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Lerch, Slade G. J.: my Afghanistan recollections (March 21, 2011)

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Interviewer: Keithley, Leif

ABSTRACT: Starting with a bit of background biography about Captain Lerch the interview moves into his first deployment to Afghanistan. A discussion concerning the military role in Afghanistan occurs concerning the interaction with local, the use of Emergency Contingency Funds, and Village Medical Outreach. Cpt. Lerch continues with detailing his experience in the field by using examples such as the use of interpreters and eavesdropping on enemy electronic communication and then in full contact with hostile forces and the tactics deployed by the convoy group. Cpt. Lerch comments on the increasing level of IEDs and the hit and run tactics used by the Taliban. A brief description of life at the Kandahar Air Field and in the coalition environment is concluded by Cpt. Lerch being mostly occupied with work to have much off time. Cpt. Lerch’s 2nd tour in Afghanistan was a new role in the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team. In this role Cpt. Lerch was embedded with a number of other Canadian Forces soldiers in an Afghan National Army company with the goal of increasing their ability as an effective force. Cpt. Lerch describes the difficulties in such a task, communication, differences in culture, and remoteness of the operation are discussed as obstacles. Another encounter with Taliban is discussed where Cpt. Lerch was forced to take command of a situation and establish a firebase with the help of ANA soldiers after an IED attack. With an upcoming 3rd tour in Afghanistan Cpt. Lerch explains he will be back augmenting an American force in kinetic operations. A discussion on the handover of duties to the Americans pending Canada’s withdrawal leads to comments on ANA company operations and experiences while in the operational mentor role. Finally ending the interview are reflections on lessons learned from Afghanistan which may be applied to future conflicts. 0:00 – 2:00 – Intro and short biographical information. 2:00 – 9:30 – Initial deployment, re-rolled into manoeuvre battalion, supporting ANA. 10:00 – 15:00 – Comments on PRT’s duties, experience with Americans, Emergency Contingency Funds, incident outside KAF with locals swarming broken vehicle. 15:00 – 16:00 – Repurposing of roles in the field. 16:00 – 18:00 – Village Medical Outreach. 18:00 – 26:00 – Steady state operations, patrolling polling stations, frustrating nature of combat, story of radio contact with enemy using Icom scanner, use of interpreter, Taliban tactics. 26:45 – 30:30 – Tactics used when in contact with enemy, increase in IEDs, challenge of identifying enemy. 31:00 – 36:00 – Comparison to Bosnia, story about encounter with Afghans at checkpoint, difficulty with terrain, dispatched wrecker to free vehicle needs escort. 36:00 – 46:00 – Life at KAF, day to day operation planning, coalition atmosphere. 46:30 – 49:30 – Start of 2nd tour, Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team, embedded into ANA company. 49:30 – 51:30 – Comments on communication and importance of interpreter. 51:30 – 57:00 – Handoff and deployment to outpost with the ANA. 57:00 – 1:02 – Issues of cooperation with ANA, quality of ANA company commander varies drastically, extortion of supplies and diesel fuel by ANA company commander. 1:02 – 1:07 – Story of convoy leaving outpost, just desserts for bad ANA company commander, drone air support on large convoys. 1:07 – 1:14 –ANA company patrol, coming under fire and IED attack, taking command, investigation for more IEDs. 1:15 – 1:20 – Upcoming 3rd deployment, handover of Canadian duties to Americans, join ANA-American force, exit strategy, comments on solving problems in a tribal culture and establishing strong security and credible government. 1:20 – 1:25 – Comments on difference between ANA and ANP, challenges they face, fragmented tribal nature, ancient society. 1:25 – 1:27 – Inkblot theory of strong points and bleed off effect. 1:27 – 1:33 – Motivations of a soldier, training to fall back on under fire, IED hunting and risks of secondary IED. 1:33 – 1:38 – Comparison and contrast of CF to ANA, issues with mentorship, ANA do things the Afghan way. 1:38 – 1:39 – Riot between ANA companies, ANA commander doles out punishment with a steel rod. 1:39 – 1:43 – Lessons learned, lost lives, closing thoughts.

Interviewee: Lerch, Slade Gestur John, b. 1969

Rank: Captain.

An interview/narrative of Slade Lerch's experiences during the War in Afghanistan. Interview took place on March 21, 2011.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Title of paper: "Experiences, Problems and Lessons from Afghanistan".
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 39.76, -98.5
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • LSGJ_683
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 21, 2011
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2011. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI
Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Actions
file details SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail
file details Lerch_S_0683_01.mp3