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| Shift in control of Kandahar Airfield is the latest change in Afghanistan military drawdown | Shift in control of Kandahar Airfield is the latest change in Afghanistan military drawdown |
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| The military drawdown in Afghanistan continues, with thousands of coalition troops departing the country this month and the organization of those remaining is shifting to include new names and missions. | The military drawdown in Afghanistan continues, with thousands of coalition troops departing the country this month and the organization of those remaining is shifting to include new names and missions. |
| The latest sign of transition is the regional commands that have played a central role in the conflict becoming “tactical advise and assist” commands. The transition already has occurred in the northern, southern, western and capital regions of the country, according to the International Security Assistance Force overseeing coalition operations. Regional commands remain in the southwestern portion of the country, with headquarters at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, and in the east, where the mission is led from Bagram Airfield. | The latest sign of transition is the regional commands that have played a central role in the conflict becoming “tactical advise and assist” commands. The transition already has occurred in the northern, southern, western and capital regions of the country, according to the International Security Assistance Force overseeing coalition operations. Regional commands remain in the southwestern portion of the country, with headquarters at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, and in the east, where the mission is led from Bagram Airfield. |
| The latest to see the change was in Kandahar, the spiritual home of the Taliban and the site of intense combat over the last few years. Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, the commanding general of Regional Command-South, handed the mission off to the lower-ranking Army Brig. Gen. Douglas Gabram, who will lead “TAAC-South,” defense officials said. | The latest to see the change was in Kandahar, the spiritual home of the Taliban and the site of intense combat over the last few years. Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, the commanding general of Regional Command-South, handed the mission off to the lower-ranking Army Brig. Gen. Douglas Gabram, who will lead “TAAC-South,” defense officials said. |
| At the same time, the United States took over control of the sprawling Kandahar Airfield, the main coalition base in southern Afghanistan. It had been under the command of NATO, NATO officials said. A U.S. military official in Afghanistan said that doesn’t mean much, considering the United States is in NATO. | |
| At its peak, the airfield was home to 26,000 military personnel and thousands more contractors from more than 60 nations. NATO also re-opened a civilian airport and enabled the fledgling Afghan air force to start operating in the region. The U.S. will lead the advise and assist mission in Kandahar, NATO officials said — not a surprise, considering that just a few thousand coalition troops who are not American will remain. | At its peak, the airfield was home to 26,000 military personnel and thousands more contractors from more than 60 nations. NATO also re-opened a civilian airport and enabled the fledgling Afghan air force to start operating in the region. The U.S. will lead the advise and assist mission in Kandahar, NATO officials said — not a surprise, considering that just a few thousand coalition troops who are not American will remain. |
| As of Oct. 17, there were 31 remaining coalition bases in operation, ranging from large installations like Kandahar Airfield to a handful of small outposts. In October 2011, in comparison, there were more than 840 coalition bases in Afghanistan before major phases of the drawdown began. | As of Oct. 17, there were 31 remaining coalition bases in operation, ranging from large installations like Kandahar Airfield to a handful of small outposts. In October 2011, in comparison, there were more than 840 coalition bases in Afghanistan before major phases of the drawdown began. |
| This post was updated with clarification from a U.S. military official in Afghanistan. |