The ABCs of PRT

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Orville F. Desjarlais Jr.
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing
QALAT, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  The provincial reconstruction teams' efforts in Afghanistan are so successful Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice used them as a template to inaugurate the first U.S.-led PRT in Iraq in November.

While addressing the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations last fall, Secretary Rice said, "To execute our strategy we will restructure a portion of the U.S. mission in Iraq. Learning from successful precedents used in Afghanistan, we will deploy provincial reconstruction teams in key parts of the country."

The coalition effort to secure and rebuild a post-Taliban Afghanistan has been the PRT's mission from the start. A mix of civilian, U.S. military and coalition members compose teams that try to promote conditions for self-sufficiency, enduring prosperity and a secure, stable environment.

PRTs are an off-shoot of "coalition humanitarian liaison cells" created by the Army during Operation Enduring Freedom in early 2002. Soldiers manned small outposts outside the wire. These teams assessed humanitarian needs, implemented small reconstruction projects and established relations with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and nongovernmental organizations already in the field.

Late in 2002, the United States expanded the program by creating the first PRTs. This time, force protection and representatives of U.S. government civilian agencies joined the teams.

The first PRT began work in Gardez in January 2003. It was quickly followed by PRTs in Bamain, Kondoz, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar and Herat.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a general set of parameters that established the PRT objectives, which are being followed to this day.

Those principles include extending the authority of the Afghan central government, improving security and promoting reconstruction.

The first PRTs stationed themselves in hot spots where no relief organizations dared tread. Their presence was designed to deter insurgents and criminals who had been active in those areas. After an area was secured, NATO-run International Security Assistance Forces would take over. Another byproduct of security will be the return of international relief organizations, many of whom left in 2005 because of deadly attacks on volunteers.

The Air Force became involved this year at the request of the Army. Airmen would assist with the Army mission, much like helping with convoy duties in Iraq.

For the Air Force, PRT involvement falls on the 755th Expeditionary Mission Support Group stationed here. These Airmen are involved with seven of the 13 coalition PRTs throughout Afghanistan.

"From wells to schools to hydro-electric projects, Airmen along with their Army and civilian counterparts are rebuilding Afghanistan," said Col. Douglas Hine, the 755th EMSG commander.

PRTs perform security, governmental interfacing with the provincial governors, and lead the reconstruction efforts in their assigned province. The teams tailor their programs to fit the needs of the community in which they live. For instance, if the big-ticket item for a province is a school, the PRT will work with local contractors to help build a school. If a road is needed to increase commerce between villages, the PRT will get involved.

It is anyone's guess how long the PRT mission will continue in Afghanistan. A near-term goal is to transfer all PRT functions to the International Security Assistance Forces to make it truly an international mission.