Colonel Mark Neate, British Army, was the joint operations officer for United Kingdom (UK) forces at the British Permanent Joint Task Force supporting International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operations in Afghanistan. From April to October 2006, Neate directed operations while juggling a host of dynamic issues while the UK contingent of soldiers and diplomats engaged the Afghan people and the Taliban. Elements of NATO and American forces that made up ISAF came with differing, national-level approaches towards rules of engagement that affected planning and force employment. For example, what began as a Dutch operational concept in Helmand Province passed to a UK contingent of forces - including diplomats in a whole of government, integrated effort to leverage development and reconstruction efforts concurrently with opposition to the Taliban - to resource and execute. Neate oversaw the disposition of UK forces from the 16 Air Assault Brigade in Helmand Province to mentor and support elements of the Afghan National Army and indigenous police forces down to platoon level. Garrisoning of platoon houses as strong points placed combat power out in the far-flung reaches of the province provoking Taliban company-level assaults at times. British forces met these attacks head-on with a combination of organic firepower and close air support, to include US Army Apache helicopters in close support. The tactical operations of British Army elements seemed almost simple in contrast to the adaptive response required by NATO elements (including American forces, perhaps at times forgetful of their NATO membership) to the range of operational and strategic challenges in Afghanistan. Neate experienced this as an Afghan-centered counterinsurgency took shape amidst reconstruction, development, counternarcotics and indigenous force development. Institutional learning for the British Army mirrors many of the challenges facing the US Army in the ongoing support to Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

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