MG Spears Visit to Kandahar

The South Carolina Adjutant General, MG Stanhope Spears along with CSM Eddie Harris the State Command Sergeant Major made the trip south to sunny Kandahar to visit SC soldiers deployed throughout the region of Afghanistan. In ARSIC (S) 40% of the soldiers are from South Carolina, under Spear's command. This trip was not only special for the troops, but for the leaders as well, whom was given the opportunity to update MG Spears on this deployment, in particular what his troops are facing and the job they are doing.

Also accompanying MG Spears on this trip was BG Bob Livingston, Commander TF Phoenix VI, COL Cory Cannon, Commander of RSAC, LTC Ken Braddock and myself.

Pictured above thirteen soldiers from Bravo Company, SECFOR, receiving their CIB/CAB (Combat Infantryman's Badge & Combat Action Badge). These awards stemmed from combat action on May 23, 2007, in which they were ambushed by approximately seventy enemy forces. In this battle two British soldiers were injured and no US forces that provided the escort.

(MG Spears pinning the CIB/CABs)

As we visited the RPAC, (Regional Police Advisory Command), commanded by COL Kornish of W, Va. his senior enlisted member is from South Carolina SGM Andy Bolt. Pictured below SGM Bolt forms the troops for MG Spears presentation of the Afghan Campaign Medal.

Chuck Crombo of the State Newspaper embedded with TF Phoenix writes; Spears and Command Sgt. Maj. Eddie Harris, the S.C. Guard’s top enlisted soldier, sat in on briefings aimed at giving them the latest information on the military situation in Afghanistan. Some of the news wasn’t pleasing to hear. The Taliban controls a majority of the country’s southernmost area — perhaps as much as 70 percent of the region, commanders told Spears. “I just about choked” at that news, Spears said afterward. Fighting between coalition forces and the Taliban also takes place daily, commanders said. “Every time we leave (the base), there’s a chance of being hit by an IED (bomb) or ambushed,” said Maj. Bill Connor of Orangeburg. Connor’s remark was a reminder that while S.C. troops are here to advise and teach Afghan forces, they’re getting shot at. “We were set up to mentor, but we’re fighting,” Connor said.

These comments though not pleasing to hear was exactly what the troops want the leadership to fully understand. Our primary role is mentoring and advising, but the truth is we are fighting just as much as we are mentoring. It is extremely important for leaders to fully understand what they are asking of their soldiers, as they make key decisions.

As MG Spears and CSM Harris arrived at TLS, (Air Terminal on Kandahar called "Taliban Last Stand"). COL Thomas McGrath, Commander of ARSIC (S) arrived to thank them for visiting his troops and handed him a letter. The letter heaped praises upon his SC warriors for doing a great job and thanked him especially for making the trip south, where many choose not to come.

Crombo wrote: Spears’ trip to a combat zone, particularly one as contested as southern Afghanistan, impressed the troops. “It’s a morale boost for my guys,” said Staff Sgt. William Simpson of Columbia. “It lets you know the Guard and the people of South Carolina support us.”
Afghanistan is more than 7,000 miles from South Carolina and getting here can take days. Spears and Harris, for example, left the United States on Saturday and arrived in Kabul on Tuesday. Spears, in turn, heaped praise on the troops. “You’re the worker bees. You’re the ones who are out there hoofing it every day,” the two-star leader said. “South Carolina is very proud of what the 218th is doing.” Harris reminded the troops they needed to remember those back home, too. “Take care of yourself. Take care of your buddies, and call home,” Harris said. “That’s important. “And bring everybody home.”

I pray that we are able to bring everybody home, but that is "Enshala" (God's will!!!).