Commentary
On April 25, 2012, I experienced a rare, but significant tactical defeat in Afghanistan. Since then, my career and outlook stem from the events of that day. I was the Battle Company commander in the 1-508 Parachute Infantry Regiment, leading my Soldiers through a seven-month deployment in a highly contested area of Kandahar Province in the southern part of the country.
Our company conducted a two-day, out-of-sector air assault to clear Salim Aka, a small village and known Taliban stronghold. Historical data indicated we would be walking into an improvised explosive device (IED)-laden area and expected enemy contact. We partnered with an Afghan National Army (ANA) company living with us in our combat outpost. Training, partnering, and patrolling with Afghans was harder and more tedious than just leading our own men, requiring increased levels of risk with a heavy dose of patience….