In this episode, we discuss the following topics.

*Andres’ operational experiences before joining 2/1

*The organization and strength of Weapons Company, 2/1, at the beginning of its deployment with the SP-MAGTF-CR

*The company’s deployment prior to heading to HKIA

*When the Afghanistan mission first appeared on the company’s radar

*Managing Marines’ expectations in the run-up to deploying to HKIA

*Preparing to leave for HKIA

*Weapons Company’s first day at HKIA

*The company’s initial taskings

*Andres’ reaction to the news that Coalition forces would work with the Taliban

*The challenges of commanding a dispersed company 

*Andres’ experiences at Abbey Gate before 26 August

*Interacting with the many Coalition forces at Abbey Gate

*How often Andres used the tools and concepts in MCDP-1 and MCDP 1-3

*Receiving messages from individuals and interest groups in the US asking for help evacuating people, and how these affected operations

*Some of the challenges Andres and his Marines experienced at Abbey Gate

*Two specific instances where Andres and his Marines helped evacuate Afghan children

*What Weapons Company and Andres were doing on 26 August 

*Weapons Company’s role in the demil process at Kabul

*What Andres observed in his Marines and himself after returning to Kuwait

*His advice on how to talk to leaders about harrowing experiences

*The use of cell phones at HKIA

*Andres’ interactions with US State Department officials at HKIA

*The logistics challenges of HKIA

*The discipline of Andres’ Marines at HKIA

*The most frustrating and rewarding aspects of the HKIA experience 

*Shifting between a combat mindset and a humanitarian mindset

*The most challenging decision Andres made at HKIA

*Where Andres performed well as a decision-maker and leader HKIA and where he could have performed better

*What lessons he took away from HKIA and how those might apply in the context of FD 2030

*Tactical decision game as tools to prepare Marines for operations like HKIA

Link

"Witnesses to the End" by Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 7 Nov 2021