Combat Logistics In Afghanistan: Supplying the Counter Insurgency

In this interview, Matt Dirisio describes multiple deployments to Afghanistan as both a Maintenance Platoon Leader and a General’s Aide. He describes the importance of keeping tactical units supplied and the challenges of conducting resupply by air (including a requirement to sling-load sheep to an Afghan Army unit). He discusses rushing to put together a “speed ball” for immediate resupply to “Troops In Contact” (TIC), providing emergency food, water, and ammunition packed in a body bag and thrown out of a helicopter to a unit under fire. He discusses pacing items, pieces of equipment that were mission-critical on the battlefield, including minehounds (equipment that detects magnetic anomalies – like mines or IEDs – underground). He reflects on the enemy and on the Afghan troops he worked with, as well as his greatest challenges and successes as a Platoon Leader. He talks about interactions with Afghan civilians and problems he encountered with Afghan logistics officers hoarding supplies rather than providing them to subordinate units. Near the end of the interview, he reflects on training Afghan logisticians but being willing to adapt to the Afghan way of doing things.