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By LtCol Jan van Helvert, DCPAO
From 12 to 16 January General Egon Ramms, Commander
Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, conducted his seventeenth
visit to Afghanistan since taking command. Major General
Byron Bagby (Director, Operations Directorate), Mr. Jack
Segal (POLAD) and Mrs. Ulrieke Demmer, a reporter from 'Der
Spiegel' were part of the Brunssum delegation.
The aim of the trip was to give guidance when appropriate
and achieve situational awareness on how Afghanistan moves
forward. Office calls with key leaders, briefings from specialists
and visits to local Afghan areas were scheduled throughout
the visit.
After arriving in Kabul, General Ramms and his delegation
boarded two Blackhawks for the trip to the COIN (Counter
Insurgency) Academy, where they received briefings and demonstrations
on the latest tactics and innovations.
Hereafter the General was flown to the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters where he continued
his office calls. In the afternoon General Ramms visited
the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Defence. Then
he went to the Palace for a meeting with President Karzai.
This meeting was at the top of his agenda and took place
in a very friendly atmosphere.
The next day General Ramms met with Ambassadors, General
Stanley McChrystal (COMISAF) and several commanding flag
officers in and outside ISAF HQ.
The third day of his visit started with a briefing by Strategic
Communication Director Rear Admiral Gregory J. Smith on
the latest developments in this specific non-kinetic arena.
The second visit was to NTM-A where Liutenant General William
B. Caldwell gave an explanation on the progress in training
and working with the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
After a drive to Kabul International Airport (KAIA) General
Ramms was informed on the infrastructural reconstruction
projects that are progressing.
Friday afternoon the delegation flew to Herat in RC West.
General Ramms was welcomed and briefed by the RC West Commander,
Brigadier General Alessandro Veltri. The next destination
was to womens prison and the Herat Provincial Reconstruction
Team (PRT).
Early Saturday the delegation flew from Herat to Mazar-E-Shariff
in RC North for a short visit to the joint Swedish-Finish
PRT.
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General Egon Ramms, COM JFC
Brunssum (right) meeting with Liutenant General William
B. Caldwell of NTM-A.
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