1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Joint Clearing Operations Dec 2010

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

ANSF, ISAF conduct joint clearing operations in Kandahar

December 2010

LTC Clay Padgett, Commander for 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.
4th Infantry Division, sits down with a village elder to discuss security concerns,
Dec 10, in Kandahar City.

ANSF, ISAF conduct joint clearing operations in Kandahar
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
Story by Pfc. Nathan Thome

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Afghan national security forces and International Security Assistance Forces
conducted joint clearing operations in villages west of Kandahar City, Dec. 6-12, in an effort to improve security.

Afghan national civil order police and Afghan national police led the joint patrols with soldiers from
1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, where they cleared villages
and houses while collecting assessments of security concerns from local residents.

Partnering with the Afghan police during this operation helped 1BCT, 4ID with its overall mission of mentoring
the ANSF so they can take over the security of Kandahar without the assistance of international forces

Forces conducted house to house searches after receiving consent from the head of the household. The searches
were conducted to gain atmospherics of the area and sit down and address security concerns with the local populous.

SGT Lori Soto, the female engagement team non-commissioned officer in charge, attached to
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1s Battalion 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade
Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assisted Afghan national Security Forces in conducting
clearing operations by searching houses and addressing security concerns with the local populous,
Dec 10, in Kandahar City.

“We are making sure that the Taliban aren’t using the villagers’ homes to fabricate improvised explosive devices
or conduct other insurgent activities,” said Staff Sgt. Andrew DeVries, a squad leader for 4th Squad,
Company A, 1-22IN, 1BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

“By engaging the residents, we can better keep the community safe,” said Pfc. Matthew Truxel, a rifleman
with 3rd Plt, Company A, 1-22IN, 1BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “It also helps us keep out those
who don’t have a reason to be there.”

Afghan National Security Forces in conjunction with International Security Assistance Forces
conducted clearing operations by searching houses, Dec 10, in Kandahar City.

“The Afghan police did a great job leading these patrols,” said Spc. Jeff Lamica, a gunner with 1st Squad,
Company A, 1-22IN, 1BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “They worked hard right along-side their ISAF partners.”

“ANSF and ISAF have a great relationship, which played a major role in these operations,” said
Col. Ghulam Farooq, the 3rd Brigade 2nd Kandak commander. “The operation went as smoothly as it did
because the Afghan police and ‘Raider’ brigade work so well together.”

Farooq added that the mentorship of 1BCT has enabled the Afghan police to grow in their ability
to increase and maintain the security of the district.

Because of the progress by the ANCOP and ANP – insurgent activity has greatly decreased –
making it safer for the villagers to walk through the streets of Kandahar, said Farooq.

“The residents are happy with our work and are excited to see us when we patrol through their villages,”
said Farooq. “With our continued partnership with ‘Raider’ brigade, Taliban activity will continue
to diminish and we will take complete control of the area.”

SGT Hector Reyes, a dog handler with the K-9 unit attached to 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Regiment,
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assisted in clearing operations by searching
for homemade explosives, Dec 10, in Kandahar City.

Photos by Pfc. Nathan Thome

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