Provincial Reconstruction Team

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Distribution of PRTs in Afghanistan
Camp Marmal - one of many military bases in Afghanistan used by PRTs.

A Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) is a unit introduced by the United States government, consisting of military officers, diplomats, and reconstruction subject matter experts, working to support reconstruction efforts in unstable states. PRTs were first established in Afghanistan in late 2001 or early 2002, and as of 2008 operate there as well as in Iraq. While the concepts are similar, PRTs in Afghanistan and Iraq have separate compositions and missions. Their common purpose, however, is to empower local governments to govern their constituents more effectively.

PRTs were originally built and operated by U.S. forces as means of facilitating reconstruction efforts in provinces outside the capital, Kabul. Following NATO's involvement in Afghanistan, command of some PRTs was transferred from the US to the nations under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Contents

[edit] Structure

A PRT includes a military component (Civil Affairs/Force Protection, etc.), civilian police advisors, and civilian representatives of US (or other national) government foreign affairs agencies. In a US-led PRT, this generally includes a representative from USAID, the Department of State, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Justice. They are assisted by public diplomacy and reporting staff.

An Afghan PRT is commanded by a military officer, generally of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is supported by a civil affairs team and platoon of National Guard soldiers for security. The staff generally numbers between sixty and one hundred persons. There is no lead agency or department; the US government civilians and the military commander form an executive committee of equals which develops a strategy for the PRT, drawing on the expertise of all contributing agencies. Activities in Afghanistan focus on extending the reach of the central government into the provinces.[1]

In an Iraq PRT, the Team Leader is a civilian who reports to the US Department of State, and his deputy is generally a military officer. While civil affairs members are present on the team, there are more civilians than military personnel on the team. Functional areas include rule of law, reconstruction and development, agriculture, and governance. Some Iraq PRTs are embedded into the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) with which they are colocated (ePRT). The BCT retains responsibility for providing security for the civilian team members. In contrast to Afghanistan, Iraq PRTs focus on building the governance capacity at the local levels of government.[1]

[edit] Funding

The main funding for PRT's comes from PRDC (Provincial Reconstruction and Development Committee) and QRF (Quick Response Fund) programs under ISAF. Also some funding comes from USAID; namely under the CSP (Community Stabilization Program); the LGP (Local Governance Program); CAP (Community Action Program); Izdihar Economic Growth Program; and INMA Agri-business Program.[2]

Additional sources are: the Iraq Reconstruction and Relief Fund (IRRF), the Commanders Emergency Response Fund (CERP), the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) and new funding targeted specifically for USAID Focused Stabilization, Community Action and Local Governance Program (LGP) as well as PRT development funding.[3]

[edit] History

PRTs have been part of the NATO-led ISAF mission since October 5, 2006. The first PRT was located in Gardez in Paktia Province, co-located with US Special Forces "A" team members. Civil affairs team provided the daily contact with locals and tribal leaders. A contingent of the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division provided security in and around the compound. The sole civilian when the PRT became fully operational on February 1, 2003, was Thomas Praster of the State Department. At the end of March, he was joined by former US Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Hampton, who worked under contract with the USAID providing overwatch to the rebuilding of schools and medical clinics throughout Paktia, Khwost, and Ghazni Provinces.

Security was always an issue as the 100 by 125 foot mud-walled compound was attacked over 35 times by 105 mm rockets and RPGs.[citation needed] The PRT initiative has been expanded throughout most of the provinces for the purpose of reconstruction and reconciliation programs throughout Afghanistan. The 1st Provincial Reconstruction Team laid the critical cornerstones to future PRT initiatives throughout Afghanistan.[citation needed]

The training for the majority of the American PRTs takes place at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The training is overseen by the 189th Infantry Brigade, which specializes in training PRTs. Other units, including the 158th Infantry Brigade, support the 189th as it trains the PRTs in groups of twelve at a time. The training takes anywhere from six weeks to three months.[4]

[edit] Afghan PRTs

A PRT military base under construction in Afghanistan.

As of November 2008 there were twenty-six PRTs in Afghanistan, each commanded by one of the ISAF member-states.[5]

[edit] Regional Command North

The HQ is at Mazari Sharif, and is led by German forces. There are 5 PRTs beneath it.

[edit] Regional Command West

The HQ is at Herat and is led by Italian forces. There are (as of November 2008) 4 PRTs beneath it.

[edit] Regional Command South

On July 31, 2006, ISAF assumed command over the southern region of Afghanistan. The HQ is at Kandahar. On November 1, 2006, Dutch forces took over command from Canadian Forces. There are 4 PRTs underneath it.

[edit] Regional Command East/Combined Joint Task Force 82(US led)

On October 5, 2006, ISAF also assumed command of the PRTs in the eastern region of Afghanistan. The HQ is at Bagram and led by US Forces.

[edit] Iraq PRTs

The PRT concept was imported from Afghanistan into Iraq in 2005. That year, 10 PRTs were established in Ninewa, at-Ta'Mim, Salah ad-Din, Diyala, Basra (UK), Dhi Qar (Italy), Erbil (South Korea), Baghdad, Anbar, and Babil.[1] As part of the Iraq War troop surge of 2007, the number of PRTs was expanded to cover every province in the country.[12] Additionally, ePRTs were rolled out to work with the sub-provincial levels of government. By 2008, there were 31 PRTs, including 13 ePRTs, located throughout Iraq.[13]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Robert M. Perito (March 2007). "Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq" (PDF). United States Institute of Peace. http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr185.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 
  2. ^ Programs funding PTR's.
  3. ^ PRT funding sources.
  4. ^ First Army's 189th Infantry Brigade Trains Provincial Construction Teams for Afghanistan, First Army Public Affairs. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  5. ^ "Provincial Reconstruction Teams". US Agency for International Development. http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/Page.PRT.aspx. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 
  6. ^ "Das Provincial Reconstruction Team Kunduz" (in German). Bundeswehr. July 2008. http://www.einsatz.bundeswehr.de/C1256F1D0022A5C2/CurrentBaseLink/W26ASGG2219INFODE. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 
  7. ^ "De norske avdelingene i Afghanistan" (in Norweigian). February 2008. http://www.mil.no/fol/afg/start/styrken/#3. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 
  8. ^ a b "Herat PRT and government officials provide 12,000 fruit trees to local farmers". ISAF Public Information Office. November 2006. http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/pressreleases/2006/pr061127-307.htm. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 
  9. ^ "NATO-ISAF supports education in Afghanistan". NATO. November 2006. http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2006/11-november/e1106a.htm. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 
  10. ^ "Turkey To Open 27th Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan". American Forces Press Service. November 2006. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2026. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 
  11. ^ Caligiuri, Giovanni. "Nuristan PRT brings professional training to ANP". BlackAnthem. http://www.blackanthem.com/News/Allies_20/Nuristan_PRT_brings_professional_training_to_ANP5055.shtml. Retrieved on 2007-04-13. 
  12. ^ "Fact Sheet: Expanded Provincial Reconstruction Teams Speed the Transition to Self-Reliance". White House Office of the Press Secretary. July 2007. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070713.html. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 
  13. ^ "Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) Fact Sheet". 2008 Press Release. Embassy of the United States, Baghdad, Iraq. March 2008. http://iraq.usembassy.gov/pr_01222008b.html. Retrieved on 2008-11-23. 

[edit] External links

Ruiz, Moses. 2009. Sharpening the Spear: The United States’ Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan, Applied Research Project. Texas State University. http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/297/

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