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This is an AAR given to our Platoon prior to our deployment. These are the same Americans who came over to help evaluate us, and give pre-RIP advice. It's been de-OPSEC'd, the terps name Jeff is a fake, and the others as well.
On XX October 2005 1st platoon D company 2/504 PIR was ordered to move to the Maywand district headquarters in Khandahar province, in order to secure the compound from recently fired ANP officers. When the platoon arrived SFC W, the platoon leader was informed by Captain T, the company commander that around 30 former ANP had occupied the new district headquarters, and were still armed. Further there had been reports that ACM had linked up with the ex-officers and were encouraging them to attack. CPT. T instructed SFC W to conduct a recon of the new district headquarters (NDHQ) to determine the enemy’s disposition and composition. Once the platoon was done they were to conduct a similar recon on two VCP’s that were reportedly still manned by the former officers. Upon completion the platoon was to return to the old district HQ (ODHQ). The remainder of the company was occupying the roofs of the ODHQ, providing over watch and observation of the target building 320 meters away.
The platoon consisted of three gun trucks; RED 5; SFC W: TC, SPC G: .50 cal gunner, PFC N: driver, CPL L: medic. RED 3; SGT S: TC, SPC T: MK-19 gunner, PFC P: driver, R- S: DoD dog handler, RED 4; SGT C: TC, PFC H: MK-19 gunner, PFC M: driver, J LN terp.
The platoon moved out to the north using blackout drive, crossing Highway 1 by the wadi bridge and then paralleling the wadi on an improved dirt road. They passed by the east gate of the new NDHQ and noted several personnel standing by the gate, but were unable to determine if they were armed. SFC W elected to move to the east in the wadi and set up an OP using thermals to scan the compound. The platoon stayed in position for almost 30 minutes scanning the compound, and noted at least ten personnel in the compound or on the roof. At this time SFC W elected to do an overt close target recce of the compound. He had a quick huddle with his NCOs and out lined his plan.
The platoon moved out and occupied their positions. At the last minute R S ( dog handler) volunteered to provide rear security. So the six men moved out; SFC W, SGT S, CPL L, Ryan, J-terp, and Sgt C. SFC W peered around the corner into the compound; to his right(north) was building 1(B-1), to his front right(NW) was the barracks(B-4), to his front right(west) was building 3(B-3) and to his left(south) was building 2(B-2). On B-1 he observed 4 men in civilian clothes, none appeared to be carrying any weapons, but he did observe a PKM machine gun set up and pointed to the south. The barracks had lights on and he could see several other men in civilian clothes moving inside the first room. The other buildings appeared to be unoccupied, nor did they have lights on. SFC W was about to call his terp forward when he was illuminated by a flashlight, he waved and the light clicked off, then one individual stepped off the barracks porch, carrying an AK-47, the guard on the roof yelled something to him, and the man turned and raised the AK at SFC W. SFC W stepped around the corner and immediately fired a controlled pair at the man, dropping the enemy, and he then began to suppress the PKM position. When his mag ran dry, he pulled back and ordered SGT S to fire 2 M-203 rounds at the lower windows of B-1. Almost simultaneously a heavy volume of fire was directed at the recon team from the barracks and the PKM on B-1. SFC W stepped out and threw a fragmentation grenade at the PKM, silencing it.
SFC W then decided on a hasty assault. He ordered SGT C to call RED 5 forward, and get RED 3 and 4 turned around, He ordered Jeff to return to the truck and CPL L and R-S to provide rear security. SGT C informed them that there were enemy personnel on the roof of B-2, so SFC W again stepped out and threw a fragmentation grenade at the position, silencing it as well. SPC G and PFC N were already engaging hostiles prior to moving up, so SFC W told him to continue to engage and move the truck up at a crawl to the far edge of B-1. He then told SGT S and SGT C to stack on him. As the team moved forward the volume of enemy fire picked up considerably, so SFC W called RED 3 forward and told SGT C to position it to the right(south) flank of RED 5. He then brought RED 4 in to cover the north end of the compound.
SPC G engaged a group of fighters hiding behind a hilux pick up, killing one, driving the rest off and setting the truck on fire in process. SFC W bounded forward to clear the two front rooms of B-1, as he was clearing them CPL L called out that there was enemy trying to flank so he engaged, hitting one. As RED 3s MK-19 began engaging the barracks an RPG flew out of the barracks over the roof of RED 5 and struck the north facing wall of B-2. SFC W told SGT S to engage with an AT-4, which silenced the RPG fire. SFC W then had SGT S and SGT C stack on him to clear B-1. He instructed SPC G and T to fire underneath the window frames of the barracks from left to right in order to flush the enemy out into the courtyard to the north so the could be engaged by RED 4’s MK-19. He also instructed CPL L and R-S to brief any incoming forces on the situation.
The team had cleared four out of five rooms in B-1, when SGT S spotted a door under the stairs. He moved in to clear it with SGT C as his number 2, while SFC W covered the stairs. When SGT S entered, he was face to face with two ACM armed with AK-47s. Unable to raise his M-4, he immediately engaged both in hand to hand combat. SGT C was unable to get a shot, until SGT S threw the first ACM bodily from the closet, and into SGT C, who then fought his way clear and engaged the enemy at muzzle distance, killing him with three well placed shots, unfortunately his mag ran dry. Upon hearing SGT C shout “black!” SFC W moved to SGT S's aid. The second ACM had broken free of SGT S and was advancing on SGT C when SFC W got in between them and dropped him with one stroke from his tomahawk. The team quickly checked the enemy and ascertained they were KIA, slung the AK’s and restacked. Leaving SGT C to cover the stairs, SGT S and SFC W Cleared the last room in B-1. SGT S noticed movement outside in the ditch, one ACM appeared to be crawling towards B-1. SGT S called out in Pashto for the man to stop, and fire a shot into the dirt. When the man continued to advance, SFC W told SGT S to kill him, which he did with two well place rounds to the head at almost 50 meters(only during reconsolidation did the platoon find out that CPL L and SGT S had engaged the same man, CPL L hitting him in the chest, SGT S in the head.
The team then cleared the steps and then the roof. SFC W broke left, SGT S and SGT C to the right. SFC W observed a ladder leaning on the wall of the stairwell, so he ordered his teammates back into the stair well, and threw a fragmentation grenade on the roof of the structure, he then climbed the ladder and checked the roof and finding it clear, called his teammates forward and secured the roof. SGT C disabled the PKM, while SGT S disabled the AK’s and then threw them all in the courtyard.
SFC W called DELTA 6 with a sitrep and asked for two squads to clear B-2 and B-3. He then readjusted his gun trucks to more advantageous firing positions, and had RED 4’s gunner, PFC H dismount his M-249 SAW and come to the roof to establish an intermediate support by fire position. At this time COYETE 6(CA) led by MAJ Mc arrived, and SFC W had them position their M-240 armed gun truck to cover the interior wall on the east side. MAJ Mc had his terp and his LN guide begin calling out for the enemy to surrender. Shortly after their arrival LT G came up to the east gate with his 3rd squad. SFC W asked them to begin clearing B-2. He then received a call from RED 3’s gunner SPC T that rifle squad(1st) was approaching the south gate. SFC W had RED 3 move to the south to link up with 1st squad as they began systematically clearing the buildings just outside the south gate. SFC W had SGT S go down and take charge of RED 5 and coordinate it’s fire with BLUE’s movement. He was then informed that AH-64’s were on station, so pending the arrival of DELTA 6 he had them sweep north and west. He continued to direct the fire of his vehicles and was preparing to bring up AT-4s to reduce the last room of the barracks when DELTA 6 arrived and took charge.
After assessing the situation DELTA 6 decided to employ tactical PYSOPS with their loud speaker to induce the enemy to surrender. By this time there was very little fire coming from the barracks, although ammo in the burning hilux continued to cook off. BLUE platoon had cleared B-2, B-3 and two buildings immediately outside the south gate. So far they had detained eleven personnel. After the PYSOPS broadcast four enemy surrendered to 3rd squad. SFC W directed SGT S to relieve 1st squad of their PUCs, while he himself setup a CCP and EPW area. He left SGT C and PFC H under tactical control of BLUE 6. About this time one enemy WIA was brought in with a sucking chest wound. CPL L began an immediate triage, and SFC W asked WHITE 5 to call in a 9 line medevac, while he established an HLZ in the wadi.
Gunships reported a large number of men to the north in a compound, so it was decided to bring over the district leader and police chief, as well as their recently fired counter parts to try to persuade the men in the compound to surrender. DUSTOFF 1-1 arrived on station and SFC Rand SFC W marked the HLZ. The EWIA and security escort were quickly loaded and airborne, with gunships as their escort back to KAF. SFC W and SGT C and PFC H and R-S stockpiled all enemy weapons and began an inventory, when DELTA 6 directed the platoon to mount up and recon to the north to check the suspect building.
The platoon then moved out of the compound under blackout and traveled up the wadi road to the north. After around thirty minutes the platoon was recalled to cover the company’s withdrawal from the objective. The district leader ascertained that the original eleven PUCs were innocent road workers and directed they be let go. The four remaining PUCs were escorted by BLUE back to the ODHQ and turned over to the ANP. The four confirmed EKIA were left in place, with promises by the old district leader to recover them. The platoon loaded all captured weapons up and remained in overwatch until all elements were safely in the ODHQ.
Captured Equipment Roll Up
1 RPG launcher
7 PG 7 rounds with boosters
1 PKM machine gun
8 AK 47s
1 AK style shotgun
3 cans PKM ammo
26 loaded AK mags
1 large sack of loose AK ammo
The platoon returned to the NDHQ compound on the 20th with an ANA squad. All bodies had been removed and most of the blood covered with dirt. The ANA found numerous blood trails and drag marks in the high grass and on the wall to the rear (west) of the barracks. They also found blood trails on the roof of the barracks and B-2. Local ANP and AHP stated that locals put the final toll at 20 ACM killed or wounded, although this cannot be verified.
On XX October 2005 1st platoon D company 2/504 PIR was ordered to move to the Maywand district headquarters in Khandahar province, in order to secure the compound from recently fired ANP officers. When the platoon arrived SFC W, the platoon leader was informed by Captain T, the company commander that around 30 former ANP had occupied the new district headquarters, and were still armed. Further there had been reports that ACM had linked up with the ex-officers and were encouraging them to attack. CPT. T instructed SFC W to conduct a recon of the new district headquarters (NDHQ) to determine the enemy’s disposition and composition. Once the platoon was done they were to conduct a similar recon on two VCP’s that were reportedly still manned by the former officers. Upon completion the platoon was to return to the old district HQ (ODHQ). The remainder of the company was occupying the roofs of the ODHQ, providing over watch and observation of the target building 320 meters away.
The platoon consisted of three gun trucks; RED 5; SFC W: TC, SPC G: .50 cal gunner, PFC N: driver, CPL L: medic. RED 3; SGT S: TC, SPC T: MK-19 gunner, PFC P: driver, R- S: DoD dog handler, RED 4; SGT C: TC, PFC H: MK-19 gunner, PFC M: driver, J LN terp.
The platoon moved out to the north using blackout drive, crossing Highway 1 by the wadi bridge and then paralleling the wadi on an improved dirt road. They passed by the east gate of the new NDHQ and noted several personnel standing by the gate, but were unable to determine if they were armed. SFC W elected to move to the east in the wadi and set up an OP using thermals to scan the compound. The platoon stayed in position for almost 30 minutes scanning the compound, and noted at least ten personnel in the compound or on the roof. At this time SFC W elected to do an overt close target recce of the compound. He had a quick huddle with his NCOs and out lined his plan.
The platoon moved out and occupied their positions. At the last minute R S ( dog handler) volunteered to provide rear security. So the six men moved out; SFC W, SGT S, CPL L, Ryan, J-terp, and Sgt C. SFC W peered around the corner into the compound; to his right(north) was building 1(B-1), to his front right(NW) was the barracks(B-4), to his front right(west) was building 3(B-3) and to his left(south) was building 2(B-2). On B-1 he observed 4 men in civilian clothes, none appeared to be carrying any weapons, but he did observe a PKM machine gun set up and pointed to the south. The barracks had lights on and he could see several other men in civilian clothes moving inside the first room. The other buildings appeared to be unoccupied, nor did they have lights on. SFC W was about to call his terp forward when he was illuminated by a flashlight, he waved and the light clicked off, then one individual stepped off the barracks porch, carrying an AK-47, the guard on the roof yelled something to him, and the man turned and raised the AK at SFC W. SFC W stepped around the corner and immediately fired a controlled pair at the man, dropping the enemy, and he then began to suppress the PKM position. When his mag ran dry, he pulled back and ordered SGT S to fire 2 M-203 rounds at the lower windows of B-1. Almost simultaneously a heavy volume of fire was directed at the recon team from the barracks and the PKM on B-1. SFC W stepped out and threw a fragmentation grenade at the PKM, silencing it.
SFC W then decided on a hasty assault. He ordered SGT C to call RED 5 forward, and get RED 3 and 4 turned around, He ordered Jeff to return to the truck and CPL L and R-S to provide rear security. SGT C informed them that there were enemy personnel on the roof of B-2, so SFC W again stepped out and threw a fragmentation grenade at the position, silencing it as well. SPC G and PFC N were already engaging hostiles prior to moving up, so SFC W told him to continue to engage and move the truck up at a crawl to the far edge of B-1. He then told SGT S and SGT C to stack on him. As the team moved forward the volume of enemy fire picked up considerably, so SFC W called RED 3 forward and told SGT C to position it to the right(south) flank of RED 5. He then brought RED 4 in to cover the north end of the compound.
SPC G engaged a group of fighters hiding behind a hilux pick up, killing one, driving the rest off and setting the truck on fire in process. SFC W bounded forward to clear the two front rooms of B-1, as he was clearing them CPL L called out that there was enemy trying to flank so he engaged, hitting one. As RED 3s MK-19 began engaging the barracks an RPG flew out of the barracks over the roof of RED 5 and struck the north facing wall of B-2. SFC W told SGT S to engage with an AT-4, which silenced the RPG fire. SFC W then had SGT S and SGT C stack on him to clear B-1. He instructed SPC G and T to fire underneath the window frames of the barracks from left to right in order to flush the enemy out into the courtyard to the north so the could be engaged by RED 4’s MK-19. He also instructed CPL L and R-S to brief any incoming forces on the situation.
The team had cleared four out of five rooms in B-1, when SGT S spotted a door under the stairs. He moved in to clear it with SGT C as his number 2, while SFC W covered the stairs. When SGT S entered, he was face to face with two ACM armed with AK-47s. Unable to raise his M-4, he immediately engaged both in hand to hand combat. SGT C was unable to get a shot, until SGT S threw the first ACM bodily from the closet, and into SGT C, who then fought his way clear and engaged the enemy at muzzle distance, killing him with three well placed shots, unfortunately his mag ran dry. Upon hearing SGT C shout “black!” SFC W moved to SGT S's aid. The second ACM had broken free of SGT S and was advancing on SGT C when SFC W got in between them and dropped him with one stroke from his tomahawk. The team quickly checked the enemy and ascertained they were KIA, slung the AK’s and restacked. Leaving SGT C to cover the stairs, SGT S and SFC W Cleared the last room in B-1. SGT S noticed movement outside in the ditch, one ACM appeared to be crawling towards B-1. SGT S called out in Pashto for the man to stop, and fire a shot into the dirt. When the man continued to advance, SFC W told SGT S to kill him, which he did with two well place rounds to the head at almost 50 meters(only during reconsolidation did the platoon find out that CPL L and SGT S had engaged the same man, CPL L hitting him in the chest, SGT S in the head.
The team then cleared the steps and then the roof. SFC W broke left, SGT S and SGT C to the right. SFC W observed a ladder leaning on the wall of the stairwell, so he ordered his teammates back into the stair well, and threw a fragmentation grenade on the roof of the structure, he then climbed the ladder and checked the roof and finding it clear, called his teammates forward and secured the roof. SGT C disabled the PKM, while SGT S disabled the AK’s and then threw them all in the courtyard.
SFC W called DELTA 6 with a sitrep and asked for two squads to clear B-2 and B-3. He then readjusted his gun trucks to more advantageous firing positions, and had RED 4’s gunner, PFC H dismount his M-249 SAW and come to the roof to establish an intermediate support by fire position. At this time COYETE 6(CA) led by MAJ Mc arrived, and SFC W had them position their M-240 armed gun truck to cover the interior wall on the east side. MAJ Mc had his terp and his LN guide begin calling out for the enemy to surrender. Shortly after their arrival LT G came up to the east gate with his 3rd squad. SFC W asked them to begin clearing B-2. He then received a call from RED 3’s gunner SPC T that rifle squad(1st) was approaching the south gate. SFC W had RED 3 move to the south to link up with 1st squad as they began systematically clearing the buildings just outside the south gate. SFC W had SGT S go down and take charge of RED 5 and coordinate it’s fire with BLUE’s movement. He was then informed that AH-64’s were on station, so pending the arrival of DELTA 6 he had them sweep north and west. He continued to direct the fire of his vehicles and was preparing to bring up AT-4s to reduce the last room of the barracks when DELTA 6 arrived and took charge.
After assessing the situation DELTA 6 decided to employ tactical PYSOPS with their loud speaker to induce the enemy to surrender. By this time there was very little fire coming from the barracks, although ammo in the burning hilux continued to cook off. BLUE platoon had cleared B-2, B-3 and two buildings immediately outside the south gate. So far they had detained eleven personnel. After the PYSOPS broadcast four enemy surrendered to 3rd squad. SFC W directed SGT S to relieve 1st squad of their PUCs, while he himself setup a CCP and EPW area. He left SGT C and PFC H under tactical control of BLUE 6. About this time one enemy WIA was brought in with a sucking chest wound. CPL L began an immediate triage, and SFC W asked WHITE 5 to call in a 9 line medevac, while he established an HLZ in the wadi.
Gunships reported a large number of men to the north in a compound, so it was decided to bring over the district leader and police chief, as well as their recently fired counter parts to try to persuade the men in the compound to surrender. DUSTOFF 1-1 arrived on station and SFC Rand SFC W marked the HLZ. The EWIA and security escort were quickly loaded and airborne, with gunships as their escort back to KAF. SFC W and SGT C and PFC H and R-S stockpiled all enemy weapons and began an inventory, when DELTA 6 directed the platoon to mount up and recon to the north to check the suspect building.
The platoon then moved out of the compound under blackout and traveled up the wadi road to the north. After around thirty minutes the platoon was recalled to cover the company’s withdrawal from the objective. The district leader ascertained that the original eleven PUCs were innocent road workers and directed they be let go. The four remaining PUCs were escorted by BLUE back to the ODHQ and turned over to the ANP. The four confirmed EKIA were left in place, with promises by the old district leader to recover them. The platoon loaded all captured weapons up and remained in overwatch until all elements were safely in the ODHQ.
Captured Equipment Roll Up
1 RPG launcher
7 PG 7 rounds with boosters
1 PKM machine gun
8 AK 47s
1 AK style shotgun
3 cans PKM ammo
26 loaded AK mags
1 large sack of loose AK ammo
The platoon returned to the NDHQ compound on the 20th with an ANA squad. All bodies had been removed and most of the blood covered with dirt. The ANA found numerous blood trails and drag marks in the high grass and on the wall to the rear (west) of the barracks. They also found blood trails on the roof of the barracks and B-2. Local ANP and AHP stated that locals put the final toll at 20 ACM killed or wounded, although this cannot be verified.
