Combined Joint Task Force 82
Encyclopedia
Combined Joint Task Force – 82 (CJTF-82) is a US led subordinate formation of the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF). It originally served as both the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reporting directly to the Commander, United States Central Command
, and as ISAF's Regional Command East
. It was replaced by Combined Joint Task Force - 101 (CJTF-101) in early April 2008. In May 2009, CJTF-82 returned to Bagram Air Field and assumed control of the east. Shortly thereafter the United States Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) officially took over responsibility as the National Command Element for the theater.
CJTF-82 is headquartered at Bagram Air Base
.
.
The mission of CJTF-180 was to conduct operations to destroy remaining Al Qaeda/hostile Taliban command control and other hostile anti-Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan elements, trains Afghan National Army, and conducts directed information operations, civil military operations and humanitarian assistance operations in coordination with the ITGA in order to establish a stable and secure Afghanistan able to deter/defeat the re-emergence of terrorism.
In November 2003, Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan (CFC-A) was established as the U.S. led, coalition headquarters for Afghanistan. CTJF-180 was restructured as a subordinate organization of CFC-A. CFC-A reported in turn to United States Central Command
.
, was the first of these HQs. Later changes in the Divisional HQ providing the task force HQ saw changes to the name, first to CJTF 76 and then to CJTF 82.
The mission of CJTF-76 was to conduct a 'full spectrum of operations throughout its operations area to defeat [the] enemy extremist movement
, establish an enduring security and reshape its posture for the Long War in order to set conditions for long-term stability in Afghanistan.'
CJTF 76 had a one point two combat brigades under its control, which conducted counter-insurgency operations against Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the east and south of the country. The Task Force and its subordinate formations comprised a shifting group of units and formations. There were also engineer and special operations Task Forces, plus the Provincial Reconstruction Team
s.
The lead fighting formation of CJTF-180 changed in mid-April 2004 to the 25th Infantry Division (Light), resulting in a designator change to CJTF-76. CJTF 76 was in place until March 2007.
In March 2005, the U.S. Army's Southern European Task Force (SETAF) took the leadership role in CJTF-76. In February 2006, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) took over CJTF-76 leadership.
At the time of the transfer of authority of the RC East area from U.S. Central Command to the NATO-led ISAF, CJTF-76 was commanded by Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).
With the inactivation of CFC-A in late 2006, CJTF-76 transitioned to ISAF command as headquarters for ISAF's Regional Command East. The elimination of the intermediate U.S. CFC-A meant the commander CJTF-76 simultaneously reported to the Commander, U.S. Central Command as the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
CJTF-76 was replaced by CJTF-82, led by the 82nd Airborne Division, in March 2007.
The Commander of CJTF-76 is also the regional commander of Regional Command East (RC-East).
The Commander, Joint Task Force-76 Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley was given two positions as the US operational commander and the NATO/ISAF deputy commander for security. The goal was to maintain proper coordination between the two organizations.
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
(ISAF). It originally served as both the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reporting directly to the Commander, United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
, and as ISAF's Regional Command East
Regional Command East
Regional Command is an international military formation, of roughly division size, which is one of the components of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The United States Army has usually provided the force headquarters...
. It was replaced by Combined Joint Task Force - 101 (CJTF-101) in early April 2008. In May 2009, CJTF-82 returned to Bagram Air Field and assumed control of the east. Shortly thereafter the United States Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) officially took over responsibility as the National Command Element for the theater.
CJTF-82 is headquartered at Bagram Air Base
Bagram Air Base
Bagram Airfield, also referred to as Bagram Air Base, is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. The base is run by a US Army division headed by a major general. A large part of the base,...
.
CJTF 180 and CFC-A
From June 2002 to April 2004 the U.S. formation that directed all Enduring Freedom operations in Afghanistan was designated Combined Joint Task Force - 180 (CJTF-180), a corps level headquarters whose staff were provided by Headquarters XVIII Airborne Corps under Lieutenant General Dan K. McNeillDan K. McNeill
Dan Kelly McNeill is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He served Commander, Coalition Forces, Afghanistan from 2002 to 2003 and as Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command from 2004 to 2007...
.
The mission of CJTF-180 was to conduct operations to destroy remaining Al Qaeda/hostile Taliban command control and other hostile anti-Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan elements, trains Afghan National Army, and conducts directed information operations, civil military operations and humanitarian assistance operations in coordination with the ITGA in order to establish a stable and secure Afghanistan able to deter/defeat the re-emergence of terrorism.
In November 2003, Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan (CFC-A) was established as the U.S. led, coalition headquarters for Afghanistan. CTJF-180 was restructured as a subordinate organization of CFC-A. CFC-A reported in turn to United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
.
Subordinate fighting formations
Under CJTF 180 and later CFC-A, the corps-level overall headquarters, a division level headquarters supervising fighting brigades was maintained in Afghanistan. The HQ was provided in succession by different US Army light divisional headquarters. 'Task Force Mountain', drawn from 10th Mountain Division, the headquarters that oversaw Operation AnacondaOperation Anaconda
Operation Anaconda took place in early March 2002 in which the United States military and CIA Paramilitary Officers, working with allied Afghan military forces, and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization and non NATO forces attempted to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in the Shahi-Kot...
, was the first of these HQs. Later changes in the Divisional HQ providing the task force HQ saw changes to the name, first to CJTF 76 and then to CJTF 82.
The mission of CJTF-76 was to conduct a 'full spectrum of operations throughout its operations area to defeat [the] enemy extremist movement
Taliban insurgency
The Taliban insurgency took root shortly after the group's fall from power following the 2001 war in Afghanistan. The Taliban continue to attack Afghan, U.S., and other ISAF troops and many terrorist incidents attributable to them have been registered. The war has also spread over the southern and...
, establish an enduring security and reshape its posture for the Long War in order to set conditions for long-term stability in Afghanistan.'
CJTF 76 had a one point two combat brigades under its control, which conducted counter-insurgency operations against Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the east and south of the country. The Task Force and its subordinate formations comprised a shifting group of units and formations. There were also engineer and special operations Task Forces, plus the Provincial Reconstruction Team
Provincial reconstruction team
A Provincial Reconstruction Team is a unit introduced by the United States government, consisting of military officers, diplomats, and reconstruction subject matter experts, working to support reconstruction efforts in unstable states. PRTs were first established in Afghanistan in late 2001 or...
s.
The lead fighting formation of CJTF-180 changed in mid-April 2004 to the 25th Infantry Division (Light), resulting in a designator change to CJTF-76. CJTF 76 was in place until March 2007.
In March 2005, the U.S. Army's Southern European Task Force (SETAF) took the leadership role in CJTF-76. In February 2006, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) took over CJTF-76 leadership.
At the time of the transfer of authority of the RC East area from U.S. Central Command to the NATO-led ISAF, CJTF-76 was commanded by Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).
With the inactivation of CFC-A in late 2006, CJTF-76 transitioned to ISAF command as headquarters for ISAF's Regional Command East. The elimination of the intermediate U.S. CFC-A meant the commander CJTF-76 simultaneously reported to the Commander, U.S. Central Command as the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
CJTF-76 was replaced by CJTF-82, led by the 82nd Airborne Division, in March 2007.
Post Handover to ISAF
With the concurrence of the Commander, U.S. Central Command, and upon the inactivation of HQ CFC-A, Headquarters CJTF-76 became the United States National Command Element for the Afghanistan Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA).The Commander of CJTF-76 is also the regional commander of Regional Command East (RC-East).
The Commander, Joint Task Force-76 Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley was given two positions as the US operational commander and the NATO/ISAF deputy commander for security. The goal was to maintain proper coordination between the two organizations.