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Marines make first extended stay in Zaranj, talk security, development

US Marine Corps News

9/17/2011
By Cpl. Katherine Keleher, II MEF (FWD)

ZARANJ, Afghanistan -- For the first time since Marines assumed the operational lead of the NATO mission in Helmand and Nimroz provinces, a group of Marines spent an extended stay in Zaranj, the capital of the remote Nimroz province along the Iranian border.

As with previous trips to Zaranj, which is located in the extreme southwestern part of Afghanistan, the Marines came to mentor Afghan National Security Forces leaders.
However, the longer stay meant the Marines had to take extra efforts in security measures.

“We are a mile and a half from the Iranian border,” said Gunnery. Sgt. Philip M. Collins, operations chief for Regional Command Southwest’s Afghan National Security Forces Development section and a native of Chicago. “We are far away from any of our coalition partners.”

Being relatively far from home meant the Marines needed to be ready to provide their own security and take care of themselves. The Marines took turns in providing 24-hour around-the-clock security watches, working alongside an Afghan force, which also beefed up its security effort to help ensure the visit went smoothly.

During the expedition the Marines focused on emphasizing the need for different branches of local security forces to come together to solve the province’s problems, and also discussed ways to improve life for the people in Nimroz.

Several leaders from local branches of the ANSF were present for the meetings, placing an emphasis on uniting and working together.

“Each branch works well within their vacuum doing their own thing,” said Col. Michael J. Gann, operations officer for RC(SW)’s ANSF Development section and native of Wichita, Kan. “Our goal is to bring them together because as one they are stronger [and] it is critical to the security of Nimroz province.”

Afghan leaders also brought concerns about the area so that they can more effectively do their jobs and help their people.

“We have a lot of problems here at OCCP [Operational Coordination Center Provincial Nimroz], but we are hopeful that if we work together under the guidance of Colonel Gann, that OCCP Nimroz can be successful,” said Afghan National Army Col. Khalilullah Jadid, the OCCP commanding officer.

At the OCCP, the Marines took notice of several broken down trucks. Though the OCCP has a mechanic to help fix the problems, he said he lacks the tools and equipment to provide maintenance to the vehicles. Afghan leaders mentioned how this hinders their mission because whenever they lose a vehicle, they are unable to always send as many security forces out to remote areas of the province as they would like.

Nimroz is currently facing a serious drought and the people have found it difficult to acquire water. Many residents are able to bathe only once in a span of ten days.

“The soldiers here have to make tough decisions on whether to buy either water or food for their families,” said Khalilullah. “Down here we are completely isolated from the rest of the country, so we receive little help or resupply.”

One of the more serious concerns is the lack of medical personnel in Zaranj. Currently if a resident faces a medical problem they have nowhere to go because there are no doctors or ambulatory services for the people.

With its isolated location, the ANSF at OCCP Nimroz have found it difficult to provide transportation for troops trying to leave or report into Zaranj. Khalilullah noted he has had one soldier at a training site in neighboring Helmand province for the past six months and it may be another couple of months before he is able to get him onto a flight to Zaranj.

The Marines with the ANSF development section will take these concerns and present them to officials back at the Regional Command headquarters. Marines also hope their presence during the trip will help bring the ANSF together, said Gann.

“We hammered home that it is more than just about them,” he explained. “It’s about their province, it’s about their country and it’s about the future of their children.”

The Afghan leaders also expressed their appreciation of Marines having an extended stay at OCCP Nimroz.

“By having Marines here for three days, it expressed the importance to everybody,” said Khalilullah. “Having Marines here mentoring and helping us, brought everybody in the Afghan leadership together because they understood the importance of OCCP Nimroz.”

“We are going to do whatever it is the Marines want us to do to accomplish the mission,” he continued. “I had some of my best officers with 30 years of experience come into my office and say how thankful that they were that the Marines had come here. We are indebted to them forever.”

After hours of discussion and mentoring, the Marines and their Afghan counterparts found time to sip tea, relax and enjoy their final evening together in one of the most remote parts of the country.