GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

Operation Enduring Freedom

“We’re always ready to go out; we know it’s serious every time we leave the wire. It’s our job, I believe our mission (in Afghanistan) is very important, we are not only taking out the terrorist threat to those around the world, we are making the country better, we are sharing our democracy and helping to improve their way of life.”

Specialist Robert Monroe, B Company, 3rd Battalion, 504th Infantry

When America was attacked on 11 September 2001, President George W. Bush called upon the American military to fight global terrorism. Soldiers of the 82d Airborne Division quickly answered this call, when the 49th Public Affairs Detachment deployed to the Afghanistan area to support combat operations as early as November 2001. Other Division units prepared for missions that might come.

Those missions did come, on 27 June 2002 when the Headquarters, 3rd Brigade deployed to Afghanistan to replace the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in July 2002. Task Force Panther as it was called was comprised of 3rd Battalion and 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 1-504th Infantry, and elements from 307th Engineer Battalion, 17th Cavalry Squadron, 1-319th Field Artillery, 82d Aviation Brigade and 82d Support Battalion. All three infantry battalions executed combat operations throughout the country in order to prevent the reemergence of the Taliban and to deny sanctuary to terrorist groups operating in the region. The Task Force carried out a mission in mid-September 2002 called Operation Mountain Sweep and established Forward Operating Base Salerno, located just north of Khowst. While operating out of Forward Operating Base Salerno, Task Force Panther conducted 27 air assaults and more than 30 combat missions. The unit recovered roughly 214 tons of munitions and managed to send 12 detainees to the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay. Fellow All-Americans replaced this task force.

Task Force Devil constituted of the 1st Brigade, 82d Airborne Division with 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 504th Infantry and 2-505th Infantry and elements from 307th Engineer Battalion, 17th Cavalry Squadron and 3-319th Field Artillery. This Task Force replaced the 3rd Brigade, 82d Airborne Division in January 2003. Task Force Devil stayed in Afghanistan until August 2003. They conducted several combat missions to eliminate the Taliban and terrorist holdouts from Afghanistan’s mountainous regions. Some of these missions were named Operations Viper and Valiant Strike. These operations pitted soldiers from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 504th Infantry against southern Afghanistan’s rough terrain and elements. Their goal was to seek out enemy forces, weapons and tactical intelligence. The missions removed tons of rockets, rifles and launchers. Such stockpiles resulted in a handful of Taliban and terrorists being taken into custody for questioning.

The Division Headquarters and Commanding General John Vines were deployed to Afghanistan to be the controlling headquarters for all conventional units in Afghanistan. The Task Force was known as Task Force All-American and was headquartered in Bagram from September 2002 to April 2003.

This is different than typical combat missions because we’ll get to see the difference we’re making in people’s lives firsthand. I’m hoping the elections go through so that the Afghan people can enjoy the same freedoms that we do.”

1st Lt. Dan Coulter, 1st Battalion, 325th Infantry (Airborne)

The first 82d Airborne Division units deployed to Afghanistan were Infantry Battalions supporting the Afghan National Elections during unplanned rapid deployments. They were sent when the Central Command (CENTCOM) commander felt additional troops were needed to protect the election process. The 1-505th Infantry (Airborne) was deployed for eight weeks to provide additional security for the 2004 elections. During the 2005 elections, 1st Battalion, 325th Infantry (Airborne) deployed for five months to provide additional security and distribute election materials to polling places.

Meanwhile, the 82d Airborne Division Brigades conducted planned rotation to Afghanistan. First Brigade supported Operation Enduring Freedom 6 in 2005. It deployed with its supporting slice units, the 3-319th Field Artillery and 307th Support Battalion. During the deployment, the Brigade Task Force supported the Combined Joint Task Force 76. The Brigade conducted counter-insurgency operations against Taliban and Al-Qaeda throughout Afghanistan’s mountainous regions.

Afghanistan: Consolidation II 1 October 2006—30 November 2009

The most significant deployment to Afghanistan was that of Maj. Gen. David M. Rodriguez and the 82d Airborne Division headquarters in February 2007. Combined Joint Task Force-82 (CJTF-82) was the U.S.-led subordinate command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) until 10 April 2008, shortly after the division headquarters arrived. CJTF-82 served as both the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reporting directly to the U.S. Central Command commander, and as International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command – East reporting to former Division Commander General Dan McNeil, ISAF Commander. As ISAF-East Commander Major General Rodriquez supervised 32,000 soldiers in 14 provinces in eastern Afghanistan, bordering Pakistan. CJTF-82 was headquartered at Bagram Airfield; they served in this role until April 10, 2008

The 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) with 1st and 2-508th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan for the first combat tour in its history. Along with the 173d Infantry Brigade, they formed the major infantry units for Combined Joint Task Force 82. The 4th Brigade Combat Team performed most of the infantry mission in their area of operation, including raids, cordon and search and humanitarian assistance. The 4th Brigade Combat Team presented the Silver Star Medal to SPC Monica Brown, the second female since World War II to receive the award, for her actions as a combat medic during an ambush in April 2007. The Brigade Combat Team was deployed for over 15 months, and returned to Fort Bragg on April 13, 2008. .

The 82d Combat Aviation Brigade deployed to support the 82d with its mission in November 2006. It deployed with its organic 2d and 3d Battalions, 82d Aviation. Together, they flew more than 80,000 hours in support of CJTF-82 ground commanders. They transported more than 50,000 passengers throughout Afghanistan, moving more than seven million pounds of cargo and using more than 6 million gallons of fuel while conducting combat operations, medical evacuations, logistical resupply, reconnaissance, and surveillance target acquisition in support of the Combined Joint Task Force 82 ground commanders.

Afghanistan: Consolidation III - 1 December 2009—30 June 2011

On 2 March 2009, the 82nd Airborne Division received orders from U.S. Army Forces Command to prepare for deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. They departed in May 2009 for Regional Command East (RC East) and accepted the transition of authority from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) on 3 June.

The 82d’s 4th Brigade Combat Team with 1st and 2-508th Infantry, along with 700 additional training and support personnel, arrived in August, taking up positions in RC West and RC South. Its mission was to neutralize the insurgency in order to support the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in rebuilding security forces and social institutions while enhancing governance, the economy, and infrastructure. This task was not easy because RC East’s operational area was 124,675 square kilometers and included 570 miles of the porous border with Pakistan.

Afghanistan: Transition I - 1 July 2011–31 December 2014

The 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT) took the leading role in the last major clearing operation of the war in the eastern province of Ghazni. In a six-month deployment along the main thoroughfare between Kabul and Kandahar, the1st Brigade conducted nearly 3,500 patrols, killed or captured 400 enemy combatants, found nearly 200 roadside bombs and weapons caches, and engaged the enemy more than 170 times.

In February 2012, the 4th BCT with 1st and 2-508th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan for a third time—to Kandahar Province, birthplace of the Taliban—to combat the core of Afghan insurgency and to aid Afghan security forces to gain a stronghold as part of Operation RIGHTEOUS ENDEAVOR. The 4th BCT redeployed to Fort Bragg that September.

The division headquarters returned from its yearlong deployment to Afghanistan in October 2012. It served as the Regional Command South headquarters with nearly 10,000 paratroopers throughout Afghanistan, from Kandahar in the south to Afghanistan’s eastern border.