Kandahar PRT operations going great

By Sergeant Réal Pelletier

Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan — And here we are, already four months in Kandahar and less and less is truly new to us. The city, the landscape and the people are now more familiar, and we’re into the groove. But watch out — it’s the old electrician who gets the shock! Everyone is still very aware that we must not drop our guard.

With anywhere up to three sorties per day, including operations under the hot sun with soldiers of the Afghan National Army and members of the local police in various parts of Kandahar, the members of Stabilization Company A (Stab A) are now much more confident and alert. Obviously, there is still plenty of work to do, but the soldiers’ determination, physical fitness and morale are excellent, and we make the miles go by as we look forward to our return home.

Speaking of morale, at Camp Nathan Smith it’s all about people. After long hours of patrolling, we really appreciate the attention we get from the support folks: cooks, drivers, mechanics and our quartermaster. Never counting their hours, they give our guys the best possible service, improving effectiveness for everyone and putting us all in a good mood.

Finally, the progress being made in Kandahar City is not always easy to see and take note of, but one thing is for sure: each little thing achieved by our team, even the simple fact that we are out on the streets of the city, gives the people a sense of security and makes the kids smile a bit wider. With the increase in strength soon to come, and the American task force, we are sure that we can reduce the insurgents’ reign of terror even more, and ensure a better, safer life for the Afghan people. Certainly, one day we will be able to say that we have contributed to the success and future development of many Afghan children.