A reserve soldier’s snapshot of Afghanistan
MCpl Trevor Reid
Contributor
March 31, 2008
Canadian soldiers from 7 Platoon provide support for members of the Afghan National Police as they move through a small village in the Arghandab District of Afghanistan.
Weaving through a long, dry irrigation ditch known in Afghanistan as a “wadi”, tan-clad members of Charlie Company moved confidently with grey uniformed members of the Afghan National Police (ANP). This joint patrol along the mud-walled alleyways of a small Arghandab District village was the first chance 7 Platoon soldiers had to give the ANP a helping hand.
“The purpose of the patrol was to assess the social climate of the town. Notably we wanted to assess the abilities of the ANP, the local population and their opinions of the police,” said Capt Jeffery Tebo, 7 Platoon’s commander, who is originally from British Columbia.
As part of ISAF’s commitment to training and mentoring the Afghan National Security Force, Charlie Company’s presence in the town was a surprise to many locals, especially children who had not seen any security forces in the town for some time. The ANP officers with the patrol admitted they rarely venture farther than a few hundred metres from their checkpoint near the town centre.
While the patrol moved along a canal system, the soldiers happened upon an open courtyard outside a mosque, which served as the town’s school. While the Mullah and other teachers gathered around for an impromptu conversation with Capt Tebo, the children demonstrated their writing and arithmetic skills.
“The Mullah of the school said that there is so much strife in this country he is committing himself to teaching in order to ensure the next generation does not suffer as well,” said Capt Tebo.
As much as the patrol was about establishing a presence, it also gave the soldiers of 7 Platoon a chance to practice moving through difficult and unfamiliar ground.
“The ground is very complex,” said section commander Sgt Sheldon Quinn when asked about the narrow streets and irrigation channels that criss-cross through the town. “We moved by leapfrogging; one team to the next, covering the doors and alleys. The guys did well.”
“You always have to keep your eyes open for threats in a town like that,” said Private John Tuepah. “There are a lot of civilians standing around, so it’s important to stay alert and provide stand off so the platoon can move through safely.”
While the patrol was a success from 7 Platoon’s standpoint, the ANP’s lack of confidence in walking through the town showed much room for improvement. Capt Tebo said what the platoon can do to help the ANP “is to lead by example and hope that they can follow that example.”
MCpl Trevor Reid is a Victoria-based reservist from the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). He is currently serving with the Second Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group in Afghanistan.
