ANSF, 3-187 Air Assault into Omna

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In the early hours of April 26, Afghan Uniformed Police, officers from the National Directorate of Security, and Soldiers of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, air assaulted into Spina village in the Omna district of eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province. 

The AUP, NDS, and Co. A Soldiers flew on CH-47 Chinook helicopters to three locations around the village. Upon landing, they isolated Spina village by blocking the routes, which insurgents would likely use to flee the area, then searched more than 100 homes and compounds around the village.

After searching the houses and compounds and finding no evidence of insurgents, battalion commander, U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Fivecoat, and Co. A commander, U.S. Army Capt. Josh Powers, shifted the focus of the operation to talk to the people of the village about the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the province’s new Governor Mohib Ullah Samim’s priorities for improving Paktika. 

Samim’s priorities are education, establishing governmental systems, fighting corruption, reconciling with insurgents, security and working with tribal elders, said Fivecoat. In conjunction with talking to the villagers, Co. A medics provided medical treatment for several villagers with significant injuries and illnesses.

“Now that our medics treated some of you, we have demonstrated that we are here to help you and the Afghanistan population,” Fivecoat told the villagers. “When was the last time the Taliban provided medical treatment for you?”

 His question was answered with silence, finally the people confessed, “never.”

Although the operation did not capture any militants, the commanders still considered it worthwhile.

“The mission was an overall success because it showed everyone, friendly and enemy, that GIRoA’s reach is not limited by terrain and that [Afghan National Security Forces] and Task Force Iron can conduct operations anywhere in Paktika province,” Powers said. “It also solidified our ability to conduct complex combined action with AUP, NDS and our Soldiers.”