War in Afghanistan order of battle, 2012

This list shows the coalition forces that were in Afghanistan in 2012. It includes the soldiers and teams from many countries who were working together to help keep the country safe. These forces were part of something called the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The ISAF included troops from countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, and many more.

The ISAF was in charge of both fighting and helping to rebuild parts of Afghanistan. They had special teams called Provincial Reconstruction Teams that worked on projects to improve life for people living there. Even though many photos from that time show American soldiers, the ISAF had troops from lots of different nations working side by side.

The list here shows where these international forces were placed and how they were organized in November 2012. It includes units under the command of ISAF, and it assumes most units were from the United States unless stated otherwise. This is a general guide to show the structure of these forces during that time.

International Security Assistance Force

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in 2012 was led by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium. The main commander was USMC General John R. Allen at ISAF Headquarters in Kabul.

There were three main groups under this command. One group handled training for the Afghan National Army. Another group was for special operations. The third group managed six regional areas: Capital, South, Southwest, North, East, and West. Each area had its own commander, headquarters, and teams to support the local communities.

Regional Command Capital

• Commander: Brigadier General Rafet Sevinc Sasmaz (Turkey)
• Headquarters: Kabul
• Area of responsibility: Kabul Province

Combat units

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Regional Command Capital has no Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

Regional Command South

• Commander: Major General Robert Abrams (USA)
• Headquarters: Kandahar Airfield
• Area of responsibility: Kandahar, Orūzgān, and Zabul Provinces.

Combat units

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Regional Command Southwest

• Commander: Major General Charles M. Gurganus (USMC)
• Headquarters: Camp Leatherneck, Helmand
• Area of Operations: Helmand and Nimruz Provinces

Combat units

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

• PRT Helmand (Lead nation: United Kingdom)

Regional Command East

• Commander: Major General Bill Mayville, USA
• Headquarters: Bagram Airfield
• Area of responsibility: Ghazni, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktia, Panjshir, Parwan and Wardak Provinces and Surobi District of Kabul Province

Combat units

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Regional Command North

• Commander: Major General Erich Pfeffer, Germany
• Headquarters: Mazar-i-Sharif
• Area of responsibility – Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, Kunduz, Samangan, Sar-e Pul and Takhar Provinces.

Combat units

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Regional Command West

Source:

• Commander: Brigadier General Dario Mari Ranieri, Italy
• Headquarters: Camp Arena, Herat
• Area of responsibility: Badghis, Farah, Ghor, and Herat Provinces
• Airfields: Herat International Airport, Shindand Air Base

Combat units

Provincial Reconstruction Teams

U.S.-led coalition

In 2012, the United States led a group of countries working together in Afghanistan. This group, called Operation Enduring Freedom, was based at Bagram Air Base. It had two main parts: Combined Joint Task Force 101 and the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A).

CSTC-A helped train the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police. It worked with different teams and people from many countries, including the United States, France, Germany, and others, to support these training efforts.