Specialist unit to advise commanders in Helmand of cultural issues launched

The specialists will help build a picture of Helmandi society for commanders in Task Force Helmand and battlegroups across the province to help them identify and understand issues relating to the local cultural, political, economic, social and historical environment to help commanders make better and more informed decisions.

The specialists will build on their existing language skills and cultural understanding by gathering local knowledge and fostering contacts at bazaars, shuras and other places where local Helmandis gather.

The Defence Cultural Specialist Unit (DCSU), based at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire, has been established in consultation with other government departments to ensure that its activities support the wider comprehensive approach and link into other government and Afghan initiatives.

At full strength, the unit will have forty two members from across the three Services as well as civilians.

Six military specialists from the unit are already deployed in Helmand and the unit has provided a high-grade civilian cultural adviser to Commander Regional Command South, Major General Nick Carter.

As well as deploying to Afghanistan, the units' personnel will also support cultural training in the wider military and other government departments.

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) Air Vice-Marshal Andy Pulford said that a focus on cultural issues is essential to success in Afghanistan. He said:

"Cultural awareness has been a weakness in the past. The unit is essential to equipping the military with a better understanding and appreciation of the region, its people and how to do business there."

Commander John Garratt Royal Navy, the MOD team leader for implementing the unit explained:

"This has come about as a response to the operational demand to better understand the people we operate with so as to make smarter decisions and improve military effectiveness.

"The DCSU is the spearhead of a broader Defence Cultural Capability and will provide both the home for the specialists and the focus for wider capability development."

The new unit's Operational Commander, Colonel Nick Hubberstey, stressed the importance of having a dedicated unit:

"The DCSU represents a real opportunity to begin to close the gap in our understanding of the current operational environment", he said.

"By being better aware of people we are working amongst, how they think, their culture, beliefs, hopes and fears, we can do much more to bring crisis to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion."

The immediate focus for the DCSU is supporting operations in Afghanistan but it will evolve alongside operational requirements to fit the needs of the military in future conflicts.

The DCSU will sit under Land Forces Theatre Troops with command delegated to 1 Military Intelligence Brigade.

See Related News to read more about the unit.