Afghan Forces Winning, ISAF Joint Command Chief Says

By Cheryl Pellerin

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2014 – In the final days of the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, the Afghan national security forces are winning and the long coalition effort is taking hold, the commander of ISAF Joint Command said today.

In a teleconference with Pentagon reporters from his headquarters in the Afghan capital of Kabul, Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson said that despite these gains, progress remains to be made.

The Afghan national security forces include Afghanistan’s armed forces, national police, border police, local police and members of the National Directorate of Security.

Most Trusted Government Organization

“They are the most trusted government organization in Afghanistan,” Anderson said. “They are trying to provide time and space for this society to grow and reduce the insurgency.”

He called the Afghan national security forces a hugely capable fighting force that has been holding its ground against the enemy.

Afghan forces number about 352,000 -- 156,000 army troops and 155,000 police. Anderson said together they secured the election process and maintained a steady operational tempo throughout the fighting season. The insurgents had minimal effect on the elections, with 761 attacks but only 174 that were damaging, he added.

“Throughout the entire election process, the ordered recount and the fighting season,” the general added, “[ISAF Joint Command has] been in the close air support business, the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance business, the quick-reaction-force business, and helping with command and control, advisors and some sustainment support.”

Agreements Were Major Setback for Insurgents

The recent signings of a bilateral security agreement between Afghanistan and the United States and a NATO status of forces agreement were a major setback for the insurgents, Anderson said. Afghan forces have been in the lead all year, the Taliban have failed to achieve tactical superiority over them, and Taliban-initiated attacks are down this year from around 24,000 to 18,000, the general told reporters.

“The ANSF has sustained about a 6.5 percent increase in casualties this year, [with] 4,634 this year versus 4,350 killed in action last year,” he said, adding that the high number of casualties, combined with attrition among army and police forces, is not sustainable in the long term.

“Their first priority right now is to get their recruiting back up and to … get their manning document filled. … The police are about 89 percent, and the army is about 81 percent filled,” Anderson said.

“They do need to decrease their casualty rate,” the general said, adding that more capable Afghan medical and casualty evacuation will help.

Full Responsibility for Medical, Casualty Evacuation

The general said the Afghans perform 88 percent of all medical and casualty evacuation through a combination of air and ground transportation. ISAF has provided very limited support, especially from summer onward, and Afghanistan now has full responsibility, he said.

In the final days of the ISAF mission, Anderson said, the coalition’s efforts over the years have not been in vain.

“Education, a free press, telecommunications -- all are going very well,” he added. “We can see the benefits of this new democratically elected government taking shape. It is very optimistic here. There is more capability. There is more accountability.”

The literacy rate in Afghanistan is now 30 percent, he said, up from 12 percent during Taliban rule. And 7.9 million children attend primary and secondary schools, including more girls.

“Internet, cell phone use, all these things continue to make a difference here,” the general added.

Troop Numbers Decline as Transition Approaches

In the transition from the ISAF mission to the Resolute Support mission, which begins Jan. 1, 54,000 service members from 48 nations were in Afghanistan when Anderson took command in January. Today, there are 38,000 soldiers from 44 nations, and 27,000 of the service members are American, he said.

“We'll get down to 12,500 service members here by the end of the year, which will be the 9,800-troop U.S. commitment. And we expect about 26 other nations to provide forces as well,” the general said. “This will be a mix of advisors, force-protection soldiers and enabler providers like close air support [for force protection] and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.”

From 86 bases in January, ISAF is down to 26, Anderson said. “We shut one more down next week, and we're done,” he added.

ISAF also has been retrograding, redeploying, destroying and transferring equipment to the Afghan forces, he said, reducing 21,000 pieces of rolling stock and about 1.7 million pieces of nonrolling stock, and retrograding and divesting others.

On foreign excess personal property -- a process the U.S. government uses to transfer unneeded property permanently to a foreign government –- ISAF has transferred about $620 million worth of equipment, the general said.

No More ISAF Regional Commands

“We're on a glide path to get to 31 December for Resolute Support,” Anderson said, “and as of yesterday we transitioned our last regional command to a train-advise-assist command in the east, so we no longer have regional commands here in Afghanistan.”

Next month, ISAF Joint Command will merge into ISAF, and then ISAF will take over operational control of all ground forces, Anderson said, but the mission is not complete.

“What Resolute Support is all about is trying to get the Afghans above the tactical level to the operational and strategic levels,” he explained. “The advisors will focus on the ministerial and institutional levels to work systems and processes, and professionalize the force.”

Efforts Focus on Essential Functions

He said the efforts are focused along eight essential functions, everything from planning, programming, budgeting and execution to sustainment and planning. Keys to success will be coordination among the army, the police and the National Directorate of Security, he said, “working their intelligence systems and processes, and the continued development of the Afghan air force.”

Strategic issues that remain include forecasting logistical requirements and the budgeting process, he said.

“The Afghans are thankful for our efforts and support,” the general said. “They're getting after it. They're doing very, very well tactically. Next year, the challenges will focus on what I just described, but it's also going to be a year of great opportunity.”

Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

From a U.S. Central Command News Release

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 5, 2014 – U.S. military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria Nov. 3 through today, using attack and fighter aircraft to conduct four airstrikes, U.S. Central Command officials reported.

Separately, officials said, U.S. and partner-nation military forces conducted 10 airstrikes in Iraq over that period using fighter, attack and remotely-piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

Airstrike Details

In Syria, three airstrikes near Kobani struck a small ISIL unit, two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL dump truck used in construction of fighting positions. An airstrike north of Sinjar destroyed an ISIL fighting position used to launch mortar attacks and struck a small ISIL unit manning the position, and two additional strikes north of Sinjar struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed an ISIL armored vehicle.

In Iraq, an airstrike near Mosul destroyed ISIL-occupied buildings, including one housing a generator used for oil production and another used to manufacture explosive devices. Three airstrikes near Bayji struck two small ISIL units, destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL-occupied bunker and an ISIL anti-aircraft artillery piece.

Also in Iraq, an airstrike near Fallujah struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle. Three airstrikes near Ramadi damaged an ISIL vehicle and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.

All aircraft left the strike areas safely, officials said, noting that airstrike assessments are based on initial reports.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project power and conduct operations, Centcom officials said.

Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Attack Wing's medical troupe takes on antiterrorist exercise

by Tech. Sgt. Andria J. Allmond
111th Attack Wing Public Affairs

11/2/2014 - HORSHAM AIR GUARD STATION, Pa. -- Preparing for a worst-case scenario commonly requires more than computer-based training and sometimes involves blood, sweat and tears as some service members of the 111th Medical Group here found out Nov. 2.

The 111th MDG medics, nurses, physicians and incident command members were put to the test during a mock explosion, causing a simulated mass-casualty event.

With student flight members swathed with moulaged injuries ranging from, sucking chest wounds to broken bones, the exercise participants' actions and treatments were assessed against the base plans checklist for explosions in antiterrorist-type exercises.

"I am a firm believer in that we should play as we fight," said Maj. Marion E. Every, 111th MDG health services administrator and wing inspection team member. "I do not like to do a lot of simulation; I would like the Airman to use supplies and treat wounds as they would with a real injury."

According to Every, the medical group undergoes inspections for mass causality response at least yearly. And while the scenarios originate from the base plans checklists, she said she often incorporates ideas from current events in the news.  Additionally, she stated she includes valuable teaching points from past exercises.

"We test the use of base plans and the medical group's skills in triage, patient tracking, bandaging, splinting and basic care to stabilize patients until outside [emergency medical services] can come on site, " she said.

And the team accomplished just that.

"They did great," said Lt. Col. Elizabeth Topol, who served on the wing inspection team for the exercise. "One of the major themes we wanted to stress to those playing in the exercise is that everyone here is trained in self-aid and buddy care, as well as CPR.  Everyone can help; it isn't necessary to step aside and wait for a nurse or medic to take over."

With live simulated causalities strewn about, wing members got to work triaging, treating and delivering help to the victims within all available means. The exercise continues until all injured were treated and the mock deceased were accounted for.

"We make this as real as possible," said Topol. "We want our people using supplies, splinting and doing whatever they need to. We do this so people don't freeze during the real thing ... because, this is a very real scenario now. The time for just simulation is long gone, now we exercise to the point of reality."

Detainee Transfer Announced

The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Fouzi Khalid Abdullah Al Awda from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Kuwait.

On July 14, a Periodic Review Board consisting of representatives from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, State; the Joint Staff, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence determined continued law of war detention of Al Awda does not remain necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, Al Awda was recommended for transfer by consensus of the six departments and agencies comprising the Periodic Review Board.

In accordance with statutory requirements, the secretary of defense informed Congress of the United States' intent to transfer this individual and of his determination that this transfer meets the statutory standard.

The Periodic Review Board process was established by the president's March 7, 2011 Executive Order (EO) 13567.

The United States is grateful to the Government of Kuwait for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the Government of Kuwait to ensure this transfer took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.

Today, 148 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.