BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 8, 2008) — Task Force Gladiator Soldiers, 101st Headquarters Support Company, serve as the first line of defense here - manning entry control points and ensuring base security.

They adapt their tactics, which they lumber 24-hours a day, seven days a week, to meet ongoing operations, which often result in supplementing their guard role with envoy-related responsibilities.

“Maintaining security is not all just about the defensive posture,” said Capt. Stan Goligoski, 101st HSC commander. “We go out beyond the ECPs to interact and build relationships with the people in the local villages around us.”
 
As part of their Bagram Outreach Program, the HSC works to provide local villages with water, power, security fences and anything else that may help.
 
The Soldiers went to the village of Gulam Ali, June 7, and brought fuel for service generators, which they acquired for the village six weeks ago.
Later that day, on invitation from the village elder, they went to the opening of a new all-girl’s school.
 
On one hand, the Soldiers attended the school’s opening to show respect for the culture and village elders, and even brought along the 101st Division Band to help celebrate the event. Still, their purpose in attending was two fold; they also went to check the school’s condition and resources.

Even though the school was new, it was in need of repairs as well as lacking standard items a school should have, said Goligoski. The HSC helped facilitate acquisition of the missing items. For example, they provided wood so the school staff could build students’ desks.

“We have established a good enough relationship with the village elders that we can go straight to them if we have a problem, and they can do the same for us,” said Goligoski.
 
Acting as sentries and ‘pseudo-ambassadors’ are not the only tasks the HSC Soldiers are responsible for. They also sponsor the Small Rewards Program; in exchange for information about weapons caches, they provide monetary rewards.
 
“We get to know the peoples wants and needs, and in exchange they provide us with information,” said Goligoski, who noted the program has been very successful.
          
The Bagram Outreach Program and Small Rewards Program compliment each other, he explained.
 
For example, one village leader told HSC Soldiers of two weapons caches. In return, he received a cash award. Later on, the same village leader witnessed HSC Soldiers repairing his village’s windmills and generators. For their effort, he informed them of another weapons cache.

Two-sided helping relationships are being forged in many villages around Bagram Air Field.

Security is much more than manning a 24-hour ECP. It is also about establishing relationships with the local population and showing them Coalition forces can provide a positive alternative to the violence anti-Afghan forces offer.