Missouri Engineers look to build on successes in Afghanistan

By: By Sgt. Jon E. Dougherty
Public Affairs noncommissioned officer, 203rd Engineer Battalion

Missouri Engineers look to build on successes in Afghanistan
SHARANA, Afghanistan - Members of the 203rd Engineer Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, are under no illusions about what challenges lie ahead for them over the next several months. The terrain is foreboding, the enemy is resolute, and their mission is critical.

Soldiers from the battalion's various companies began arriving here and elsewhere in theater in late October. They paused only long enough to find their living quarters and stow their gear before setting about the task of learning their jobs from the Soldiers they came to replace.

The unit's central mission is route clearance, which involves keeping the various roads and passages free of improvised explosive devices and other hazards. It is a paramount mission because it directly affects the future economic, political and military sustainability of a war-torn nation, whose people are clamoring to regain some semblance of normalcy.

Fortunately, thanks to the professionalism and dedication of the U.S. military and its allies, there has been some progress towards creating stability. Following that example, the Missouri engineers want to build upon those successes, many of which were achieved by the units the 203rd is relieving.

"Their organization is strong and they have worked together well as a team," said Capt. James Vaughn, commander of the Forward Support Company, 203rd Engineer Battalion, about the unit he is replacing, the 276th Engineer Battalion, Virginia Army National Guard. "That's all the way up and down their chain of command."

Vaughn said it was obvious that the 276th has studied their surroundings, which is important in this environment, and have learned how to get things done for personnel in the field, qualities he hopes to emulate.

Capt. Eric Norton, commander of the Forward Support Company of the 276th, said he believed his unit had accomplished a lot, and that he had no doubts his unit is leaving Afghanistan a better place than when it arrived.

"I'm confident we accomplished what we set out to do, and that we've been providing a true service to people," he said. "We've been able to get out in front of the maneuver elements and 'find' IEDs, and keep them from hitting them."

Norton said he believes his unit has added value to the people of Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Anthony Adrian, commander of the 203rd, said the unit's route-clearance mission is his focal point.

"How well we can remove IEDs from priority routes in theater is it; that's our mission," he said.

Vaughn agreed, saying that in order to achieve the commander's priority, it would be a goal of his to ensure route clearance packages are successful by making their operations more efficient and providing them with what they need in a timely manner.

Going forward, Norton said he wanted to pass on to the 203rd the knowledge that "this isn't the kind of running and gunning mission" it may have once been, for instance, in Iraq or even Afghanistan.

"We are in a customer service role," he said. And, while U.S. forces would not hesitate to protect themselves and the Afghan population, "We're here to help and assist and add value to the Afghan forces and the Afghan people, and treat them with respect as well as maintain the level of respect they have for us."

The 203rd is made up of the following units while serving in Afghanistan: Forward Support Company; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, from Joplin, Mo.; 1141st Engineer Co. (Sappers); 810th Engineer Co., of the Georgia Army National Guard; 211th Engineer Co., of the South Dakota Army National Guard; 5-3 Field Artillery, Alpha Battery, of the U.S. Army, Ft. Lewis, Washington; 41st Engineer Company (Sappers) of the U.S. Army, Ft. Riley, Kansas.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.