Inside the Marines' new mission in Afghanistan: taking back territory previously won

[rangerrebew]

Inside the Marines' new mission in Afghanistan: taking back territory previously won

SEAN J. BERRY/ U.S. MARINE CORPS



By DAN LAMOTHE | The Washington Post | Published: April 16, 2018

BOST AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — In a dusty open-air building with houseflies buzzing, Marines here received a call for help. Afghan forces had been ambushed by Taliban fighters wielding machine guns and wanted an American airstrike so they could break free.

Within 20 minutes, an A-10 attack jet responded, killing the fighters with guided weapons and allowing Afghan forces to continue an April 1 offensive in Helmand province's Nad-e Ali district, said Marine Capt. Jesse Gonzalez, an intelligence officer. It was a success in the Marines' eyes: The strike occurred after Afghan forces provided enough information for the United States to carry out the airstrike, even though there were no U.S. troops on the ground.

https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/inside-the-marines-new-mission-in-afghanistan-taking-back-territory-previously-won-1.522344

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Inside the Marines' new mission in Afghanistan: taking back territory previously won

SEAN J. BERRY/ U.S. MARINE CORPS



By DAN LAMOTHE | The Washington Post | Published: April 16, 2018

BOST AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — In a dusty open-air building with houseflies buzzing, Marines here received a call for help. Afghan forces had been ambushed by Taliban fighters wielding machine guns and wanted an American airstrike so they could break free.

Within 20 minutes, an A-10 attack jet responded, killing the fighters with guided weapons and allowing Afghan forces to continue an April 1 offensive in Helmand province's Nad-e Ali district, said Marine Capt. Jesse Gonzalez, an intelligence officer. It was a success in the Marines' eyes: The strike occurred after Afghan forces provided enough information for the United States to carry out the airstrike, even though there were no U.S. troops on the ground.

https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/inside-the-marines-new-mission-in-afghanistan-taking-back-territory-previously-won-1.522344

It's nice that the WaPo is still covering the war, and this article at least isn't anti-military.

But...the Corps doesn't have A-10's.  I'm all for Marines getting credit, but a better article probably would have explained that this (probably) involved Marine forward air controllers/liaison teams/fire support coordinators calling in an Air Force strike to help out the Afghans.  Actually, masterful control of supporting arms, and the ability to interact effectively with other branches, is one of things of which Marines are most proud.