Combat Studies Institute Press US Army Combined Arms Center Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

VANGUARD OF VALOR Volume II

General Editor Donald P. Wright, Ph. D.

Small Unit Actions in Afghanistan

Vanguard of Valor Volume II

Small Unit Actions in Afghanistan

General Editor Donald P. Wright, Ph. D.

Afghan Study Team Authors Anthony E. Carlson, Ph. D.

Michael J. Doidge Scott J. Gaitley

Kevin M. Hymel Matt M. Matthews

Ryan D. Wadle, Ph. D.

Editing and Layout Terry D. England Carl W. Fischer Deborah J. Seed

Graphics Robin D. Kern

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Vanguard of Valor II : Small Unit Actions in Afghanistan / general editor, Donald P. Wright ; Afghan Study Team, Anthony E. Carlson … [et al.]. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Afghan War, 2001—Campaigns. 2. Counterinsurgency–Afghanistan. 3. United States. Army–History–Afghan War, 2001- 4. Afghanistan– History, Military–21st century. I. Wright, Donald P., 1964- II. Carlson, Anthony E. DS371.412.V362 2012 958.104’742–dc23 2012014877

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Foreword

Beginning in 2009, the United States and many of its NATO-ISAF partners dramatically raised their levels of effort in Afghanistan. The “Afghan Surge,” as it came to be known, was most evident in the number of additional US and allied troops that arrived in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010. Their mission was clear: To reverse the Taliban’s momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government, and to strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan’s security forces and government so that they could assume lead responsibility for their nation’s future.

For US Army units, the ways of creating stability and furthering the reach of the Afghan Government took several forms. First and foremost, US Soldiers executed complex and difficult offensive operations to seize territory that had often been held by insurgents for years. These combat actions were often complemented by civic action projects that were carried out together with US diplomats and development specialists. Additionally, US Soldiers formed close partnerships with Afghan Army and Police units to accelerate the growth of the Afghan security forces’ capabilities.

At the heart of all of these efforts were the men and women who served in front line units during what has become longest war in our Nation’s history. In my time as the senior US commander in Afghanistan and as US Ambassador to that country, I recognized that the success of the campaign depended greatly on the skill, valor, and grit of our Army Soldiers. This was true especially of the sergeants, lieutenants, and captains who make critical decisions under stressful