Provincial Reconstruction Team

 

Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) is a special military unit that provides security and helps with reconstruction in unstable nations. PRTs first began in Afghanistan in late 2001 or early 2002 followed by Iraq in 2003. Each PRT consists of a small operating base from which a group of sixty to more than one thousand civilians and military specialists work to deliver aid and perform reconstruction projects as well as provide security for others who are involved in aid and reconstruction activities.

There are approximately 34 PRTs in Afghanistan and an unknown numbers in Iraq. Within these PRTs there are typically 3-5 civilians and the remainder is made up of military forces. PRTs are backed by local and international security forces. PRTs were originally built and operated by US forces as means of facilitating reconstruction efforts in provinces outside the capital, Kabul. Following NATO's involvement in Afghanistan, the command of some PRTs was transferred from the US forces to the forces of the nations under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Structure

A PRT includes a military component (Civil Affairs/Force Protection, etc.), civilian police advisors, and civilian representatives of US Government Foreign Affairs Agencies. This generally includes a representative from USAID, the Department of State, and the Department of Agriculture, although there is a shortage of USDA representatives. There is no lead agency or department-the US Government civilians and the military commander form an executive committee of equals which develops a strategy for the PRT, drawing on the expertise of all contributing agencies. At this time, no other civilian agencies are represented on PRTs.

Since October 5, 2006, the PRT's are part of the NATO-led ISAF mission. At the next chapters we will try to give an account of the development of the PRT's and their activities.

The 1st Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) was located in Gardez in Paktia Province. Civil affairs team to include A team members provided the daily contact with locals and tribal leaders.

A contingent of the 2/504 PIR/82nd ABN provided security in and around the compound. The singular civilian was former US Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Hampton who worked under contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) providing overwatch to the rebuilding of schools and medical clinics throughout Paktia, Khwost and Ghanzi Provinces.

Security was always an issue as the 100 by 125 foot mud walled compound was attacked over 35 times by 105 mm rockets and RPG's. The PRT initiative has been expanded throughout most of the provinces for the purpose of reconstuction and reconcilation programs throughout Afghanistan. The 1st Provincial Reconstruction Team laid the critical cornerstones to future PRT initiatives throughout Afghanistan.

Recent testimony to Congress indicates the PRT initiative in Afghanistan and Iraq will be a long and evolving process with challenges to include the recruitment of qualified US civilians, cultural differences, languages barriers and continuing sectarian violence throughout most of the provinces, both in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Locations and activities

Throughout the main stages of the ISAF operation the number of PRTs was growing. At this chapter we will try to give an impression of the development and activities of the teams.

PRTs as of January 2006

PRT's in Afghan cities (and the lead nation - as of January 2006):

ISAF PRT's: Baghlan (Netherlands, later Hungary since October 2006), Chaghcharan (Lithuania), Farah (US), Fayzabad (Germany, together with the help of Denmark), Herat (Italy), Kunduz (Germany), Mazari Sharif (UK, then Denmark/Sweden, then Germany), Maymana (UK, then Norway), Qala-e Naw (Spain)

Combined Joint Task Force 76's PRT's: Asadabad (US), Bamyan (New Zealand's Task Group Crib), Gardez (US), Ghazni (US), Jalalabad (US), Kandahar (Canada), Khowst (US), Lashkar Gah (US), Mihtarlam (US), Parwan (US/South Korea), Qalat (US), Sharana (US), Tarin Kowt (Netherlands; Task Force Uruzgan, together with troops from Australia)

Canadian Forces provide similar services under the name Civil-Military Co-operation.

Since the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force took over command of the whole of the country at October, 5, 2006, the number of PRT's is 24. There are 5 regional command centres, which the PRTs report to:

PRTs as of October 2006

• Regional Command Capital, Kabul (none)

Regional Command North

The HQ is at Mazari Sharif, and is led by Germany. There are 5 PRTs underneath it.

PRT Mazari Sharif

Led by Sweden.

PRT Kunduz

At October 2003, the German “Bundeswehr” took over command from the United States of the PRT at Kunduz [1]. Germany is assisted by the Belgium-Luxemburg contribution to ISAF

PRT Maymana

The PRT at Maymana, the capital of Faryab province, was first led by the UK, then Norway.

PRT Fayzabad

The PRT at Fayzabad, the capital of Badakhshan province, is led by Germany, with the help of Denmark and the Czech Republic.

PRT Puli Khumri/Baghlan

At October, 1, 2006, Hungary took over responsibility, from the Dutch, for the Provincial Reconstruction Team at the town Pul-e Khumri (Puli Khumri), the capital of Baghlan province.

Regional Command West

The HQ is at Herat and is led by Italy. There are currently 4 PRTs underneath it.

PRT Herat

The PRT at Herat is led by Italy. At November 2006, government officials and the Herat PRT facilitated the donation of 12,000 fruit trees to local farmers. [2]

PRT Chaghcharan

Led by Lithuania. On 6 November, 2006, the Lithuanian-led Team in Chaghcharan, Ghor Province, assisted with the setting up of the only kindergarten in the area [3].

PRT Farah

Led by the US.

PRT Qala i Naw

The PRT at Qala i Naw, the capital of Badghis province, is led by Spain.

Regional Command South

On July, 31, 2006, the NATO-led ISAF mission assumed also command over the South of Afghanistan. The HQ is at Kandahar. On November, 1, 2006, the Dutch took over command from Canada. There are 4 PRTs underneath it.

PRT Kandahar

Canada has been responsibility for the Kandahar PRT since August 2005. The team is led by Canada from their base Camp Nathan Smith at Kandahar City. As part of the Canadian whole-of-government approach, the Canadian PRT utilizes the expertise of diplomats, development experts, the police & military.

PRT Tarin Kowt

The PRT at Tarin Kowt, Task Force Uruzgan with their main base Kamp Holland, is led by the Netherlands together with the help of troops from Australia. The task of the Dutch ISAF-contribution is to provide security together with the Afghan National Army and police in the area, to do reconstruction work, and to train the Afghan National Police.

PRT Qalat

The PRT at Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, is led by the US, together with the help of Romania.

PRT Lashkar Gah

Led by the UK, with the help of Denmark and Estonia. Their main base is Camp Bastion.

Regional Command East/Combined Joint Task Force 76(US led)

Since October, 5, 2006, ISAF assumed also command of the PRTs at the east of the country. The HQ is at Bagram and led by the U.S.

PRT Asadabad

The PRT at Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province, is led by the US.

PRT Bamyan

Led by the New Zealand's Task Group Crib.

PRT Wardak

This PRT was run by the US, commanded from Ghazni PRT but run by civil affairs and force protection teams based in Maiden Shar, Wardak, until Turkey opened it's PRT there in November, 2006 [4].

On May 30, graduating Afghan police trainees were presented certificates in a ceremony after learning critical skills to allow them to do their jobs more effectively. The Turkish battle group commander chief colonel Hasan Usyilmaz was presiding at the ceremony.

The training will be very useful for the Afghan policemen in dealing with stabilizing the area and provision of secure environment, according to NATO-ISAF sources.

The Turkish Camp Dogan hosted the course which consisted of road control and road blocking, vehicle and personnel searching, response to social incidents and introduction to military police equipment.

Turkey is with 1,200 soldiers in Afghanistan (April, 2007) and is leading the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Wardak, a province in central east Afghanistan.[5]

PRT Gardez

The PRT at Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, is led by the US.

PRT Ghazni

The Ghazni PRT is led by a U.S. Navy Commander and is made up of members of the U.S. Navy, National Guard (security force), U.S. Army (civil affairs) and civilian agencies. The PRT is responsible for improving the governance and security situation in the province through mentoring of local leaders, reconstruction and development, projects and other activities to connect the populace with the government and serve counterinsurgency needs. Reconstruction projects sponsored by the PRT include the construction of numerous schools, district government complexes and water retention dams in addition to smaller projects. The PRT also worked in conjunction with DynCorp to train hundreds of auxiliary police.

PRT Jalalabad

The PRT at Jalalabad, the capital of Nangahar province, is led by the US.

PRT Khowst

The PRT at Khowst, the capital of Khowst province (Khost province), is led by the US.

PRT Nuristan

Led by the US, Kamdesh Civil Military Operations Centre (CMOC), is an extension of the Kamdesh Provincial Reconstruction Team and provides reconstruction and development assistance to the people of Nuristan. The PRT is also working with DynCorp International to train the Afghan National Police (ANP) through the US funded Afghanistan Police Program^[1].

PRT Mihtarlam

The team at Mehtarlam, the capital of Laghman province, is led by the US. It consists of Army, Air Force, and several civilians. Until April 2006, the compound was predominately Marine Corps and smaller numbers of Army. Afterwards, the Air Force Provisional Reconstruction Team (PRT) had a major presence there performing various technical specialities. The Army's presence there is predominately Civil Affairs and infantry.

PRT Bagram

The team at Bagram, at Parvan province, is led by the US. The Bagram PRT has embedded engineering members from the Republic of Korea. This joint effort within the team is unique among the PRT's.

PRT Sharana

The PRT at Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, is led by the US.

PRT Panjshir

US led PRT established in 2005 to cover the Panjshir Province (previously under the US/South Korea Parwan PRT), consists of US Army Civil Affairs personnel, US Air Force Support personnel, and civilian experts. Panjshir is the only civlian-led PRT in Afghanistan, currently headed by a US State Department Representative. The model of civilian led-PRTs is being pushed much more strongly in Iraq, based on lessons learned in Afghanistan.

See also

• Afghanistan
• International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
• Afghanistan War order of battle
• Taliban
• Task Force Uruzgan

References

External links

• Details of ISAF and PRT deployments in Afghanistan - September 2007
• Provincial Reconstruction Teams - Global Security
• Provincial Reconstruction Teams - US State Department
• Provincial Reconstruction Teams - UK Foreign Office
  
• Provincial Reconstruction Team - Canada in Kandahar
  
• Provincial Reconstruction Team - Canadian Forces in Kandahar
  
• Provincial Reconstruction Teams and Humanitarian–Military Relations in Afghanistan - Save the Children
• Provincial Reconstruction Teams - Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan (Photo Albums)
• The U.S. Experience with Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan: Lessons Identified U.S. Institute of Peace report, October 2005
• Oral Histories Project on Stability Operations Interviews with Americans who served in Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar Province
• News about Canadian Forces in Kandahar, via MILNEWS.ca
• Provincial Reconstruction Team Khost
• Master Sergeant Orville F. Desjarlais Jr., Captain Mark Gibson, Captain Joe Campbell, Sergeant Sara Wood. "On the Road to Reconstruction: Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team helps build bridges, roads and schools", Airman, Fall 2006. Retrieved on 2007-7-12. 

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