Ohio National Guard News

Ohio Army National Guard's Task Force Roc
takes over security duties in Afghanistan

By Task Force Roc Public Affairs, Ohio Army National Guard

U.S. and Coalition Forces service members salute the colors during a transfer of authority ceremony held at Camp Eggers, Afghanistan. The Ohio Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment relieved Task Force 3rd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment of security duty for NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. NTM-A is a coalition of 37 contributing nations charged with assisting the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in generating a capable and sustainable Afghan National Security Force ready to take lead of their country's security by 2014. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Orrin Batiste)

Lt. Col. Craig Baker (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Watson, both of Columbus, Ohio-based Task Force 1-134, unfurl the colors during a recent transfer of authority ceremony at which the unit officially took over control of security missions for NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. (Photo courtesy of Task Force Roc Public Affairs)

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan — After nearly a month of shadowing their active-duty counterparts in an effort to become familiar with their mission, Soldiers of the Columbus, Ohio-based Task Force 1-134th Field Artillery Regiment of the Ohio Army National Guard recently took over security duties for NATO Training Mission Afghanistan.

In doing so, Task Force 1-134 — or Task Force Roc — became the first National Guard unit in the decade-old war to be tasked with protecting civilian and military dignitaries. The security duties, which Task Force Roc commander Lt. Col. Craig Baker called the cornerstone to the success of the NTM-A mission, normally go to active duty units.

During a 30-minute transfer of authority ceremony held in the courtyard of the NTM-A headquarters at this camp in the city of Kabul, Baker and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Watson were handed the reins of the security mission by their active-duty counterparts: Baumholder, Germany-based Task Force 3-4 Infantry Regiment. Several American and foreign military dignitaries attended the ceremony.

"This is a great day for Task Force 1-134 Field Artillery," Baker said during his remarks, adding that the battalion was handpicked for the mission more than a year ago. "In preparation for a mission larger than (Task Force Roc's) regular strength, Soldiers, NCOs and officers were added to its ranks from across the state of Ohio. This task force is a team of volunteer Citizen-Soldiers, the best the state of Ohio has to offer."

As the security battalion for NTM-A, Task Force Roc is responsible for protecting all of the agency's key military and civilian personnel. The Soldiers are also charged with protecting Afghan National Army training sites and delivering weapons, ammunition and other supplies to those sites.

Task Force Roc is taking on perhaps one of most dangerous missions in the war, as its Soldiers will frequently travel in convoys on hazardous roads and in unsafe areas throughout Afghanistan.

But Brig. Gen. Tom Cosentino, the outgoing deputy commander for regional support, said Task Force Roc Soldiers are well prepared for the mission, and he's confident that they'll be successful.

"I've seen the Soldiers of Task Force Roc, and they are ready (to take on the mission)," he said. "They are as good as any unit you are going to find in the United States Army."

The task force landed in Afghanistan in early November. It's headquartered in Kabul, but its Soldiers are spread out in nearly every region of the country. The deployment is expected to last a year.