Marines attached to Afghan National Army Training Det. return from Kandahar deployment
Marine Corps News
Release Date: 4/19/2004
Story by Army Capt James S. Dorlon
POLE-E CHARKHI, Afghanistan (April 15, 2004) -- The Marines of the Afghanistan National Army Training Detachment have concluded nearly 2 months of combat operations with the Commando Battalion, Quick Reaction Force Brigade, Afghanistan National Army, in southern Afghanistan.
The 14 Marines of the detachment deployed from various Training and Education Command billets throughout the United States, 5 months ago. Together with the Commando Battalion, they deployed to the region around Kandahar from Feb. 13 to April 3 and conducted operations with 10th Mountain Division, and Special Forces teams.
Over the course of 52 days, the Marine combat advisors and the Afghan Commando Battalion participated in the end of Operation Mountain Blizzard and the beginning of Operation Mountain Storm. During these two operations Marines and Commandos conducted 51 combat patrols, cordon and searched 29 villages, did 12 heliborne assaults and numerous presence patrols and vehicle checkpoints. In several engagements they killed numerous enemy combatants and recovered caches with 839 rockets, 1528 mortar rounds, 1606 RPG rounds, 61 mines and several hundred thousand rounds of machine gun ammunition. They confiscated 94 AK's, 9 RPG-7's, 4 heavy machine guns, 4 recoilless rifles and 3 mortars.
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Mike Hagee congratulated the Marines and the Commando Battalion on their outstanding performance and the positive impact they had on the region, during his visit to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
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