ASPFOR XXIII

On 11 June 2009 at 12:30 hours an official farewell ceremony was held at the base “Puerto del Rosario” in Puerte del Rosario (Fuerteventura) for the 1,045 Spanish servicemen and women who make up Task Force ASPFOR XXIII (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 José Luis Vega Alba, commander of Canary Island Command, and was attended by civilian and military authorities.

The Transfer of Authority ceremony took place on the morning of 12 November 2009 at the base “General Urrutia”, headquarters of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, when Colonel Emilio Sarabia Griera handed over responsibility for the base to Colonel Carlos Terol Bono. The ceremony was presided over by Italian General Rosario Castellano, commander of International Security Assistance Force Regional Command West. Also in attendance was General Francisco Martín Alonso, commander of the Light Infantry Brigade “Canarias”, based in Las Palmas de Gran Canarias, alongside the Governor of Badghis province and a large representation of local dignitaries.

ASPFOR XXIII is under the authority of Colonel Terol, current commander of the 9th Light Infantry Regiment “Soria”, which contributes 249 service personnel to the force. It is worth noting the contribution of other units: The 49th Light Infantry Regiment “Tenerife”, with 170 troops; the 50th Light Infantry Regiment “Canarias”, with 145; the 15th Engineer Battalion with 65; the 12th Pontoneer & Engineering Specialties Regiment, with 62; and the 4th Manoeuvre Helicopter Battalion, with 40. Those troops are complemented by personnel from the Navy, the Air Force and the Civil Guard and by the National Support Element, whose personnel come mainly from the 81st Logistics Support Group, based in Tenerife and contributing 43 soldiers. The force is 7% female, with 73 women. 12.44% of its members are foreign nationals, among them 47 Colombians, 31 Ecuadorians and 14 Venezuelans.

The task force 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 25 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 (AECID) 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 support the Provincial Reconstruction Team.

One of the distinctive features of this Task Force is the participation of an Elections Support Task Force made up of over 400 service personnel. Its main task is to guarantee that the upcoming presidential election, to be held on 20 August, is held in the safest possible environment in order to encourage the participation of the Afghan people.

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 in use by next October.

Finally, another sizeable element of the force is the Manoeuvre Battalion. It is deployed in Herat under the direct command of Regional Command West and its area of action covers the four provinces it has been assigned. Its 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 being always ready to act as a reserve to the remaining forces deployed in any of the four provinces.

ASPFOR XXIII personnel are stationed at two main locations:

• The town of Qala-i-Naw (Badghis), at two sites: The base “General Urrutia” and the Provincial Support Base currently under construction and situated near the city airport.
• The military base “Camp Stone” 15 km from Herat, where around 50 personnel from the Manoeuvre Battalion and the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team are charged with training the Afghan National Army.