Laki Locals Defy Taliban With Girls’ School

A local girl finds a seat in the Laki Girls School, after the school's ribbon cutting in Garmsir District, Helmand prov., Feb. 15. The girls' school was adapted from an old women's center that the Taliban shut down. PATROL BASE GORGAK -- “In a district where we literally just cleared the Taliban from walking the streets, you’ve got a community that’s willing to step forward, and open a girls' school.” That was Lt. Col. Matthew Reid’s assessment of the latest major coalition breakthrough in Central Helmand prov.

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Earlier that day, Reid, the comm. officer of 2nd Bn, 1st Marine Regt, addressed approx 300 locals, during the ribbon cutting. The lt. col., who commands a battalion in the Garmsir district, promised them that the Taliban will never rule Afghanistan again.“This community is very forward looking,” he said, describing the region of Laki. "Before Taliban occupation, it was women's center," said Staff Sgt. George Saggeth, a team chief with 3rd Civil Affairs Group. "However, the Taliban prohibited women from gathering in public, and closed the facility." Now, the facility is ready for approx 180 female students. The Taliban's presence in Laki has gradually faded to virtually nothing. An ANP station stands approx a km from the girls' school. On a regular basis, Marines meet there with Amir Sha Jahn, the local police chief. The police and Marines team up with ANA soldiers to patrol local villages. According to Sgt. Matt Reid, a squad leader with Redemption II, Weapons Co, 2/1, Taliban in the region are now limited to planting IEDs, but they haven't any recent success. Weapons Co, which patrols Laki, has found each IED they’ve encountered since arriving in Afghanistan almost 4 months ago. "What’s more," he said, "they’ve found almost all through local tips." Sgt. Reid said Weapons Co's main focus is now civil affairs projects. Improvements to the school continue. Saggeth said that he's obtaining a generator, working fans, and working lights. "Also, the Weapons Co Marines have playground equipment they plan to deliver soon," he added. For the Laki community, another blessing lays on the not-too-distant horizon. A boys' school in the nearby village of Shah Wali Kahn is underway, and Saggeth predicts it will be finished in 3 months. “This is the model for winning right now,” said Lt. Col. Reid. “We continue to be the model.”

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