Afghan War order of battle

A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier scans for insurgents during an engagement on 10 April 2007, in the Sangin District area of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Daniel Love).

The Afghan War order of battle is the disposition and structure of military forces in the ongoing War in Afghanistan. This article lists deployed units under the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which controls both combat and reconstruction operations (often led by the Provincial Reconstruction Teams). ISAF comprises units from many nations. In this article, units are assumed to be from the United States unless otherwise stated. This list is current as of April 2012.

This list covers current coalition forces in Afghanistan. See the article Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan: Allies for coalition support for Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2001 to 2003.

For coalition forces involved in NATO combat operations in the past, see the articles Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006, Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2007, and Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2008. See also article International Security Assistance Force.

International Security Assistance Force

The overall command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force starts from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe at Casteau, Belgium. The overall command is vested in Joint Force Command Brunssum at Brunssum in the Netherlands, then the Commander ISAF (COMISAF). The current COMISAF is General John R. Allen (USMC), at ISAF Headquarters in Kabul.

There are three subordinate commands under COMISAF: the Intermediate Joint Command, which controls the tactical battle along the lines of on the lines of Multi-National Corps Iraq; the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, which trains the Afghan National Army; and Special Operations Forces.

The Intermediate Joint Command in turn controls the regional commands, roughly analogous to divisions. There are six regional commands: Capital (at Kabul), South, Southwest, North, East, and West. Each regional command has a headquarters to provide command and control and logistics support for its area of responsibility, and comprises both combat units and Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).

Regional Command Capital

• Commander: Brigadier General Rafet Sevinc Sasmaz (Turkey)
• Headquarters: Kabul
• Area of responsibility: Kabul Province

Combat units

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Regional Command Capital has no Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

Regional Command South

• Commander: Major General James L. Huggins (USA)
• Headquarters: Kandahar Airfield
• Area of responsibility: Kandahar, Orūzgān, and Zabul Provinces.

Combat units

Unit	Sub-units	Headquarters	Tasking
76th Brigade Combat Team Combined Team Uruzgan	8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Mentoring Task Force 4)[1]	Camp Holland, Tarin Kowt	Responsible for Orūzgān Province.
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division (Task Force Arrowhead)	1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment 300th Infantry Battalion (Romania) 495th Infantry Battalion (Romania)	FOB Lagman, Qalat	Responsible for Zabul Province
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (Task Force Arctic Wolves)	5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment	Kandahar Airfield	Responsible for Daman, Dand, Panjwaye, and Shah Wali Kot Districts
4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (Task Force Fury)	5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment	FOB Pasab	Responsible for Maywand and Zhari Districts.
159th Combat Aviation Brigade (Task Force Thunder)	4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment 7th Battalion, 17th Aviation Regiment 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment	Kandahar Airfield	Aviation support for Regional Command South.
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Task Force Warhorse)	385th Military Police Battalion 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment 1st Squadron, 67th Armor Regiment 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment	Camp Nathan Smith	Responsible for Kandahar City and Arghandab District.
504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (Task Force Viper)	2nd Battalion, 38th Cavalry Regiment	FOB Spin Boldak	Responsible for Spin Boldak District.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Regional Command Southwest

• Commander: Major General Charles M. Gurganus, USMC
• Headquarters: Camp Leatherneck, Helmand
• Area of Operations: Helmand and Nimruz Provinces

Combat units

Unit	Sub-units	Headquarters	Tasking
20 Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom) (Task Force Helmand)	1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards 2nd Battalion, Mercian Regiment 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland Danish Team 13 2nd Battalion, Rifles 5th Battalion, Rifles 35 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Queen's Royal Hussars 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment	Camp Lashkar Gah	Conducts ground operations in central Helmand Province.
1st Marine Division (Task Force Leatherneck)	1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion 2nd Battalion 11th Marines	Camp Leatherneck	Conducts ground operations in Helmand and Nimruz Provinces.
Regimental Combat Team 5 (Task Force Leatherneck)	3rd Battalion 3rd Marines 2nd Battalion 6th Marines 2nd Battalion 9th Marines	Camp Dwyer, Garmsir	Responsible for southern Helmand Province.
Regimental Combat Team 6 (Task Force Leatherneck)	2nd Battalion, 5th Marines 1st Battalion, 8th Marines 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines 31st Light Infantry Battalion 1st Reconnaissance Battalion	FOB Delaram II	Responsible for northern Helmand Province and part of Nimruz Province.
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Task Force Leatherneck)	Marine Attack Squadron 223 Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 Marine UAV Squadron 1	Camp Leatherneck	Aviation support in Helmand and Nimruz Provinces.
Joint Aviation Group (United Kingdom)	Joint Helicopter Force Afghanistan No. 617 Squadron RAF No. 39 Squadron RAF	Camp Leatherneck	Headquarters for British aviation units.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

• PRT Helmand (Lead nation: United Kingdom)

Regional Command East

• Commander: Major General Daniel B. Allyn, USA
• Headquarters: Bagram Airfield
• Area of responsibility: Ghazni, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktia, Panjshir, Parwan and Wardak Provinces and Surobi District of Kabul Province

Combat units

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Unit	Sub-units	Headquarters	Tasking
172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Task Force Blackhawk)	2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment 3rd Squadron, 66th Armor Regiment 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment 9th Engineer Battalion	FOB Sharana	Responsible for Paktika Province.
4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Task Force Warrior)	3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment	Jalalabad Airfield	Responsible for Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan, and Kunar Provinces.
1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (Task Force Devil)	2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment	FOB Warrior, Gelan District	Responsible for southern Ghazni Province.
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division (Task Force Bulldog)	1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment Task Force 222 (Jordan)	FOB Shank, Logar	Responsible for Logar and Wardak Provinces.
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (Task Force Poseidon)	1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment 2nd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment 3rd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment Task Force ODIN-A III	Bagram Airfield	Provides aviation support for eastern Afghanistan.
4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division	1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment	FOB Salerno, Khost	Responsible for Khost and Paktia Provinces.
1st Mechanized Brigade (Task Force La Fayette, France)[2]	Task Force Mousquetaire 27th Mountain Infantry Battalion	FOB Nijrab, Kapisa	Responsible for Kapisa Province and Surobi District of Kabul Province.
45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Task Force Thunderbird)	1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment (United States)	Bagram Airfield	Responsible for Laghman, Panjshir, Parwan, and western Nuristan Provinces.
17th Mechanized Brigade (Task Force White Eagle, Poland)	Battle Group Alpha (Poland) Battle Group Bravo (Poland) 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment	FOB Andar	Responsible for Ghazni Province.
ISAF SOF	TF-49 JW Grom soldiers TF-50 JW Komandosów soldiers	FOB Warrior, FOB Ghazni, FOB Rushmore	Responsible for Ghazni Province Responsible for Ghazni Province, Paktika Province.
Designation	Composition	Headquarters	Sponsors
PRT Logar	200 military personnel 10 civilians	FOB Shank	Lead nation: Czech Republic[3]
PRT Ghazni			Lead nation: Poland Supporting nation: USA
PRT Bamyan			Lead nation: New Zealand
PRT Kapisa			Lead nation: USA Supporting nation: France
PRT Parwan			Lead nation: South Korea
PRT Wardak			Lead nation: Turkey
PRT Panjshir			Lead nation: USA
PRT Paktika			Lead nation: USA
PRT Mehtar Lam			Lead nation: USA
PRT Khost			Lead nation: USA
PRT Nangahar		Jalalabad	Lead nation: USA
PRT Patkia		Gardez	Lead nation: USA
PRT Kunar		Asadabad	Lead nation: USA
PRT Nuristan			Lead nation: USA

Regional Command North

• Commander: Major General Marcus Kneip, Germany
• Headquarters: Mazar-i-Sharif
• Area of responsibility - Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, Kunduz, Samangan, Sar-e Pul and Takhar Provinces.

Combat units

Unit	Sub-units	Headquarters	Tasking
Task Force Kunduz (Germany)		FOB Kunduz	Operating in eastern Regional Command North.
Jager Battalion 292 (Task Force Mazar-e-Sharif)		Camp Marmal	Operating in western Regional Command North.
Expeditionary Air Wing Mazar-e-Sharif (Germany)		Camp Marmal	Aviation support for northern Afghanistan.
37th Brigade Combat Team (Task Force Dragon)	2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment 40th Engineer Battalion	Camp Mike Spann, Mazar-e-Sharif	Operating in Baghlan, Balkh, Faryab and Kunduz Provinces.
1st Air Cavalry Brigade (Task Force Warrior)	2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment	Camp Marmal	Providing aviation support for northern Afghanistan.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Regional Command West^[4]

• Commander: Brigadier General Luigi Chiapperini, Italy
• Headquarters: Camp Arena, Herat
• Area of responsibility: Badghis, Farah, Ghor, and Herat Provinces
• Airfields: Herat International Airport, Shindand Air Base

Combat units

Unit	Sub-units	Headquarters	Tasking
Task Force Badghis (Spain)		Qala-e-Naw	Operating in Badghis Province.
82nd "Torino" Infantry Regiment, Italy (Task Force Center)		Camp La Marmora, Shindand	Operating in southern Herat Province.
21st Engineer Regiment, Italy (Task Force Genio)		Herat	Engineer support for western Afghanistan.
19th "Guide" Cavalry Regiment, Italy (Task Force South)		Camp El Alamein, Farah	Operating in western Farah Province.
1st Bersaglieri Regiment, Italy (Task Force Southeast)		Camp Lavaredo, Bakwa District	Operating in eastern Farah Province.
1st "Antares" Aviation Regiment, Italy (Task Force Fenice)		Herat Airfield	Providing aviation support for western Afghanistan.
8th Bersaglieri Regiment, Italy		Unidentified location.
8th "Pasubio" Field Artillery Regiment		Unidentified location.
3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment		Camp Stone, Herat	Operating in western Afghanistan.
3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment (Task Force Spearhead)		Shindand Air Base	Aviation support for western Afghanistan.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

U.S.-led Coalition

The overall command of the U.S.-led coalition effort in Afghanistan—known as Operation Enduring Freedom—Afghanistan—is headquartered at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, which reports to United States Central Command. OEF-Afghanistan's two major commands are Combined Joint Task Force 101, and the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A).^[5] With the Stage IV transition of authority to ISAF, the status of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade/Task Force Falcon, which handles all the helicopter combat aviation duties in Afghanistan, is uncertain, along with the exact status of Combined Task Force Sword, the engineer task force, and the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force. It is unclear exactly what units are assigned to OEF-Afghanistan, but the operation is in charge of counter-terrorist operations, including pursuing al Qaeda along Afghanistan’s inhospitable border region with Pakistan.^[6]

Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A)

• This command is responsible for training the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police through its headquarters and Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) Phoenix.^[7] CSTC-A is responsible for mentoring the ministries of defense and interior, while CJTF Phoenix is responsible for mentoring Afghan National Army corps and below and Afghan National Police districts and below. CJTF Phoenix is headquartered by the 33rd Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard, which relieved the 27th Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard in late 2008, which relieved the 218th Brigade Combat Team, South Carolina Army National Guard in early 2008. The rest of the task force is made up of National Guard and Reserve personnel from 42 states, Marine Corps reservists, active duty representatives from the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, and soldiers assigned from France, Germany, Romania, Canada, New Zealand, Mongolia, and the United Kingdom.

References

External links

• Afghanistan Order of Battle - Institute for the Study of War
• Troop Levels in Afghanistan Since 2001 - interactive map by The New York Times
• Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan/Task Force Leatherneck