ASPFOR XXIX

ASPFOR XXIX is the Spanish force which will be deployed in the Afghan province of Badghis until early next year. The bulk of its troops come from Mountain Troops Headquarters and the 5th Light Infantry Brigade “San Marcial”.

Over the next five months ASPFOR XXIX will continue the work undertaken by previous Spanish forces, namely assisting the Afghan government. The objective is to help it exercise and extend its influence over the province of Badghis and provide the stability and security necessary for the reconstruction of the country. Spain has been contributing to this effort since 2002 alongside many other countries as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1510/2003.

ASPFOR XXIX will have its HQ at the Provincial Support Base “Ruy González de Clavijo”, located in the town of Qala-i-Naw, capital of the Badghis province. In addition, the force will have three other bases located in the towns of Herat, Ludina and Darrah-i-Bum.

Also deployed in Herat (at the Forward Support Base “Camp Arena”) will be the rear echelon of the Logistic Unit, the Helicopter Unit from Seville and the Role 2 Medical Support Unit, to stabilise any possible casualties. The localities of Ludina (Combat Outpost “Bernardo de Gálvez”) and Darrah-i-Bum (Combat Outpost “Hernán Cortés”) will be the force’s spearhead in its aim to expand the security area northwards. At both sites a strengthened company-type garrison will be deployed to act in coordination with the Afghan army.

The ASPFOR XXIX contingent at Qala-i-Naw is articulated into several units, foremost among them:

Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)

A PRT is a civil-military organisation able to operate in unstable and dangerous areas by virtue of its military component. It combines different capabilities (diplomatic, military, developmental…) in order to increase security, boost the effectiveness of the Afghan government, improve the life of the population and support reconstruction and development programmes. ASPFOR XXIX contributes the military component to the Badghis PRT.

The civilian component of the PRT is assisted by personnel of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation – which is under the authority of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – at both the main base at Qala-i-Naw and at others bases. Its main task is to identify, assess and execute projects with a significant social and economic impact which carry direct and long-term benefits for the province. Those projects focus on areas such as infrastructures, water and sanitation, health, education, agriculture and animal husbandry.

The Manoeuvre Battalion 

The Manoeuvre Battalion has as its main task providing a secure environment in which the different teams within the contingent can carry out their work safely. Its structure is very similar to that of similar units in Spain and is made up chiefly of Mountain Light Infantry troops from the battalions of Pamplona and Jaca.

One of its daily duties is organising joint patrols with the Afghan army aimed at fostering a climate of trust, boosting their credibility and promoting stability in the region.

The Logistic Unit (ULOG)

This unit will provide the Spanish contingent with the necessary elements to perform the logistic functions it needs to fulfil its mission (e.g. maintenance, supplies).

The Civil-Military Cooperation Unit

The CIMIC Unit will endeavour to develop a series of quick impact projects (QIPs) aimed at directly assisting the population and improving their living conditions. Those projects address a wide range of needs, such as water (wells, cisterns, canalisations…), infrastructure (fixing roads, walls, schools…); energy (solar panels); health (medical supplies, refurbishment of health clinics); and humanitarian aid (delivery of food, clothing, shoes and toys). These actions are identified by the personnel of the CIMIC Unit, then the colonel who leads the Provincial Reconstruction Team presents a plan to Operations Command. Once the project is approved, locals are hired to carry it out to further extend its benefit.

The CIMIC Unit also coordinates Spanish lessons to the population at Qala-i-Naw, currently attended by over 200 boys and girls.

Other units

In addition to the above, there are several mentor and liaison teams working with the Afghan army, as well as Civil Guard teams charged with escorting, liaising with, mentoring, training and advising the Afghan police. Furthermore, the contingent includes a group of highly specialised units with the skills necessary to fulfil the mission, such as intelligence, logistic support, sappers and signals, alongside Air Force and Marine Infantry teams which carry out aerial reconnaissance and aerial target detection. Finally, a military building team will take care of works and refurbishments within the base.

The contingent is made up of around 1,100 soldiers, of whom 6% are women and 12%, foreign nationals (from Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Paraguay, Argentina, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic).

Challenges facing ASPFOR XXIX

ASPFOR XXIX will have to achieve a number of objectives during their time in Afghanistan:

• Expanding the security zone within their area of responsibility, in collaboration with the Afghan army (ANA) and the Afghan police (ANP). That entails extending the security bubbles over the famous Lithium and Opal routes so as to close the main thoroughfare in the country, known as the Ring Road.
• Upgrading the capabilities of the Afghan army and police in matters of defence and security, so that in due time they will be able to assume greater responsibilities.
• Increasing support to the governability of the Badghis province through the development programmes already underway, especially the reintegration programme. In this regard the province has become a model for others, because it has the highest number of insurgents who have laid down their arms.

The mountain units in Afghanistan

In 2002, following the Spanish government’s decision to send troops to Afghanistan, the then 1st Mountain Light Infantry Brigade “Aragón” set up the first Spanish contingent to be deployed in that country. Since this first mission, Mountain Troops HQ has taken part in the mission on six occasions. ASPFOR XXIX will be its seventh time.