ASPFOR XXIV

On 17 October 2009 at 11:00 hours an official farewell ceremony was held at the base “General Álvarez de Castro” in San Climent de Sacebes (Girona) for the more than 700 Spanish servicemen and women who make up Task Force ASPFOR XXIV (Spanish Force in Afghanistan). Over the next four months they will provide continuity to the work of reconstruction, maintenance of law and order and collaboration with the civilian population initiated by previous Spanish task forces. The farewell ceremony was presided over by Lieutenant General Virgilio Sañudo Alonso de Celis, commander of the Land Force, and was attended by civilian and military authorities.

The Transfer of Authority ceremony took place on the morning of 13 November 2009 at the base “General Urrutia”, headquarters of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, when Colonel Carlos Terol Bono handed over responsibility for the base to Colonel Manuel Sierra Martín. The ceremony was presided over by Italian General Alessandro Veltri, commander of International Security Assistance Force Regional Command West. Also in attendance was the Governor of Badghis province accompanied by a large representation of local dignitaries.

Task Force ASPFOR XXIV is under the authority of Colonel Sierra, current commander of the 62nd Mountain Light Infantry Regiment “Arapiles”, which makes up the bulk of the force alongside Mountain Troops Headquarters. It is complemented by logistic personnel from the 41st Logistic Support Group (Zaragoza) and a unit from the Manoeuvre Helicopter Battalion (Agoncillo, Logroño).

The group is composed of different units, including the Provincial Reconstruction Team, which plays a particularly important role. It has its headquarters at Qala-i-Naw, capital of the Badghis province in northwest Afghanistan. This PRT is one of 25 teams deployed throughout the country, led by 13 countries – although over 37 countries contribute in one way or another.

The Spanish Provincial Reconstruction Team has as its main task supporting the Afghan government in Badghis province, by maintaining a safe and secure environment to bolster reconstruction and development efforts. To this end, the Provincial Reconstruction Team not only has a military component but also a civilian component – the latter, provided by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), which is under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The military component undertakes Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) of direct benefit to the population. In addition, it endeavours to improve the security situation in the Badghis province, backing the efforts of the Afghan government. For its part, the civilian component is in charge of large development projects within the scope of responsibility of the Provincial Reconstruction Team.

The organisational structure of the Provincial Reconstruction Team includes a headquarters, a protection and security company, logistic support and intelligence units, explosive deactivation experts, a tactical air control team to guide aerial support, liaison and signals teams, liaison and surveillance teams and a civil-military cooperation team. The different units coordinate their activities with the civilian personnel from AECID and with the local personnel contracted to provide support to the Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Another element worth mentioning is the Engineer Battalion, which is in charge of overseeing construction of the new Spanish base in Afghanistan. The new base will be more suited to present needs in terms of space and security. It will be located near the airport and is scheduled to be completed by next June.

Finally, the Manoeuvre Battalion is a sizeable element of the force. It has a Manoeuvre Company deployed in Herat as well as the 2nd Manoeuvre Company, a service company and a command support company deployed in Qala-i-Naw. The latter are under the direct command of Regional Command West, and their area of action covers the four provinces it has been assigned. Their tasks are varied, ranging from carrying out joint patrols with the Afghan army aimed at promoting an atmosphere of credibility, trust and stability in the region, to maintaining a permanent force in order to act immediately as a reserve to the remaining forces deployed in any of the four provinces.

ASPFOR XXIV personnel are stationed at two main locations:

• In the town of Qala-i-Naw (Badghis), at two sites: The base “General Urrutia” and the Provincial Support Base currently under construction, partially occupied and situated near the city airport.
• In Herat, where around 50 personnel from the Manoeuvre Battalion and the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team are deployed at the military base “Camp Stone”, charged with training the Afghan National Army.