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Engineer 49 joint maneuver forces securing the near side and the estab- lishment of traffc control posts by Afghanistan National Security Forces and Afghan Uniform Police partners, the conditions were set for the 1438th MRBC Soldiers to conduct bridging operations. Phase II: Assault the gap. Unlike the case in traditional gap-crossing operations, we had the beneft of friendly forces on the far side. Objectives on the near side and far side were secured simultaneously. Our Afghan part- ners set up traffc control points at major intersections leading into the bridgehead to prevent local traffc interference while the 1438th was on-site completing bridge repairs. Phase III: During the entire opera- tion, constant intelligence, surveil- lance, and reconnaissance were available. The crossing area com- mander and the joint staff had visualization of the avenues of approach toward the bridgehead and of the bridgehead itself. (The bridgehead is an area on the ene- my's side of the obstacle that is large enough to accommodate most of the crossing force, has adequate terrain to permit defense of the crossing sites, provides security from enemy direct fre for the crossing force, and provides a base for continu- ing the attack.) The friendly forces on the far side secured areas that could be defned as exit bank objectives, further denying and interdicting any insurgent threats or local national unrest outside the crossing area. Phase IV: the The bridge- head line was already secured and maintained by active Afghan patrols and traffc control points. The local face to this operation was impera- tive. The Afghan National Security Force and Afghan Uniform Police understood the importance of maintain- ing security around the criti- cal infrastructure. This effort was furthered by an aggres- sive information operations campaign by the operational environment owner. Messages were announced on local radio, through local shura councils, during meetings with the Department of Public Works, by provincial and local government authorities, and by word of mouth on the street. An information operations campaign spread the understanding that coalition forces were working with the Afghan people to provide an Afghan solution. For- tunately, local inhabitants were still upset that the insur- gents had damaged the bridge, which was key to everyone's livelihood. To their surprise, the 1438th completed bridge repairs in less than 8 hours after an initial estimate of January–April 2014 Soldiers from the 1438th MRBC inspect decking on an overbridge ramp. Soldiers conduct reconnaissance of the Tom Bridge to determine the best course of action to remove the overbridge. EN Hanson.1.indd 52 3/12/2014 1:22:15 PM