Afghanistan My Last Tour

Last night after downloading my photographs and the writing my daily entry, my laptop computer started experiencing problems.  The screen started changing colors and then I started getting streaks across it.  Using my limited computer knowledge, I tried to fix the problem and only made it worse.  Now I am unable to neither start my system nor repair it using the available repair software.  So I am using a temporary work around until a permanent solution can be found.  I was hoping the laptop would last for 4 more months and if I kept applying duct tape to it, it would hold together and function properly.

Yesterday my team went on a logistics mission with our ANA counterparts.  We picked up 4 seven ton loads for our ANA soldiers deployed to the field.  They are sleeping in tents or b-huts and the lumber is their only means of heat.  While there we also picked up our Air Force fire retardant uniforms.  We have been trying to get these since arriving in country (8 months) and have grown accustomed to wearing the Army uniforms.  But the Air Force would prefer us to keep our identity and wear the Air Force uniform.  After the mission, I tried them on and the pants are too large, gloves too small, and shirts too tight.  So now I will have to return them for different sizes.  Normally I would wear large pants and X-LG shirts, but due to the size variation, I will have to request a medium long pants and XX-LG shirts.  I haven’t worn anything size medium since high school.  But hey maybe my daily exercise regimen (thinking about going to the gym) and chocolate chip cookie diet is working….lol.

We encountered a lot of traffic on the return trip back through the capital city.  So instead of waiting out gridlock traffic, we ventured down some side streets and got to see another part of Kabul.  I took some pictures through the market area (which are stuck in my laptop and inaccessible).  After departing the market area, we had to do a U-turn on a major road.  The traffic was patient while we turned our hulking MRAPs around.  The trailer was attached to my MRAP, so I had a little bit more difficulty, but I executed a perfect 3 point U-turn and we were on our merry way.

Today I went over to ANA land to meet my counterparts.  Since the merger of the US Kandak and Brigade, I have picked up additional mentoring functions.  So in addition to the Religious Officer, Sergeant Major, I am also involved with the Property Book Officer.  He is responsible for ensuring all of the vehicles, weapons, and equipment authorizations and accountability are maintained for all 6 Kandaks (companies).  This was our 2^nd meeting and we drank a customary cup of tea and then discussed business.

I also visited the religious officer and the ANA Mullah was present.  We always have lively and interesting conversations.  Later this week, I am planning on attending one of the literacy programs being taught to the ANA soldiers.  Four out of five soldiers here are illiterate and this complicates the mentoring process.  It’s extremely challenging to teach a soldier to be a soldier if they can’t comprehend what you are teaching, especially if they are illiterate.  Yet this is the force that will eventually assume security for their own country.

I also had an opportunity to see the ANA Sergeant Major.  He was extremely thankful for the special project we completed for the guard tower and increasing their quality of living.  I was on my vacation when the construction work was being done and haven’t seen it since it was completed.  Hopefully in the next week or so, I will get an opportunity to visit the site and take some pictures.

I was rather shocked to read the Afghan headlines about Karzai’s cabinet ministers.  The lower Parliament disapproved 17 of the 24 nominations Karzai submitted for approval.  On one hand this is a positive sign that democracy is taking place and the Parliament wants qualified and honest people in their administration.  However, my sources tell me that the main reason the ministers were disapproved is because they didn’t have the money or didn’t pay money for their votes.  But I really don’t know what the truth is.  I do know that corruption is still persisting in this country.  I read about individuals competing for position of Police Chief in one of the provinces.  They spent $15,000 on their campaign and it is assumed or public knowledge they will get this money back through corruption, bribes, etc.

On a positive note, I am being proactive with the CERP (Commander’s Emergency Response Program).  I am researching two villages that might be in need of some humanitarian assistance and construction projects.  As I mentioned before, this program allows us to deal directly with the villagers and avoids going through the government or a middle man alleviating payoffs, bribes, etc.  Based on my preliminary research, these villages have schools, but they sit on the floor because they have no desks.  I would love to purchase some school desks and chalkboards and then distribute the school supplies being sent by my readers.

Filed under: Deployment "snafus", Missions, School supplies project Tagged: | Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, Air Force fire retardant uniforms, Deployment, ETT, mentoring, U.S. Air Force, war