U.S. Airdrops sustain coalition mission in Bala Murghab

Badghis, Afghanistan (January, 07) -  A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., airdropped dozens of cargo pallets to American and Italian service members forward deployed at Forward Operating Base Todd, Baghdis Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 6, 2011.

 Airdrops are key to sustaining life and coalition operations at FOB Todd and the 16 combat outposts that circle and protect the Bala Murghab (BMG) valley.

Troops from the Afghan National and Italian armies, along with joint-American services, patrol the region, man the COPs and control access into the valley 24-7.

Most of the U.S. Soldiers in BMG hail from Fort Carson, Colo. Most of the Italian Soldiers belong to the Julia Alpine Brigade from northern Italy. These Soldiers, along with the ANA, make up the majority of the troops in BMG, but are augmented by American or Italian Marines, Sailors and Airmen.

“With a unified face, we can truly demonstrate the capability and power of ISAF,” said Italian Army Lt. Col. Umberto Salvador, Task Force-North Civil-Military Cooperation officer. “The villages understand that they do not face one nation, rather a coalition of multiple nations and begin to understand that it is more helpful for them to cooperate with ISAF.”

The security COPs provide is often called the BMG “Security Bubble” because inside that bubble, security and development occurs at a level higher than what is seen in other areas.

Without food and supplies, these efforts would be futile.

With the amount of development and progress in BMG, TF-North is committed to maintain, secure and develop the bubble. For most of Afghanistan, the Bala Murghab valley is a benchmark of progress.