Time on the line

Busy day: SOTG members at the FOB.

Capt Al Green records a typical day at the Special Operations Task Group’s forward operating base.

0500h, Afghan local time: Dawn. The picket switches off their NVGs as the dawn rises. The monotone green view from the Ninox gives way to the soft purple hue revealing deeply eroded mountains that dominate the landscape. The sentry call-signs check off one by one – every one gives the okay. The only firing overnight has been explosions and tracer rounds several kilometers away.

0710h: Outside his tent a soldier sits cross legged cleaning his weapon.

0800h: A work party is called on to erect more defensive barriers to further harden and segment the compound. Today it’s a mix of Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) and Australian soldiers doing the work, communicating in both languages. The sergeant supervising the project has already gained a good grasp of the language and knows all the workers by name.

In the bag: Soldiers concentrate on FOB perimeter defences. Photos by Sgt John Carroll

0900h: There’s an equipment sustainment flight due in – the logistics specialists and a US tanker roll out to meet it. Across the valley a tac flying C-130 radically swerves and dips before over-flying the runway for final check prior to landing. The airspace is shared by a US Apache Gunship and CH47 helicopters departing on mission. It’s a carefully coordinated aerial choreography, with the air assets allocated their own airspace.

The C-130 touches down and the following dust cloud is spectacular, almost enveloping the airframe as the reverse thrust kicks in. As the C130 wheels around to a stand-still, the dust flies in all directions. Troops emerge, vehicles roll off and stores are quickly and efficiently removed. A combined group of RAAF Air-Load Team members and Army Cargo Specialists conduct the operation. All sweat profusely under their protective body armour, bandanas and goggles. The hot prop wash adds to the discomfort. At this remote strip aircraft rarely close down.

As the C-130 roars away, troops on quad bikes with rifles slung, escort the precious loads into the compound. Newly arrived troops follow on foot. “Beauty”, says the digger on the gate, “more bods to help with picket.”

On the ground: SOTG soldiers disembark a USAF C-17 Globemaster in Afghanistan.

0945h: In the shadow of an Afghan National Army post on a hill overlooking the airstrip, Defence members chat with the friendly ANA soldiers. The locals all have horror stories to tell about the Taliban – of murdered families, of oppression and chaos. The mood lightens as the Afghanis produce a well worn soccer ball and its game on.

Thumbs up: Soldiers chat to local workers.

1017h: Logistics specialists and admin staff are processing a myriad of kit. With the DRN in place, computer driven logistics management systems start to take effect. The warrant officers in charge of this process have also stepped up to plate with innumerable operational support tasks. These tasks have included drawing up pickets and cross-loading containers, through to screening and supervising local workers.

Until witnessed from scratch, it’s hard to comprehend the rate of effort from a multitude of direct and indirect sources that occurs to get the operation this far. The operators are well aware that the logistic, administrative and operational support in the field is a large contributing factor to mission success.

1104h: A RAAF Hazards Assessment Team (HAT) test the local water. Their major role is environmental safety and preventative medicine. In remote Afghanistan, which has many naturally occurring hazards, they have their work cut out for them.

1200h: Lunch is generally US MREs. General consensus has it that anything with chicken is okay, Thai chicken being the pick and the worst? That’s still being debated, but Tabasco sauce helps.

He’s got the power: A electrician finishes wiring a building in the FOB.

1302h: In the ceiling of the newly constructed operations center a soldier electrician is running wire to unfinished parts of the structure. He passes the wires down to provide light fittings where a carpenter labours below. The tradesmen have worked massive hours, assisted by soldiers away from their normal duties. The building has taken a matter of days to become functional and the tradesmen, initially short on tools and on the verge of exhaustion, still insist on doing the job right.

1437h: A mechanic lies under a six wheeled Long Range Patrol Vehicle (LRPV). These are the lifeblood of the patrols and are faultlessly maintained. When not on patrol, resting or at the range, crews can be found cleaning, fitting, adjusting and testing the systems integral to these platforms.

1521h: A US medic treats a digger for a hand injury – the US Forward Surgical Team is set up here to treat battle casualties as they are flown in from operations conducted in the area. It’s reassuring to have this level of surgical support available to the SOTG. A RAAF doctor from the HAT team also inspects the facilities and sits in on a surgical procedure. Today an Afghani is having further surgery after an emergency amputation. The surgeon is skilled and friendly – a good guy to have on your side.

1645h: As the heat of the day has steadily increased, spectacular dust tornadoes have spiraled and swirled across the plateau surrounding the FOB. Now a sudden and violent upsurge of wind generates a widespread dust blizzard that blanks out the whole world and creates an eerie twilight. Fortunately the issued ballistic goggles save the eyes, and shamaghs give some relief to the nose and throat. When the dry storm clears, the world and its contents are blanketed by a fresh covering of fine dust with the consistency of talcum powder.

Making tracks: SOTG patrol near their FOB.

1800h: As the light fades, the heat drains from the day. Interpreters, US soldiers and diggers start an impromptu game known to every soldier – volleyball. It’s a brief but welcome respite from the hard work. It also continues to build the rapport between the nationalities.

Desert light: Soldiers enjoy the sunset.

2052h: A signaller adjusts an antenna array, there’s a stack of antennas, of odd shapes and sizes along with numerous sat-dishes and generators that powers them. The term “fighting for comms” was accurate early on in the deployment as the sigs, working round the clock, rapidly built a network of reliable communications links.

2250h: A convoy of quad bikes leaves for a night shoot. The operators never leave anything to do with weapons, or survival, to chance, shooting day and night. This is done to no apparent set schedule. Forming habits in an asymmetric warfare environment is a hazardous trap these soldiers wont fall into. Likewise patrols can slip away at anytime. Timings, mission objectives and routes are close held information known to few and so difficult to compromise.

2330h: Though it’s nearly midnight the newly completed operations centre is active with operations and intelligence networked into a 21st century Afghan battle space. Real-time information flows as the battle rhythm cycles. From here it may appear chess like, but nobody is losing sight that there are real coalition soldiers in harms way out there in the wilds.

0000h: Teeth cleaning out of bottled water, and a cold shower if the water’s running.

0330h: A sentry glances up as an orange flare blazes across a moonless sky. He refocuses his night scope and scans the horizon – nothing. As one day blends into another nothing can be certain apart from the sunrise in a few hours. For everything else, he’s ready.

Eyes open: A roving picket at the FOB.

Bombs away on Afghan patrol

Big bang: An ammunition technician prepares to dispose of unexploded ordnance.Photo by Cpl Bernard Pearson

What’s life like for diggers outside the perimeter in Afghanistan? Capt Al Green spends a day on the other side of the fence.

A YOUNG digger inside a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Afghanistan slides on his ballistic gear, his webbing loaded up with frontline ammo with helmet attached. Team weapons and vehicles are given a once over then comes the inevitable comms check, a final confirmatory brief before the patrol vehicles space out waiting for the word to go.

As the patrol departs the compound, the gunners swing their turrets and cover out. They are positive in their weapon handling and ready for action. Any move in Afghanistan is a major undertaking, with heavily armed patrols such as this one ready to take on any hostile forces that may want to try it on.

Jingle trucks – transports, with decorative jingling chains, rumble by on a nearby main road, but reassuringly none threaten to divert toward the patrol. The threat of vehicle borne explosives soon lifts as the patrol peels away into sparsely tracked country more suited to camels than cars.

This particular day’s mission is to dispose unexploded ordnance (UXO) near the FOB. For a couple of very good reasons, UXOs, when identified, are not left lying around. Not only can they harm the local populace but potentially they can be used against the coalition. For this reason UXOs are approached with extreme caution lest they be booby trapped or the focus of an ambush – a commonly used ploy by insurgents. Surveillance Reconnaissance Vehicles (SRVS) with the gunslingers aboard scout ahead before giving the all clear. A Bushmaster transporting the ammunition technicians rolls quietly into the search zone. Nicknamed ‘Pigs’, IMVs are the last word in dust free comfort within a combat-zone. With a sloping armour base to deflect blast from mines, there’s a good chance of surviving any nasties planted in the track. That’s however not something the troops on this mission want to test first hand – thus the cautious movement.

In a low rocky valley a cylindrical silver object flashes as it catches the morning glare. Range finding binos lock onto the object and the UXO is identified. The SRV crews providing protection fan out along the surrounding spur lines to allow the demolition team to work up to the object uninterrupted. Fortunately on this day the place is desolate, devoid of any human sign. Even the nomadic shepherds that frequent nearby valleys have moved on. The only sign of life is that of Aussie ammo techs examining the exotic looking bomb casing that’s weathered but still intact – a yellow band indicating that it’s high explosive. No attempt will be made to touch or move it, the decision made to blow it in place.

This particular UXO turns out to be a device new to the ammo techs. It’s photographed for later reference and all the while treated with extreme caution. A low rumble reverberates off the surrounding hills as the plastic explosives and UXO explode instantaneously. The destruction means one less shell for the enemy to pickup and use against the coalition or for goat herders to risk death or injury with.

A couple of unexploded mortars are also found and dealt with before the convoy swings for home, moving with extreme caution. It’s that final bound within sight of the compound that’s potentially the most dangerous and nobody lets up concentration. Afghan National Army soldiers manning the outer perimeter wave a friendly welcome and the convoy slips in securely. Job done, home safe, down the mess tent for a near beer.

While Australian soldiers face danger on each patrol they also have the assurance of great backup in the form of training, intelligence, communications, briefings and supporting firepower – all sustaining various mission challenges that the diggers will face in Afghanistan over the coming months.