Forging Provincial Reconstruction Teams; Journal article

摘要

The Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) training mission completed by First U.S. Army in April 2006 was a joint Service effort to meet a requirement from the combatant commander to support goals in Afghanistan. The 12 PRT commanders -- 6 Navy commanders and 6 Air Force lieutenant colonels -- coalesced a disparate group of Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen in little more than a month and trained them for a mission unlike any in the military. Their achievement demonstrates four imperatives for future joint force decisions: (1) Leverage the incredible agility of our Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen; (2) Sustain our investment in developing the world's finest leaders; (3) Apply the concept of joint tactical manning to more of our forces; (4) Extend this joint manning concept to the interagency realm to harness the Nation's talent from all sectors of government. The mission Provincial Reconstruction Teams were created to extend the reach of the Afghan government outside Kabul, encouraging international and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to operate in the remotest areas. Varying from several dozen to nearly 100 members, these teams monitor, assess, and report on developments in the regions. They assist local Afghan leaders and officials in establishing and maintaining an effective and responsible government structure that meets the needs of the citizens and supports the goals of the central government. Of the 23 PRTs operating in Afghanistan, 12 are American-led. The others are provided by coalition forces and the International Security and Assistance Force.