Combined Joint Task Force 76

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Combined Joint Task Force – 76 (CJTF-76) was a US led subordinate formation of Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan (CFC-A) headquartered in Kabul, Afghanistan from the time CFC-A stood up to the time the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) took full command of the coalition military operations in Afghanistan in October 2006. CFC-A reported in its turn to United States Central Command. While CFC-Afghanistan is to inactivate sometime after November 30, 2006, CJTF-76 will remain as a headquarters for ISAF's Regional Command East.

An operational headquarters for the southern and eastern regional commands, CJTF-76 is located at Bagram Airfield and is commanded by Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). The mission of CJTF-76 was to conduct a 'full spectrum of operations throughout its operations area to defeat [the] enemy extremist movement, establish an enduring security and reshape its posture for the Long War in order to set conditions for long-term stability in Afghanistan.'

As of mid 2006, US official sources stated that over 21,000 coalition forces from 21 nations are deployed in Afghanistan to 'defeat extremist enemies of peace and stability'.

The Task Force comprised a shifting group of formations, of which Task Force Aegis and Task Force Spartan were the most important. There are also engineer and special operations Task Forces, plus the Provincial Reconstruction Teams. TF Spartan and TF Aegis, both roughly brigade sized forces, are conducting counter-insurgency operations against Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the east and south of the country.

TF Spartan is a US led task force in the central and eastern regions of Afghanistan. TF Spartan, made up of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team from 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) and 1/3 Marines, is conducting operations against the Taliban on the Pakistani border and is also responsible for provincial reconstruction teams and associated efforts in Asadabad, Bamian, Gardez, Ghazni, Jalalabad, Khowst, Parwan, Mehtar Lam and Sharona. TF Spartan, and the relieving U.S. brigade group, will remain under CJTF-76/RC East.

[edit] Task Force Aegis

Task Force Aegis is a multinational task force led by Canada in southeast Afghanistan. Contributing nations include the United Kingdom, the Netherlands (contributing Task Force Uruzgan), Estonia and the United States. TF Aegis is responsible for provincial reconstruction in Kandahar, Lashkar Gah, Qalat and Tarin Kowt. TF Aegis is also known as Multinational Brigade - Regional Command South or MNB RC South, and transferred to the control of ISAF's RC South. It will transfer to Dutch command at November 1, 2006 under the command of Gen. Ton van Loon.

Task Force Aegis includes, as of May 2006^[1]:

TF HELMAND (UK – 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (Helmand)
TF ORION (CDN) – 1st Battalion, the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battlegroup
TF KNIGHTHAWK (US) - 2-10 Aviation Regt, 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
TF WARRIOR (US) – 2-4 Inf Battalion, 10th Mountain Division)
TF WHITESHARK (Romania) – 141st Inf Battalion
TF Aegis probably also includes the Dutch Task Force Uruzgan

[edit] Post Handover to ISAF

With the concurrence of the Commander, U.S. Central Command, and upon the inactivation of HQ CFC-A, Headquarters CJTF-76 will become the United States National Command Element for the Afghanistan Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA). ^[2] The Commander of CJTF-76 will also be the regional commander of Regional Command East (RC-East).

The Commander, Joint Task Force-76 Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley will be dual-hatted as the US operational commander and the NATO/ISAF deputy commander for security. This will ensure proper coordination.