Lessons Learned at the Operational Level, ISAF A German Perspective When Germany deployed military forces to Kabul in 2002, its limited expertise in the subject of nation-building was based on its experience in the Balkans. Nevertheless, the German-hosted Petersberg Conference showed early in the operation that only a broad approach, which encompassed diplomatic, social, economic, and military means, could pave the road to success. Germany’s military operation focuses on the northern part of Afghanistan, where it is the lead nation for Regional Command–North (RC–N). In addition, the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) support their partners and allies within the whole International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) area of operations by providing air reconnaissance pictures, tactical air transport and medical evacuation, staff personnel for the ISAF headquarters, ISAF Joint Command headquarters, NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan, and medical treatment facilities in Kabul together with communication specialists in Kandahar and Bagram. Germany’s overall mandate currently permits the deployment of up to 5,350 personnel to Afghanistan. Today, Afghanistan is Germany’s top priority in its international peace-making and nation-building commitments. The guideline for the German course of action is the Comprehensive Approach in which Germany balances its efforts in the domains of security, economic aid, and social development. This article stems from a speech that I delivered in September 2010 at a NATO conference where I was asked to elaborate on ISAF lessons learned from a German perspective Moving from the strategic to the operational level, this leads to the next thesis: Gain momentum by being strong and decisive and keep this momentum going. From the German perspective, the step out of Kabul and into the provinces was made late in the process, but hopefully not too late. Improvements in living conditions, which include security, economic, social, and political developments, should not and cannot be limited to the capital for such a long time as it creates an opportunity for insurgents to reorganize and regain control over the population. At the beginning of a mission, we gain momentum by military force. Modern armed forces are organized to operate worldwide on a wide scale and on short notice. Those who are tasked to support governance or reconstruction and development require more time to prepare themselves and to become effective in theater. However, the military can only buy time for a certain period. Thereafter, it is up to the civilian side of the mission to reinforce the joint effort as a first step and later to assume the lead role as a second step. This leads to the next thesis: The military can buy time, but only the well-timed Comprehensive Approach will lead to success. Participation in a military operation is a tough decision for any nation. This decision requires careful evaluation of many factors in order not to overstretch the military and available financial resources, but to gain indispensable public support. NATO nations are reluctant to risk the lives of their soldiers, which at first glance appears to be a good policy. But the creation of a long list of national caveats aiming to minimize risk for the national military contribution is bound to undermine the military effectiveness in theater. Despite the diversity of organizations and subdivision of ISAF’s area of responsibility into regional commands and the individual ideas of the lead nations in charge, all players have recognized that they will have to follow a common strategy based on the same principles to win the hearts and minds of the people, to provide long-term security, and to allow Afghanistan to return to a level of self-sustainability. To meet this goal, Germany has restructured the headquarters at Regional Command–North, which is now led by a German two-star general. With this new command and control structure, Germany is able to cope with the significant augmentation of forces in the northern region. Furthermore, Germany has established a senior civilian representative (equivalent to the military commander) to foster the Comprehensive Approach in the north. This senior representative is a German official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is not subordinate to the RC–N commander. Indeed, he works at the same level, and both the commander and senior representative coordinate all activities in close cooperation. The task of this public official is to harmonize the efforts of all the civilian actors within RC–N, especially the governmental organizations.

Das Jägerbataillon 292 (JgBtl 292) wurde im Jahr 1993 in der Oberfeldwebel-Schreiber-Kaserne in Immendingen in Baden-Württemberg in Dienst gestellt und wurde aus dem Jägerbataillon 552 in Böblingen und dem Panzergrenadierbataillon 292 in Immendingen zusammengestellt. Es ist der Deutsch-Französischen Brigade unterstellt. Im Laufe des Jahres 1993 verlegte das Bataillon in die Fürstenberg-Kaserne nach Donaueschingen, wo es heute noch stationiert ist. Die schwere Kompanie befindet sich in Stetten am kalten Markt. Das Jägerbataillon 292 gliedert sich in eine Versorgungs- und Unterstützungskompanie, drei Jägerkompanien und eine Schwere Jägerkompanie. Die Kampfkompanien setzen sich aus insgesamt vier Zügen sowie der Kompanieführungsgruppe, einem Kompaniefeldwebeltrupp, einem Versorgungstrupp und dem Technischen Trupp zusammen. Der erste bis dritte Zug sind Infanteriezüge aus jeweils drei Gruppen (zwei Unteroffiziere mit Portepee und acht Soldaten) sowie einem Zugtrupp. Der vierte, (schwere) Infanteriezug ist mit schweren Infanteriewaffen wie Granatmaschinenwaffe und Panzerabwehrwaffe MILAN ausgestattet. Ihm ist die Scharfschützengruppe der Kompanie unterstellt. Diese unterstützt die Jägerzüge im Gefecht. In der fünften (bis 2006 sechsten) (Schweren) Kompanie befinden sich die 120-mm-Mörser (acht Rohre Panzermörser M 113), der Panzerabwehrzug (sechs Wiesel mit TOW), der Maschinenkanonenzug (sechs Wiesel mit MK 20), der Aufklärungszug (sechs Wiesel und zwei Geländefahrzeug gl Wolf) sowie der Feuerunterstützungszug mit dem Joint Fire Support Coordination Team (JFSCT) und vier Joint Fire Support Teams (JFST). Die ehemalige sechste (bis 2006 fünfte) Kompanie war die Einsatz- und Unterstützungskompanie des Bataillons, die den Hauptauftrag der Grundausbildung wahrnahm. Diese wurde in drei Zügen durchgeführt. Sie stellte weiterhin den Sicherungs- und Unterstützungszug, dessen Gliederung und Auftrag im Wesentlichen dem der leichten Infanteriezüge in den Kampfkompanien entsprach. Innerhalb des Stationierungskonzeptes 2011 wurde die sechste Kompanie Ende 2012 aufgelöst.].

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German Wiesel 1 MK 20mm of 5./JgBtl 292 in Afghanistan

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