Provincial reconstruction team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) is an administrative unit of international aid to Afghanistan and Iraq, consisting of a small operating base from which a group of sixty to more than one thousand civilians and military specialists work to perform small reconstruction projects or provide security for others involved in aid and reconstruction work.
Within these PRTs there are typically 3-5 civilians and the remainder is made up of military forces. PRTs are backed by national and international security forces. PRTs were originally built and operated by US forces as means of facilitating reconstruction efforts in provinces outside the capital, Kabul. Following NATO involvement in Afghanistan, the command of the PRTs was transferred from the US forces to the forces of the nations under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
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[edit] Structure
A PRT includes a military component (Civil Affairs/Force Protection), aid agencies (such as USAID), civilian contractors (such as KBR), and civilian police advisors. The U.S. Department of State is the lead civilian agency within the PRTs, additionally, the United States Departments of Agriculture (FAS and USDA), Commerce (FCS), Health and Human Services (CDC), Justice (DOJ lawyers and FBI) and Transportation (FAA) have representatives working at the PRTs to assist in their respective areas.
Since October 5, 2006, the PRT's are part of the NATO-led ISAF mission. At the next chapters we will try to give an account of the development of the PRT's and their activities.
[edit] Locations and activities
Throughout the main stages of the ISAF operation the number of PRTs was growing. At this chapter we will try to give an impression of the development and activities of the teams.
[edit] PRTs as of January 2006
PRT's in Afghan cities (and the lead nation - as of January 2006):
ISAF PRT's: Baghlan (Netherlands, later Hungary since October 2006), Chaghcharan (Lithuania), Farah (US), Fayzabad (Germany, together with the help of Denmark), Herat (Italy), Kunduz (Germany), Mazari Sharif (UK, then Denmark/Sweden, then Germany), Maymana (UK, then Norway), Qala-e Naw (Spain)
Combined Joint Task Force 76's PRT's: Asadabad (US), Bamyan (New Zealand's Task Group Crib), Gardez (US), Ghazni (US), Jalalabad (US), Kandahar (Canada), Khowst (US), Lashkar Gah (US), Mehtarlam (US), Parwan (US/South Korea), Qalat (US), Sharana (US), Tarin Kowt (Netherlands; Task Force Uruzgan, together with troops from Australia)
Canadian Forces provide similar services under the name Civil-Military Co-operation.
Since the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force took over command of the whole of the country at October, 5, 2006, the number of PRT's is 24. There are 5 regional command centres, which the PRTs report to:
[edit] PRTs as of October 2006
- Regional Command Capital, Kabul (none)
[edit] Regional Command North
The HQ is at Mazari Sharif, and is led by Germany. There are 5 PRTs underneath it.
[edit] PRT Mazari Sharif
Led by Sweden.
[edit] PRT Kunduz
At October 2003, the German “Bundeswehr” took over command from the United States of the PRT at Kunduz [1]. Germany is assisted by the Belgium-Luxemburg contribution to ISAF
[edit] PRT Maymana
The PRT at Maymana, the capital of Faryab province, was first led by the UK, then Norway.
[edit] PRT Fayzabad
The PRT at Fayzabad, the capital of Badakhshan province, is led by Germany, with the help of Denmark and the Czech Republic.
[edit] PRT Puli Khumri/Baghlan
At October, 1, 2006, Hungary took over responsibility, from the Dutch, for the Provincial Reconstruction Team at the town Pul-e Khumri (Puli Khumri), the capital of Baghlan province.
[edit] Regional Command West
The HQ is at Herat and is led by Italy. There are currently 4 PRTs underneath it.
[edit] PRT Herat
The PRT at Herat is led by Italy. At November 2006, government officials and the Herat PRT facilitated the donation of 12,000 fruit trees to local farmers. [2]
[edit] PRT Chaghcharan
Led by Lithuania. On 6 November, 2006, the Lithuanian-led Team in Chaghcharan, Ghor Province, assisted with the setting up of the only kindergarten in the area [3].
[edit] PRT Farah
Led by the US.
[edit] PRT Qala i Naw
The PRT at Qala i Naw, the capital of Badghis province, is led by Spain.
[edit] Regional Command South
On July, 31, 2006, the NATO-led ISAF mission assumed also command over the South of Afghanistan. The HQ is at Kandahar. On November, 1, 2006, the Dutch took over command from Canada. There are 4 PRTs underneath it.
[edit] PRT Kandahar
The team is led by Canada from their base Camp Nathan Smith at Kandahar City.
[edit] PRT Tarin Kowt
The PRT at Tarin Kowt, Task Force Uruzgan with their main base Kamp Holland, is led by the Netherlands together with the help of troops from Australia. The task of the Dutch ISAF-contribution is to provide security together with the Afghan National Army and police in the area, to do reconstruction work, and to train the Afghan National Police.
[edit] PRT Qalat
The PRT at Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, is led by the US, together with the help of Romania.
[edit] PRT Lashkar Gah
Led by the UK, with the help of Denmark and Estonia. Their main base is Camp Bastion.
[edit] Regional Command East/Combined Joint Task Force 76(US led)
Since October, 5, 2006, ISAF assumed also command of the PRTs at the east of the country. The HQ is at Bagram and led by the U.S.
[edit] PRT Asadabad
The PRT at Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province, is led by the US.
[edit] PRT Bamyan
Led by the New Zealand's Task Group Crib.
[edit] PRT Wardak
Turkey opened this PRT in November, 2006 [4]
[edit] PRT Gardez
The PRT at Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, is led by the US.
[edit] PRT Ghazni
Led by the US.
[edit] PRT Jalalabad
The PRT at Jalalabad, the capital of Nangahar province, is led by the US.
[edit] PRT Khowst
The PRT at Khowst, the capital of Khowst province (Khost province), is led by the US.
[edit] PRT Nuristan
Led by the US, Kamdesh Civil Military Operations Centre (CMOC), is an extension of the Kamdesh Provincial Reconstruction Team and provides reconstruction and development assistance to the people of Nuristan.
[edit] PRT Metherlam
The team at Mehtarlam, the capital of Laghman province, is led by the US.
[edit] PRT Bagram
The team at Bagram, at Parvan province, is led by the US. The Bagram PRT has embedded engineering members from the Republic of Korea. This joint effort within the team is unique among the PRT's.
[edit] PRT Sharana
The PRT at Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, is led by the US.
[edit] PRT Panjshir
US led PRT established in 2005 to cover the Panjshir Province (previously under the US/South Korea Parwan PRT. Consists of US Army Civil Affairs personnel and US Air Force Support personnel. Commanded by a US Air Force officer and under the direction of a US State Department representative.
[edit] See also
- Afghanistan
- International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
- Afghanistan War order of battle
- Taliban
- Task Force Uruzgan
[edit] External links
- Details of ISAF and PRT deployments in Afghanistan - 2006
- Provincial Reconstruction Teams - Global Security
- Provincial Reconstruction Teams - US State Department
- Provincial Reconstruction Teams - UK Foreign Office
- Provincial Reconstruction Teams and Humanitarian–Military Relations in Afghanistan - Save the Children
- Provincial Reconstruction Teams - Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan (Photo Albums)
- The U.S. Experience with Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan: Lessons Identified U.S. Institute of Peace report, October 2005
- Oral Histories Project on Stability Operations Interviews with Americans who served in Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace
- Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar Province
- News about Canadian Forces in Kandahar, via MILNEWS.ca
- Provincial Reconstruction Team Khost