Regional Command East
Encyclopedia
Regional Command (RC (E)) 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. As of November 2009, the 82nd Airborne Division is providing the command headquarters.
The Command is responsible for Provincial Reconstruction Team
operations and security in and around Asadabad, Bamian, Gardez, Ghazni
(Poland and US jointly), Jalalabad, Khowst, Parwan, Mehtar Lam and Sharona. Regional Command East also has responsibility for conducting operations against the Taliban on the Pakistani border. A rotating brigade-sized U.S. Army-led task force was initially assigned to RC East until January 2007, when an additional brigade-sized task force was added.
was composed primarily of soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
based in Vicenza
, in Italy
.
Subordinate units included
, from the 10th Mountain Division, and the 1st Battalion 3rd Marines
. Task Force Spartan operated under the CJTF-76/RC East
.
based in Vicenza
, in Italy
, and Schweinfurt
and Bamberg
, in Germany
.
Task Force Bayonet initially operated under the Combined Joint Task Force 76; in March 2008, the headquarter was redesignated as CJTF-82
, and again, in April, to CJTF-101.
of the 101st Airborne Division
, again with the first battalion of the US 503rd Infantry Regiment attached
's Brigade La Fayette
. In 2010, the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division replaced the 82nd. In May 2011, the 1st Cavalry Division took command of RC-East.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
size, which is one of the components of the International Security Assistance Force
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...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
has usually provided the force headquarters. As of November 2009, the 82nd Airborne Division is providing the command headquarters.
The Command is responsible for 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...
operations and security in and around Asadabad, Bamian, Gardez, Ghazni
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
(Poland and US jointly), Jalalabad, Khowst, Parwan, Mehtar Lam and Sharona. Regional Command East also has responsibility for conducting operations against the Taliban on the Pakistani border. A rotating brigade-sized U.S. Army-led task force was initially assigned to RC East until January 2007, when an additional brigade-sized task force was added.
Task Force Bayonet, February 2005 to March 2006
From February 2005 to March 2006, Task Force BayonetTask Force Bayonet
Task Force Bayonet serves as a name for several military task forces throughout history:United States* The deactivated 193rd Infantry Brigade, last stationed in the Panama Canal Zone....
was composed primarily of soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy...
based in Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Subordinate units included
- Task Force Gun Devil, out of KandaharKandaharKandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
; - Task Force Rock, out of QalatQalatQalat, Qelat, Kalat, Kalaat, or Kelat, may refer to:Qalat , a fortified place or fortified village-Iran:* Kalat, Khorasan* Qelat, Fars...
, comprising mostly the US 503rd Infantry Regiment and 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, both paratrooper units - Task Force Whiteshark, composed mostly of Romanian soldiers stationed at Kandahar Airfield.
Task Force Spartan, March 2006 to May 2007
From March 2006 to May 2007, Task Force Spartan was a US-led task force in the central and Eastern regions of Afghanistan. Task Force Spartan comprised the US 3rd Brigade Combat Team3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division is an infantry Brigade Combat Team of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York...
, from the 10th Mountain Division, and the 1st Battalion 3rd Marines
1st Battalion 3rd Marines
1st Battalion, 3rd Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Nicknamed the "Lava Dogs", the battalion consists of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors and falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Regiment of the 3rd Marine...
. Task Force Spartan operated under the CJTF-76/RC East
Combined Joint Task Force 82
Combined Joint Task Force – 82 is a US led subordinate formation of the International Security Assistance Force . 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...
.
Task Force Fury, January 2007 to April 2008
From January 2007 to April 2008, Task Force Fury was a US-led task force primarily consisting of the 4th BCT of the 82nd Airborne Division with an attached battalion, the first battalion of the US 503rd Infantry Regiment, from the 173rd ABCT.Task Force Bayonet, June 2007 to September 2008
From June 2007 to September 2008, Task Force Bayonet was composed primarily of soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy...
based in Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
and Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
, in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Task Force Bayonet initially operated under the Combined Joint Task Force 76; in March 2008, the headquarter was redesignated as CJTF-82
Combined Joint Task Force 82
Combined Joint Task Force – 82 is a US led subordinate formation of the International Security Assistance Force . 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...
, and again, in April, to CJTF-101.
Task Force Currahee, April 2008 to April 2009
From April 2008 to April 2009, Task Force Currahee was a US-led task force primarily consisting of the US 4th Brigade Combat Team4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (United States)
The 4th Brigade Combat Team , 25th Infantry Division is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army. The unit is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska and is the only airborne brigade combat team in the Pacific Theater...
of the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, again with the first battalion of the US 503rd Infantry Regiment attached
French and U.S. forces, 2009 - 2011
From 2009-2010, the 82nd Airborne Division lead RC-East. Among its subordinate formations is the French ArmyFrench Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
's Brigade La Fayette
Brigade La Fayette
The Brigade La Fayette, also named La Fayette Task Force, is a joint unit of the French forces in Afghanistan. It was officially created on 1 November 2009, along with a complete reorganisation of the French military deployment in Afghanistan. It comprises most of the French Army units involved in...
. In 2010, the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
101st Airborne Division replaced the 82nd. In May 2011, the 1st Cavalry Division took command of RC-East.