CSOR History
Green Beret’s and CSOR Operators conduct mounted patrol in Kandahar, 2010
From 2010 until the end of combat in Afghanistan CSOR conducted VSO (Village Stability Operations) with the Green Berets and unilaterally
CSOR (1SOC / 2SOC) embedded small teams with ODA teams in 2010/11 eventually leading to a CSOR only VSO (3SOC) in 2011
I was 1 of 3 who got embedded with 3st Group ODA 3131 during the summer of 2010 for part of our roto. We were eventually replaced by 3 from 2SOC (Pictured: 1SOC)
Green Beret Captain (3rd Group) engages with local leaders, Kandahar, 2010
Because of my background as a Chimo I filled in the duties for an 18C who was repatriated
The goal of the VSO was to be amongst the population. To be independent and operate wide and free. To encourage the locals to cooperate and eventually take over security. Reminiscent of programs during the Vietnam era. True irregular warfare type shit. Perfect for CSOR and ODA teams. Attached was an Afghan model ODA team.
Our camp was in a green zone and village cluster in central Kandahar, away from the traditional Canadian AO's. Rat lines for Helmand and Panjwai
For those who fought down south around the Arghandab, the ops we did here were faster, longer, loose, and with wide arcs. We traveled almost daily and covered lots of ground and knew it well
Anecdotes for flavour:
- The ODA Captain observed fasting during Ramadan to gain trust. I'm not sure about this tactic, we had to pick him up on ATV once from fatigue. Otherwise he was good leader
- There was a black dude who was an Army cook from Chicago. He was the first one on the roof when the shooting started. "Ain't no one gonna shoot on me! Hell naw!"
- A local walked me a few guys to where he said the Taliban placed an IED. When he stopped walking and we asked him where it was, he pointed to the space between his feet and mine
'de oppresso liber'
WIA:
US ODA 18C (name forgotten)
US ODA 18B (circled, name forgotten)
KIA:
Afghan ODA 18F Bashir (circled)
CSOR Operator, 1SOC, Kandahar, 2010
