Training prepares Ramstein member to help Afghan people

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mindy Bloem
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Airmen and Soldiers alike sat in a five-man Humvee and waited patiently for the target to pop up; the gunner reacting to unload his weapon on the threatening object when it appeared.

This mixed group of Air Force and Army has been working together for more than two months to receive the necessary skill sets and training to perform the duties of a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.

There are 24 PRTs currently operating in Afghanistan under NATO's International Security Assistance Force. Coalition forces run half and U.S. forces operate the other 12 teams, of which the Air Force has six and the Navy has six. 

Senior Master Sgt. Leroy Lefiti, a member of the PRT team heading to Laghman Province, knows this joint environment has its share of challenges but also strongly believes in the team's mission.

"We have some young troops who have never been in a joint environment, so there are some growing pains," he said. "It's really learning their terminology, learning their heartbeat and trying to get everyone in step.

"It's important to remember that the PRT is not the Army," said Sergeant Lefiti, who is deployed from Ramstein AB, Germany. "It is an integrated team, so when we are talking PRT, we are talking one unified group. I am just looking forward to helping another country restore themselves economically, getting them back on their feet. That is pretty much our mission right there."

A PRT includes a military component and civilian representatives of U.S. (or other national) government foreign affairs agencies. In a U.S.-led PRT, this usually includes a representative from U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and the Department of Agriculture.

The U.S. government, civilians and the military commander form an executive committee of equals, which develops a strategy for the PRT, drawing on the expertise of all contributing agencies. The PRT's mission includes assisting the Afghan government with its security, governance and reconstruction efforts.

Currently, there are more than 175 Airmen at Fort Bragg training with their joint teams in preparation for deployment in late October. Each PRT team is comprised of approximately 80 members, including Air Force, Army, Army reservists and Army National Guardsmen, who make up the security detail for the team. One Navy PRT also contains several Airmen filling positions. The teams will deploy to provinces throughout Afghanistan.

In addition to teaching in a joint environment, the training instructors attempt to make the environment as realistic as possible. During a recent simulated attack on PRT Nangarhar, the instructors simulated a mortar attack on the training Forward Operating Base, while conducting a small-arms assault on the convoy.

The instructors were impressed with the leadership and quick reaction of the team members, said Lt. Col. Steve Cabosky, PRT Nangarhar commander, said.

"If we are going to see it over there, we will practice it here," said the colonel, deployed from MacDill AFB, Fla. "Many of the instructors have just returned from a deployment in Afghanistan, and they are using those experiences to expose us to as many threats as possible to ensure we are fully prepared to deploy together."