02 - 05 Oct 2009
My last tour was with Canada’s Operational Mentor & Liaison Team (OMLT). We were attached to 1st Brigade, 205 Corps of the Afghan National Army.
Our team was sent to a remote Strong Point a few kilometres away from FOB Ramrod. It was called Strong Point Pegasus, and despite an illustrious name it was anything but strong. It was a small outpost set amongst the ruins of an old brick foundry or bakery (we never did get confirmation)which was located at the base of a very large hill with terrible visibility on 3 of 4 sides, with a perimeter fence that barely met the defining criteria. A sorry and vulnerable setup if there ever was one.
The first night there we were told by the team we would be replacing that they would take sentry duty since we were still adjusting from the travel, to the time change, and intense heat. We went to bed after a quick supper but due to all the aforementioned issues we were restless and woke in the early hours of the morning. As we slipped quietly from our air conditioned sea container accommodations (ISO’s) and went outside to make coffee and watch the sun rise, we found no sentries. The team we’d trusted to stand watch had all gone to sleep. Not a soul, other than us, was awake; not even the ANA. Had some Taliban decided that night to slip into the camp and attack they’d have met no resistance and would have likely inflicted a large number of causalities. We were unimpressed to say the least.
The revelation that we had been left incredibly exposed overnight led to a much more thorough investigation of the strong point the next day. We found that the 50 calibre machine gun in the observation tower had essentially seized from lack of maintenance, the gun trucks (Rg 31’s) all had major mechanical and maintenance and the communication gear was barely functional. It was a sorry state of affairs…and that is probably being a bit to generous.
Thankfully we didn’t have to deal with the loafers for long, an RCAF Chinook came to pick them up about 3 days after we arrived. They didn’t need to ask for help to get their kit onto the helicopter, we were happy to help and get them on their way.
The next several entries will be from my time in SP Pegasus.
02 Oct 2009
Had a convoy to escort today from Hatal towards Helmand. We had vehicle problems so the ANA started off without us. We got going eventually and moved to an RV then joined up as they passed. It total we escorted them maybe 3km max. After that we had lunch and lazed around for a while until a suicide bomber went off in Hatal about 15 min away. Two American soldiers and one interpreter died in the blast which was apparently pretty large. We went with our ANA to help with security and show that the ANA are involved with policing the area and it’s not just a coalition show. Apparently it went well, but I was stuck in my truck behind the gun so I didn’t see anything. The Capt saw the blast site and said it was pretty bad, I can imagine. No sure what’s on the go tomorrow, probably more of the same. Saw an ANA guy with a rotten tooth and infection this evening. I started him on antibiotics but the tooth needs to come out. I sent an email to the American Doc about doing the extraction. I don’t want to have to take a convoy to Wilson for just that reason, it’s just to dangerous on the roads. Oh well, we will see.
05 Oct 2009
Past couple of days haven’t been too exciting. We went to Ramrod for groceries on 03 Oct and got some more medical supplies. Yesterday the ANA went to FOB Wilson and Capt Henderson and Cpl Clewlow went with some Americans to search a compound with one ANA guy. They were looking for a wounded insurgent but didn’t find anything. Today we had the CO come out along with the RSM and OC. They brought out more groceries and supplies which allowed me to fully stock both med bags. I am very happy with my kit and med stores. This afternoon we went out and did a patrol through a village with an American Platoon/Coy of Strikers. They were terrible. They bunched up making a perfect target the entire time. Then a car made it through the outer cordon and I almost shot it along with the WO/Trev. The Capt was nearly bitten by a really mangey dog and I nearly shot that as well. It wasn’t a good patrol in my opinion. To top it all off the Yanks found some old Korans and kicked them in front of the ANA and our terps. They weren’t impressed to say the least. The Americans have the gear and keep us stocked but they’re dangerous and I hope they don’t get us killed.