Introduction.

If a picture paints a thousand words, then perhaps this short video will show Australians the intimate violence, chaos and teamwork of combat in a way that a whole book can not.

This video was originally developed as a training tool for replacements joining Combat Team – Charlie, Mentoring Task Force 2, in order to show them the realities of combat in the Deh Rawud district. As such, it has a number of military acronyms in the text (refer to the list below) and it has been edited to show particular teaching points for soldiers.

This isn’t a video of heroic actions – although a Medal of Gallantry was won on this day and a number of other acts contributed to future awards for leadership in action. What you will see is the lead element of the patrol very nearly get cut off and surrounded. You will hear the larrikinism and dry humour of the Aussie Digger when one, asked by an Officer “What are they (the Taliban) doing back there mate?” replies with a deadpan tone “Shooting at me.” You’ll hear soldiers having to wrestle with sub-par equipment as they attempt to wrench new magazines from issued pouches. You’ll see soldiers put themselves at risk to cover their mates. You won’t see anyone shot, injured or killed although all of those things happened on this day to the enemy.

This is real. This is what our soldiers did.

This is combat in Afghanistan.

(Note: DO NOT WATCH THIS IF: You have mental health or post traumatic stress, auditory sensory issues or are offended by swearing. Given that the soldiers in this video are fighting for their lives at various times it is hoped a little leeway for language may be given).

Glossary of terms.

ANA (Afghanistan National Army): The recipients of Australian mentoring and partnering operations and the teachers of their culture, history and lifestyle. Often maligned and misunderstood, many of them fought as bravely for their country as we would expect of Australian soldiers.

AS (Australian): A simple abbreviation for Australia or Australians.

AWTs (Armoured Weapons Team(s)): A helicopter element, usually two machines, that provides support to troops on the ground. During the Mentoring Task Force -2 tour this was provided by both Dutch and American AH-64 Apache helicopters.

Cas (Casualties): Short hand for casualties; spoken directly to someone more than used in written or radio transmission.

C2 (Command and Control): In this instance, the ability to move and communicate effectively across the terrain.

Decisive Terrain: A piece of ground that you want to control, or ideally occupy, as it provides an advantage to the side which does so.

Derapet: The village in which the majority of this contact took place, although there were also Australian elements in other locations.

Eshaqzi (Pronounced: E-SHAQ-zie) : A village on the opposite side of the Tiri Rud (Tiri River) to Derapet in the Tangi Valley.

EW (Electronic Warfare): A capability that identifies enemy radio signals.

Fr (Friendly): What it says.

GLA (Grenade Launcher Assembly): The under-slung grenade launcher on the F-88 Assault Rifle. Capable of firing a variety of explosive and marking rounds.

INS (Insurgents): One of the terms used to describe the Taliban and local fighters.

IOT (In Order To): What it says.

KIA (Killed In Action): A descriptor for both friendly and enemy combatants who die as a result of combat.

LNs (Local Nationals): Afghanistan civilians.

MAM (Military Age Males): A term used to describe Afghan males from late teens to early forties who may or may not be involved in hostile actions. A pretty useless term.

M72A6: A short range anti-armour weapon. Useful against un-armoured vehicles or troop emplacements. Not useful against armoured vehicles.

O33D (Oscar Three Three Delta): The Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT: Pronounced omelette) responsible for mentoring the Afghanistan National Army soldiers in the Tangi Valley for most of the tour and the element that majority of Australian soldiers in this video are from.

PB Ana Juy (Pronounced: Aner Joy; Patrol Base Ana Juy). The spartan patrol base from which O33D operated until the clearance of the Tangi Valley in late December 2010.

PID (Pronounced: Pee-Eye-D; Positively Identify): To positively identify someone as one persuasion or thing or another – enemy, friendly, neutral, a type of weapon, vehicle or building. Not an easy task in a country where children could often carry weapons as part of protection for their villages. Soldiers had to show outstanding restraint to not ‘PID’ everyone with a weapon as the enemy.

Quala (Pronounced: KWA-la): Usually used to refer to a small group of buildings within a common perimeter wall.

RTB (Return To Base): What everyone wants to do at the end of the day.

SA: (Situational Awareness): Knowing what is going on around you, where and when.

SAF (Small Arms Fire): Used to describe rounds fired from a rifle or machine gun fired from either friendly or enemy weapons.

SBF (Support By Fire): A position from which observation and fire onto enemy positions can be effected.

Tangi Valley (Pronounced: Tang-ee) : A valley which provided the most direct route between the Deh Rawud District Centre and Tarin Kowt District Centre. Occupied by the Tallban almost exclusively from the late 1990s until clearance operations in December 2010. This patrol was part of ‘shaping operations’ prior to that clearance operation.

V119 (Victor-One-One-Nine): A suspected Taliban building in the Tangi Valley. Every compound and building had it’s on designation based on location and increasing numerical series. This one was suspected of holding a number of INS using SAF (See the terms above!)

WIA (Wounded In Action): A term used to refer to any wounds suffered by either friendly or enemy soldiers in combat.