several Embedded Training Teams that work directly with both Afghan army and police units.
For these teams, building social and economic frameworks starts with building trust.
"The most basic element of trust is established soldier to soldier, unit to unit," said Formica. "Our Army National Guard Soldiers live out in remote (forward operating bases). They're living with these soldiers and policemen; they're fighting (alongside) them. They train with them and share hardships with them, and there is a tremendous amount of trust that is built up in both directions."
And that can lead to providing a capable security force, said Formica, who added that is one of the roads to a stable infrastructure.
But that trust is also built in other ways. "When the medics from the 33rd IBCT go out with their Afghan medical partners and establish a little clinic and see local villagers and treat cuts, colds and sore fingers, that goes a whole long way to build trust one village at a time."
And the Soldiers of the brigade bring something else that can help them with building trust.
"They bring two professional characteristics to this fight," said Formica. "First, they are well-trained Soldiers. But they also bring, as Citizen-Soldiers, civilian occupational skills and experience.
"Many are in the medical field or law enforcement and work in various aspects of our society back home, and those skills are pretty relevant over here."
But the ultimate success of social and economic development is dependent upon local authorities' willingness to take the lead, said Formica.
"We push for and have encouraged the Afghan national security forces to take the lead in operations, and we are precise and deliberate in the operations we do," said Formica. "It's imperative that we build a true partnership with the Ministry of Defense and the Afghan National Army and the Ministry of the Interior and the Afghan National Police."
And that willingness to take the lead has already been seen during a recent Taliban attack in Kabul when Afghan army and police responded.
"I'm not just saying this as the guy who is responsible for building the Afghan national security forces, but it was clear to us that the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police responded quickly and responded effectively," said Formica. "This incident occurred, they responded and they responded on the local level. Only two of 10 suicide bombers actually detonated."
After the initial attack several firefights ensued, said Formica, who added that within a few hours security was restored to the area through the efforts of Afghan army and police units.
That is an example of the challenges faced by the unit. "Our challenge is to build sustainable capacity. It's not just to provide equipment or to train but to establish systems … with the end state being (a stable sustainable society)."
But that may take some time, especially when it comes to things like educational systems.
"It's going to take some time to develop those programs," said Col. Scott Thoele, commander of the 33rd IBCT, who added that many programs may require a cultural shift in perspective, such as retooling schools to allow girls to attend.
But that is only a small part. "The ability to build roads, provide clean water and electricity to the people will go a long way to developing this country," said Thoele.
Although it may take time, Thoele said he is confident of success. "It's slow but steady progress, but we will be successful in our mission," he said.