Operation Freedom's Sentinel


Operation Freedom's Sentinel is the official name used by the U.S. Government for the mission succeeding Operation Enduring Freedom in continuation of the Global War on Terrorism. Operation Freedom's Sentinel is part of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, which began on January 1, 2015. OFS has two components: counterterrorism and working with allies as part of Resolute Support. There are 16,551 NATO troops in Afghanistan as of June 2020. There are 306,807 Afghan National Defense and Security Forces as of January 2020.

Objectives

After thirteen years of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. military and NATO allies shifted focus from major military operations to a smaller role of NATO-led training and assistance. While the bulk of the new mission was under the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, "a separate 'non-NATO' contingent of U.S. forces will participate in force protection, logistical support and counterterrorism activities."
An October 1, 2015, statement by Gen. John F. Campbell, commander, Resolute Support Mission, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan/ISAF, defined the U.S. military's objectives. "U.S. forces are now carrying out two well-defined missions: a Counter-Terrorism mission against the remnants of Al-Qaeda and the Resolute Support TAA mission in support of Afghan security forces. Our CT and TAA efforts are concurrent and complementary. While we continue to attack the remnants of Al-Qaeda, we are also building the ANDSF so that they can secure the Afghan people, win the peace, and contribute to stability throughout the region."
When OFS started U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan were at 9,800 troops. General Campbell requested an additional 1,000 troops while NATO troop levels were built up to a force of about 13,500. His request was granted. As of 2019, U.S. troop levels are at 14,000 troops in combined support of NATO RS missions and OFS.

Congressional reports

The Lead Inspector General for Overseas Contingency Operations is responsible for submitting a quarterly report on OFS to Congress. The quarterly report describes activities in support of OFS, as well as the work of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development to promote the U.S. Government’s policy goals in Afghanistan,
Excerpts from the January 1, 2018 - March 30, 2018 report:
In August 2019 soldiers of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division were deployed to Afghanistan to replace the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. In February 2020 soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, Tenth Mountain Division were deployed to Afghanistan to replace the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in and around Helmand Province, Afghanistan and the Gandhara Zone of Northwest Pakistan and Southwest Afghanistan.