Task Force Phoenix
Encyclopedia
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...
(CENTCOM) in 2003-2004 to train and mentor the newly-created Afghan National Security Forces
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
(ANSF) to establish and maintain law and order throughout 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...
.
Immediately following the collapse of the Taliban regime, Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division
10th Mountain Division
The 10th Mountain Division is a light infantry division of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. It is a subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the only division-sized element of the U.S. Army to specialize in fighting under harsh terrain and weather conditions...
began the initial development of the Afghan National Army
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
(ANA) as Task Force Phoenix.
One of the first mission statements for the formation appears to have been:
"Coalition Joint Task Force PHOENIX executes a broad-based training, mentoring, and assistance program in order to enable the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) to field a mission-ready Central Corps NLT [No Later Than] June 2004."
Every subsequent rotation has been composed primarily of National Guard Soldiers. Phoenix II built up the first Afghan Corps - the Central Corps
201st Corps (Afghanistan)
The 201st 'Selab' Corps of the Afghan National Army is a corps-sized formation created from 2004. The establishment of the corps started when the first commander and some of his staff were appointed on 1 September 2004. Its headquarters are at Pol-e-Charkhi, near Kabul...
- in Kabul, Afghanistan. Phoenix II was provided by the 5th Infantry Brigade-Oklahoma Army National Guard). Task Force Phoenix II's base support battalion served as the logistics command for the Afghan National Army, providing all logistics support for an army conducting country-wide combat operations. In August 2004, the brigade was replaced in this mission by the 6th Infantry Brigade-Indiana Army National Guard), and subsequently returned home to the United States. Phoenix III took on the daunting task of splitting that Corps into 5 separate Corps and locating them throughout the country at five strategic centers. Phoenix IV ( 53rd Infantry Brigade-Florida Army National Guard) worked to build up those Corps to full strength. TF Phoenix IV's Training Assistance Group ( 209th Regiment-Nebraska Army National Guard and 211th Regiment-Florida Army National Guard) stationed at Camp Alamo ( inside the Kabul Military Training Center) implemented major improvements to both Basic and Advanced Individual Training programs.
Task Force Phoenix V ( 41st Infantry Brigade-Oregon Army National Guard)was the fifth ANA training rotation. The mission continued to expand with TF Phoenix V taking on additional responsibilities associated with training and supporting the Afghan National Police
Afghan National Police
The Afghan National Police - ANP - is the primary national police force in Afghanistan. It serves as a single law enforcement agency all across the country. The Afghan police force was first created with the establishment of the Afghan nation in the early 18th century...
(ANP), as well as continuing to train and mentor the growing ANA. TF Phoenix V is composed primarily of soldiers from the U.S. Army National Guard, with members representing 49 of the 50 states. In addition, they have attached elements from the regular Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
In addition to the ANA and ANP, the ANSF consists of the Afghan National Army Air Corps, the Afghan National Border Patrol (ANBP), and the Afghan National Civil Order Police
Afghan National Civil Order Police
Afghan National Civil Order Police is a special police unit developed in July 2006 by Colonel Jack Stankiewicz, US Army, Police Reformation Directorate, CSTC-A of the law enforcement agency in Afghanistan.- Role :...
(ANCOP). Task Force Phonenix's main headquarters is at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, with five regional commands which match the five ANA corps regions (Regional Corps Advisory Command (RCAC)/PAC-S, RCAC/PAC-W, RCAC/PAC-E, RCAC/PAC-C, and RCAC/PAC-N).
The 27th Brigade Combat Team of the New York Army National Guard
New York Army National Guard
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
took command of Task Force Phoenix on 26 April 2008 from the 218th BCT, South Carolina Army National Guard
South Carolina Army National Guard
The South Carolina Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
. They were relieved on 19 December 2008 by the 33rd Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard
Illinois Army National Guard
The Illinois Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
.
External Links
- Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix official public website .
- New York Army National Guard, 27th Brigade Combat Team public affairs office