Col. Michael Howard, commander of the 425th, spoke to reporters May 21 from Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khost province of Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border, in his first press conference since arriving there in February.

Howard left Alaska with 3,500 soldiers and has added another 1,500 soldiers from other military branches to help in the Army’s counter-insurgency mission and reconstruction goals. Battalions from the Indiana and Tennessee National Guard that specialize in agribusiness and reconstruction have joined the Alaska group at their three provincial bases. Additional military police and multi-functional aviation units have also been added to the 425th’s operation.

U.S. agencies and international business development agencies are working to stabilize the country’s agricultural-based economy.

“After 30 years of war the agriculture systems are in terrible shape,” Howard said.

Howard said the military is partnering with local government and Afghan and American universities to help farmers install irrigation and teach new farming techniques in an effort to help farmers increase their growing capacity and sell their crops at market.

Howard said these might not sound like “tough-guy” tasks, but they are crucial to successfully rebuilding a country devastated by war and terrorists.

Howard said the brigade is committed to $100 million in reconstruction projects, such as agriculture, irrigation, road and infrastructure projects.

The U.S. military is also assisting the Afghan government to upgrade its healthcare, education and energy systems.

Howard talked about the Taliban, now used by the U.S. military as a broad term for a variety of religious and political extremists in Afghanistan.

“This is a savage group of folks bent on toppling the government of Afghanistan,” Howard said. “They are not particularly large in numbers, but rely on the most brutal terrorist tactics.”

Local citizens working at the Salerno base were recently attacked by a suicide car bomb, Howard said. It killed seven Afghanis and injured several others. Throughout the provinces of Khost, Paktia and Paktika, where the 425th is located, about 200 local civilians have been targeted and killed by the Taliban for their affiliation with the U.S. military. A judge and mayor have been among those killed.

One old man was killed in May while riding a bike to the base. His job was to move trays in the mess hall. It is believed that a bomb was set off remotely as the man passed by to instill fear among those who support American efforts, Howard said.

“This was a kind, gentle, old man that was absolutely harmless,” Howard said.

The brigade suffered its own loss when Pfc. Patrick Allen DeVoe II was killed by a roadside bomb in March. There have been 45 soldiers hospitalized for their injuries since arriving in Afghanistan; 39 have recovered and returned to work.

Troops are focused on helping the Afghan government with its second presidential election by providing some security, but soldiers have scaled their level of involvement in comparison with the country’s first election in 2004. This election is really being planned and executed by the Afghan people, Howard said. The Americans are helping by providing law enforcement training and building up badly needed government facilities, such as jails, courthouses and provincial government centers.

The brigade will return in February 2010.

Reach the reporter at jillfankhauser.@alaskastar.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, June 4, 2009.