WEBVTT 00:01.340 --> 00:04.930 About five working to help secure a safer future for the people 00:04.930 --> 00:08.120 of Afghanistan earlier we had no opportunity to speak with a 00:08.120 --> 00:11.480 commanding officer of our some team five in southern Afghanistan's 00:11.690 --> 00:13.710 helmet province permit. Roger turner. 00:14.720 --> 00:18.410 A she knowingly we've been in the southern helmand for about 00:18.410 --> 00:21.940 a year now and we're just the wrapping up a a a you know a one 00:21.940 --> 00:22.660 year deployment. 00:23.480 --> 00:27.430 A over the time we been here we've been able to uh to really 00:27.430 --> 00:31.130 advance security a lot in enough for southern districts. 00:31.680 --> 00:35.250 A margin Allah gombe usher and connotation which are the southern 00:35.250 --> 00:37.840 part a hellman and regional command south west. 00:38.630 --> 00:40.430 Uh uh lots of progress has been made. 00:41.110 --> 00:45.640 The districts or a pretty secure. We have about 8000 Afghan forces 00:45.640 --> 00:47.500 that now operate in those areas. 00:48.230 --> 00:51.550 They become the increasingly capable over the last year. 00:52.190 --> 00:56.060 Allowing us to the begin the withdrawal our forces and put them 00:56.060 --> 00:56.660 more the lee. 00:57.260 --> 01:00.380 We hear a lot of talk about that transition sir how much of the 01:00.380 --> 01:05.330 rc eighty-five effort. I'd goes into preparing Afghan forces 01:05.330 --> 01:08.830 to take over and you have the competence that they are moving 01:08.830 --> 01:11.440 I had an a a pace that you're comfortable what. 01:12.030 --> 01:16.490 Makes a good question the the over time we been able to increase 01:16.490 --> 01:17.600 their capability. 01:18.180 --> 01:20.400 Decrease the enemies capability. 01:21.090 --> 01:24.850 And then also make important games on governance and of element 01:25.070 --> 01:29.070 so all of the district's now have a good education systems. 01:29.630 --> 01:34.020 Good health care they've got to the sun rose and also irrigation 01:34.020 --> 01:35.320 for their farms and like. 01:35.840 --> 01:37.470 And then the good security forces. 01:38.090 --> 01:42.470 So as we're able to a increase the they cable bill these of the 01:42.470 --> 01:44.270 Afghan forces over that time. 01:44.910 --> 01:48.030 And the Afghan government that will increase their capability 01:48.210 --> 01:51.310 all of that really came together allowing us to start the poll 01:51.310 --> 01:55.310 some of our forces back sir. We know a lot of the Afghan population 01:55.310 --> 01:58.940 relies on agriculture a word jobs. 01:59.600 --> 02:03.090 How important is that the work with a lot of the agricultural 02:03.090 --> 02:08.010 teams eight is that a of as big a polish as the actual offense 02:08.010 --> 02:12.100 of in taking of the fight to the enemy he had ever culture is 02:12.130 --> 02:15.860 it this is really what all a helmand is about especially in in 02:15.860 --> 02:18.520 southern town. It's a very rage ever called full area. 02:19.350 --> 02:22.450 In the last few years we've been here we've been able to uh to 02:22.450 --> 02:26.550 assess the government Afghanistan increasing may be a irrigation 02:26.550 --> 02:28.550 system and also the road systems. 02:29.220 --> 02:32.050 To allow the farmers to be able to get their goods and services 02:32.050 --> 02:32.620 to market. 02:33.350 --> 02:37.200 Which we we thought also was essential to put them having the 02:37.200 --> 02:38.270 better capability. 02:38.830 --> 02:42.710 To build a clear some profit margin above just a subsistence level. 02:43.250 --> 02:47.350 And that that is it enabled us to mostly move all of the poppy 02:47.380 --> 02:49.430 the out of the S ever helmand valley. 02:50.230 --> 02:53.960 And uh and really get them growing legitimate crops and then 02:53.960 --> 02:56.570 be able to make some money and support their families. So long 02:56.570 --> 03:00.500 away sir unfortunately stateside here. Some P for some people 03:00.500 --> 03:04.000 Afghanistan falls off the radar what would you tell them about 03:04.000 --> 03:07.800 the work that the men and women of rc eighty-five had accomplished 03:07.830 --> 03:11.870 over there uh I think first of all of the Afghans really appreciate. 03:12.660 --> 03:17.950 And maybe a they they really are very a feel very strongly about 03:17.950 --> 03:20.710 what the marines have been able to do for them in southern helmand 03:20.710 --> 03:21.890 to provide security. 03:22.430 --> 03:25.890 In the day now for the first time most of them and in 30 years 03:25.920 --> 03:30.740 have the ability live free from from a pression from from various a. 03:31.270 --> 03:34.470 Very screwed sitter you really just conducting indiscriminate 03:34.470 --> 03:36.290 killings ah like in in this area. 03:36.990 --> 03:40.270 The thing is also um Puerto allies is that the in this area is 03:40.270 --> 03:43.000 worthy the nile Levin attacks emanating from. 03:43.680 --> 03:47.390 It didn't they tell a band that was a occupy in this area and 03:47.390 --> 03:50.920 did have was a harboring al kinda here is what brought the oven 03:50.920 --> 03:52.400 on 11 attacks to was. 03:53.030 --> 03:56.260 Nothing we're now on a situation we're in the Afghan governments 03:56.260 --> 03:57.350 and from control. 03:57.940 --> 04:00.970 Of the of the southern part of hellman and would prevent this 04:00.970 --> 04:02.220 sort of thing from happening again..