AUP and Coalition forces resupply Omna District Center

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan– The Paktika Afghan Uniformed Police and Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment combined to conduct a resupply and reinforcement operation to the Omna District Center, Paktika province, Afghanistan June 18.

The operation provided food, ammo, weapons, fire support, and a new group of policemen to help secure the district center.

The Omna District Center is in a difficult position to secure since it is in a mountain plateau in a sparsely populated area, said Shahkhel Darwish, Omna AUP Commander.  Insurgents can attack the compound with indirect fire from the hills while remaining unseen, he added.

 
The Paktika Provincial Police Commander, Brig. Gen. Dewlat Khan, coordinated with Task Force Iron Rakkasan to help to resolve the security issues.  Together, they brought a heavy machine gun and placed it into a defensive position.  

While dropping off the equipment and supplies, insurgents called the AUP over the radio and challenged them.  In response, Coalition forces and the AUP took defensive fighting positions to deter insurgents from attacking in the future, said Darwish.

While most of the outgoing police loaded into the CH-47 Chinook helicopters to fly back to Sharana, 30 officers remained to conduct a six-hour dismounted patrol to the Sharana Police Station.  This patrol identified an alternate means of re-supplying the district center, said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Payton Holtz, platoon leader, from St. Augistine, Fla.

The new police officers in the Omna District Center are eager to serve.  They are happy to have a job and are committed to protecting the people of Afghanistan and fighting insurgents, said Khan.