Here is a link to the latest interview with WUSF Radio’s Bobbie O’Brien. We talked about my visit with the Afghan soldiers’ literacy program where we had a lively exchange about Americans and why U.S. troops and the coalition forces are in Afghanistan. The piece aired on the NPR affiliate in the Tampa Bay area [...]
Filed under: Radio interviews | Tagged: Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, ANA, news, WUSF | 3 Comments »
Last night I couldn’t sleep well and stayed up late preparing for my discussion with the ANA soldiers. I was invited to speak with a group of ANA soldiers attending literacy training. Part of their curriculum is religious studies and one segment of the class covers infidel misperceptions. Although I am not an infidel, but [...]
Filed under: Mentoring ANA | Tagged: 9-11, Afghan National Army, Afghan perspective, al-Qaeda, ANA, civilian casualties, Deployment, ETT, literacy training, Operation Mushtarak, perception of Americans, rules of engagement, war | 7 Comments »
Since today was Liberation Day celebrating the Soviets departure, my ANA counterparts were off. I used this as an opportunity to catch up some administrative work. My Captain had Command Post duty, so I visited him and we worked on the paperwork together. He inspires me while I write bullets for decorations and evaluations. While [...]
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
While sipping my green tea and chewing on some cheap Afghan candy; two more ANA officers came to visit my ANA Sergeant Major. They exchanged pleasantries with everyone in the room and sat around the SGM’s round table. He poured them each a cup of chai and then we all started an intellectual debate and [...]
Filed under: Mentoring ANA | Tagged: Afghan National Army, ANA, ANP, corruption, Deployment, ETT, war | 1 Comment »
It didn’t take long for Mother Nature to correct her mistake of yesterday’s warm weather and return us back to colder temperatures. In fact in the afternoon, we were treated to some small snowflakes that subsequently melted and turned to ice as the mercury continued to plummet. I’m sure the much higher elevations are experiencing [...]
Filed under: Mentoring ANA | Tagged: Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, ANA, ANP, Deployment, ETT, Karzai, Liberation Day, mentoring, Mujahedeen, The Other Side Of The Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War | 1 Comment »
Judging by today’s pictures, you would never know that we were in the middle of the winter season. I’m unsure if this is an anomaly or Afghanistan (specifically Kabul) is experiencing a very mild winter. But today I swore it felt like spring weather. The sun was shining brightly and the temperature was rather comfortable. [...]
Filed under: Missions | Tagged: Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, Cougar MRAP, Deployment, ETT, Kabul, war | 3 Comments »
Rex is out on a mission so I am taking the opportunity to say “thanks” to some very special young people here in Tampa with the Hillsborough County Public Schools. A few weeks ago I had the chance to go visit with third, fourth and fifth graders at Lake Magdalene Elementary School in North Tampa. [...]
Filed under: School supplies project | Tagged: Catherine Chappell, Hillsborough County Public Schools, KICS, Kids into Community Service, Lake Magdalene Elementary School | Leave a Comment »
Apparently I raised a few eyebrows in my weekly WUSF radio interview when I voiced my opinion about my desire to revisit Afghanistan in the future. As a student of history, Afghanistan fascinates me with its varied culture, landscape, and archeological ruins. The problem is that it’s not safe for me or tourists to go [...]
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Afghanistan, Afghanistan A Companion and Guide, Bijan Omrani, Deployment, Matthew Leeming, MSgt Jerry Dameron, war | 1 Comment »
Here’s a link to the latest story with WUSF Radio’s Bobbie O’Brien. We talked about a piece of stone art near our camp and my upcoming visit to a religion class for Afghan National Army soldiers that addresses infidel misconceptions. My Last Tour: Afghan Culture
Filed under: Radio interviews | Tagged: Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, Deployment, ETT, news, WUSF | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday after our mentoring sessions were over, we spent the afternoon readying our MRAPs for what would have been a long mission. Had everything went as planned, we would have been driving on the road at O-dark-thirty hours. Around 0800 hrs this morning, we were given the order to “stand down” (Army lingo to stop [...]
Filed under: Food and living conditions, Missions | Tagged: Afghan National Army, Camp Phoenix, ETT, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, war | 3 Comments »
