Combined Task Force 82 (CJTF-82) was a US led subordinate

formation Formation may refer to: Linguistics * Back-formation, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes * Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes Mathematics and science * Cave formation or speleothem, a secondar ...

of the

International Security Assistance Force ' ps, کمک او همکاري ' , allies = Afghanistan , opponents = Taliban Al-Qaeda , commander1 = , commander1_label = Commander , commander2 = , commander2_label = , commander3 = , comman ...

(ISAF) in 2003 and 2007–09. It originally served as both the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reporting directly to the Commander,

United States Central Command The United States Central Command (USCENTCOM or CENTCOM) is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense. It was established in 1983, taking over the previous responsibilities of the Rapid Deployment Joint Tas ...

, and as ISAF's

Regional Command East In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

. It was replaced by Combined Joint Task Force 101 (CJTF-101) in early April 2008. In May 2009, CJTF-82 returned to Bagram Air Field and assumed control of the east. Shortly thereafter United States Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) officially took over responsibility as the National Command Element for the theater. CJTF-82 was headquartered at

Bagram Air Base Bagram Airfield-BAF, also known as Bagram Air Base , is located southeast of Charikar in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan. It is under the Afghan Ministry of Defense. Sitting on the site of the ancient Bagram at an elevation of above sea leve ...

Subordinate fighting formations

Under

Combined Joint Task Force 180 Combined Joint Task Force 180 was a provisional multinational land formation, primarily made up of units from the United States Army, that fought in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), especially in the initial invasion phase of 2001-2002. It w ...

and later Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan (CFC-A), the corps-level overall headquarters, a division level headquarters supervising fighting brigades was maintained in Afghanistan in 2002–2004. The HQ was provided in succession by different US Army light divisional headquarters.

Combined Joint Task Force Mountain Combined may refer to: * Alpine combined (skiing), the combination of slalom and downhill skiing as a single event ** Super combined (skiing) * Nordic combined (skiing), the combination of cross country skiing and ski jumping as a single event * T ...

, drawn from 10th Mountain Division, the headquarters that oversaw

Operation Anaconda Operation Anaconda was a military operation that took place in early March 2002 as part of the War in Afghanistan. CIA paramilitary officers, working with their allies, attempted to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. The operation took place ...

, was the first of these HQs. Later changes in the Divisional HQ providing the task force HQ saw changes to the name, first to

Combined Joint Task Force 76 Combined Joint Task Force – 76 (CJTF-76) was a US led subordinate formation of Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan (CFC-A) headquartered in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was active from the time CFC-A stood up (circa 15 April 2004) to the time the I ...

and then to CJTF 82. The mission of CJTF-76 was to conduct a 'full spectrum of operations throughout its operations area to defeat he enemy extremist movement, establish an enduring security and reshape its posture for the Long War in order to set conditions for long-term stability in Afghanistan.' CJTF 76 had a one-point two combat brigades under its control, which conducted counter-insurgency operations against Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the east and south of the country. The Task Force and its subordinate formations comprised a shifting group of units and formations. There were also engineer and special operations Task Forces, plus the

Provincial Reconstruction Team A Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) was a unit introduced by the United States government, consisting of military officers, diplomats, and reconstruction subject matter experts, working to support reconstruction efforts in unstable states. PRT ...

s. The lead fighting formation of CJTF-180 changed in mid-April 2004 to the 25th Infantry Division (Light), resulting in a designator change to CJTF-76. CJTF 76 was in place until March 2007. In March 2005, the U.S. Army's

Southern European Task Force United States Army Africa (USARAF), also known as the ''Southern European Task Force'' (SETAF), was the United States Army service component command of United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM). USARAF's headquarters were located on ...

(SETAF) took the leadership role in CJTF-76. In February 2006, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) took over CJTF-76 leadership. At the time of the transfer of authority of the RC East area from U.S. Central Command to the NATO-led ISAF, CJTF-76 was commanded by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). With the inactivation of CFC-A in late 2006, CJTF-76 transitioned to ISAF command as headquarters for ISAF's Regional Command East. The elimination of the intermediate U.S. CFC-A meant the commander CJTF-76 simultaneously reported to the Commander, U.S. Central Command as the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. CJTF-76 was replaced by CJTF-82, led by the

82nd Airborne Division The 82nd Airborne Division is an Airborne forces, airborne infantry division (military), division of the United States Army specializing in Paratrooper, parachute assault operations into denied areasSof, Eric"82nd Airborne Division" ''Spec Ops ...

, in March 2007.

Post Handover to ISAF

With the concurrence of the Commander, U.S. Central Command, and upon the inactivation of HQ CFC-A, Headquarters CJTF-76 became the United States National Command Element for the Afghanistan Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA). The Commander of CJTF-76 was also the regional commander of

. The Commander, Joint Task Force-76, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley was given two positions, as the US operational commander and the NATO/ISAF deputy commander for security. The goal was to maintain proper coordination between the two organizations.

Notes

*United States Army, 'A Different Kind of War'

Subordinate fighting formations

Post Handover to ISAF

Notes

Further reading