While working for the U.S. Forest Service in Wells, Nev., Stefani discovered the opportunity to take a 9-month assignment as a U.S. Dept of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service advisor, helping the people of Ghazni Prov. develop and implement agricultural projects.
On the desolate hills of Afghanistan, one can’t be blamed for wondering how anyone could possibly make a living in such a place. Stefani was here to help the Afghans with just that. One of his many programs taught hundreds of women to raise poultry. He also helped to improve the grape production in the prov., worked to get a cold storage facility built, and planned for a sorely-needed tree farm. He raised the hopes of the inhabitants in this conflict-torn region, that the future could be better for their children.When he found the Ghazni City orphanage had been so torn apart due to conflict, that they didn’t have a playground, toys or even soccer balls to play with, it tore at his heart. Tragically, just as the plan was developing, Stefani’s convoy, returning from another mission, was hit by a roadside bomb, and the 28-year-old’s life was cut short, devastating his family and friends.His family, knowing how Stefani hated to leave a project unfinished, and wanting him to be remembered for something more than the way he died, decided to carry out his vision of a playground for this orphanage. They accepted donations in Stefani’s name to cover the cost of the playground equipment and shipping it to Ghazni.Today, Ghazni is still a dangerous prov., beset with insurgent activity and roadside bombs. Getting the equipment here was a complicated matter plagued with delays, but PRT members committed to get the playground ready for use as quickly as possible once it arrived.The orphanage is a fulltime home to 45 children and hosts a total of 120 children for the school day. It's led by orphanage dir., Mir Ameenullah, and staffed with 7 teachers and an administrator.“I got my mom, dad, brother and sister a gift,” said Gomez. “I’m just looking for something that represents Afghanistan, to send back so they see what we see here in a sense.” Almost an hour later, they each carried a couple bags in their hands with the treasures they'd found.
“I bought some jewelry,” said Wagner. “I’ve got a little lady back home. They’re really good on bartering here. I paid $34, and he started me off at $60.” Even though they only bought a few small items, the Soldiers said that just walking around and looking at all the items the bazaar had to offer was a lot of fun. “Down there,” Gomez said, motioning to a store at the far corner of the crushed stone lot, “they've a lot of really nice wooden boxes and chests; you can really see the work they put into each one.” Marble chess sets adorned with “United States” and “Afghanistan,” hand-carved wooden chests, jewelry boxes and other items, traditional clothing, scarves, carpets and flags, leather jackets, purses and handbags, antique swords, knives, guns and other weapons, tea sets, woven baskets, and embroidered patches are just some of the things servicemembers and civilians on Bagram Air Field can find at the bazaar. The bazaar features more than 30 local vendors, most from Parwan Prov. Wagner said that he likes the fact that most of the vendors are from the local area. “I like the culture,” Wagner said, as he looked along the row of connexes around him. “When I came here, I didn’t think we were going to have the opportunity to be part of a bazaar like this, and the culture here is something I definitely wanted to wrap my head around. This place definitely gives you an opportunity to do that.”Pfc. Anthony Weir, a medic with the 832nd Engr Co, attached to the 1st Sqdn, 113th Cav Regt, TF Red Horse, was also shopping at the bazaar. He agreed that many Soldiers are seeking something that represents their time here when shopping at the bazaar. “If it’s something authentic, that was made here, that I couldn’t find anywhere else in the world, that’s what makes me buy it,” said Weir.Pfc. Chad Cosens, also a medic and with HHC, 334th BSB, TF Archer, had his own strategy for Christmas shopping at the bazaar. “I’m just looking around for Christmas presents, taking pictures of stuff and emailing them to my family to see what they like,” said Cosens. “I probably won’t end up sending it til after Christmas, but it will still be nice to get them out a package.” Cosens said he enjoyed the antique weapons and currency, which he said one of his brothers may also enjoy, although his older brother is difficult to shop for. “My mom, she’ll probably like just about anything,” Cosens said. “Maybe some jewelry ...”1st Lt. Timothy Halbur, HHC, 2-34th BSTB, TF Archer, is the officer-in-charge of the bazaar. Halbur, said that TF Archer is working to improve the infrastructure of the bazaar, which is run by the Army and AF Exchange Service. He said that the TF inherited the bazaar from the 86th IBCT. “The real point of the bazaar is to form a COIN op,” Halbur said. “It’s to bring local money to the locals in Bagram.”"TF Archer plans to make some changes and upgrades to the bazaa, to improve it for the servicemembers, civilian contractors and local nationals who use it," Halbur said. He said that among the improvements the unit is working on is the addition of a boardwalk around the shops lining the lot, so customers are walking on a solid surface rather than the crushed stone. Halbur also said theTF is working on adding a pavilion, as well as a working bakery, so customers can buy food while shopping.
“You’ll be able to come to the bakery here, buy some pastries and a coffee, and shopping here will be more of an enjoyable experience,” Halbur said.Tim Egan taught the leaders proper techniques to prepare the construction site and fix the roads, using reinforced concrete thick enough to support commercial truck traffic. “We're trying to instill in them better construction techniques, so the repair will last for years,” said Egan. “If you don’t repair it right the first time, you'll be back in a few days to do it again.”
“It's very good. No problem,” said Haseebulla, Rural Rehabilitation and Development official. “We're going to take this slow, step by step, hand in hand together,” said Maj. Scott DeJesse, the district development team chief from the Laghman PRT. “We'll work through the first few projects together.” “I like this program very much,” said Fateh Muhammad, village affairs mgr. “The villages that want to work should be able to get help. I'm very excited.”
“Thank you for sharing the info with us, and teaching us how to make our district better,” said Mehirulla. “We have support and classes. It will be a good example for the next generation.”
The PRT plans to work with villages to get ideas up through their leaders to the district govt. Then the line directors will help prioritize projects. This will help ensure the district govt is meeting the needs of the people. “We will work on this,” said Mehirulla. “We will work on this, and will share the info with the line directors, and I'm sure we'll have success in the future.”
U.S. Amb. to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, Polish Amb. to Afghanistan Maciej Lang, Provincial Gov. Musa Khan and Polish Brig. Gen. Andrzej Reudowicz, TF White Eagle cmdr, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the launch of FOO.
The idea of FOO came from Khan who saw the need for increased cooperation between Ghazni Prov’s authorities and ISAF reps. The FOO is also planned to be the location of PRT announcements. In addition, it will house a radio studio, which is one of the most useful means of communication for Ghazni residents.-30-
Story and photos by Spc. Roland Hale, PAO
With the combat mission complete, fewer troops to fly, and IA helicopters active throughout the country, these crews are flying what are likely their last missions in Iraq. The crews on Camp Taji are assigned to the 3rd Assault Helicopter Bn, 1st Aviation Regt, a Black Hawk helicopter unit. The bn deployed this March from Fort Riley, Kan.
Most of the crews have previously deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and to some of them it hardly seems like the same place. Like most U.S. forces in Iraq, the bn is no longer conducting a full-on combat mission. Instead, the unit is conducting what is known as stability ops. Their days of air assaults are numbered, and the crews are mostly occupied with moving troops and equipment between bases.
"We're not landing as much in the middle of Iraq," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Pete Klein. "It's nice being able to bring people home, instead of going out to raid a village. Klein, 29, is serving his 2nd tour to Iraq with the unit. While the mission has changed since his last tour, it's the same in some regards, he said. "We're the guys that'll go in and do anything," said Klein. "On both types of mission we're carrying people in the back, and everybody needs to come home."
Spc. Terren Blake, a crew chief assigned to the battalion, notices the differences from the back of the aircraft. "The air assaults were a rush, but I like this mission too," said Blake, 23. Blake was awarded the Air Medal on his last tour with the unit for his actions in combat. During a daytime air assault, Blake's aircraft was called back to help the troops they had just put on the ground. From both sides of the Black Hawk, Blake and another crew chief took turns firing their weapons at enemy troops on the ground. It was his first mission. Now, Blake said that while anything is possible in Iraq, he can't imagine something similar happening on this deployment. "It's a nice change of pace, knowing that we have a new mission now," he said.
The bn is not completely done with air assaults, but even the ones it still conducts have changed. Instead of bringing U.S. troops into harm's way, the crews now find themselves inserting platoons of IA soldiers. In preparation for the December 2011 deadline for all U.S. troops to leave the country, the Iraqi troops are on their way to completely taking over the air assault mission.
Spc. Trey Ross notices that change from his last deployment with the bn in 2007. "Our air assaults last tour were about 90% American and 10% Iraqi, and it's probably completely flipped this tour," said Ross, 26. What the crew chiefs are lacking in action, they're making up with heavy lifting. Their brigade has moved over 200,000 passengers, 7 million pounds of cargo, and flown around 95,000 hours since this March.
Jasim Al Sarraf (in white shirt and tie), a geophysicist and founder of the Club of Science Hobbies (COSH) signed a mutual agreement with the chairman for the Collaboration Organization Basra (COB), Shuker Mahmmod Jasim, establishing a science program for middle and high school level Iraqi students in Basra, Dec. 17. Also pictured is Col. Ralph Kauzlarich, USD-South Deputy Chief of Staff for Effects.
Col. Ralph Kauzlarich, the deputy chief of staff-effects coordinator for the 1st ID and USD-South, said that the program would make a big impact on the future of Iraq. "It's the first seed which has been planted from the Basra Int'l Business Center," said Kauzlarich. "This seed will grow from the student science program, into an incredible fruit for the future of Iraq."
Al Sarraf said there's a concern about maintaining continuity in the profession. "The scientists who are working right now are worried about the future," Al Sarraf said. "They want to see quality students replacing them. If students don't have an interest in science, become scientists themselves, who will replace them? This program will stimulate the children's interest in learning about science and math. It will develop their skills to become scientists themselves."
While the program is in its beginning phase, there are plans to shadow the COSH programs established in the U.S. "We're going to start from zero," Al Sarraf said, "but as it grows, I wish to establish more branches in other districts, and participate in the science expos. The expos' rewards every student; everyone is a winner." Al Sarraf said.
Each branch will have monthly activities, a science expo once a year, and participate every 2 years in the Int'l Science Expo with 85 countries. The COB will recruit volunteers from Basra such as doctors, physicists, geologists, professionals from the science field.
The initial funds to launch the program came from int'l oil companies, and will help establish satellite locations in the Qurnah, Central Basra and Zubair school districts. The operational funds will be raised through the COB's efforts in soliciting int'l companies in Basra.
In the eyes of Al Sarraf and Shuker Jasim, the COB chairman, the program will contribute to the future welfare of the people of Iraq. "Through this program, the students will be more effective to society," Shuker said. "They can work and contribute to the community, and develop relationships with colleagues in other countries."
"We have to build bridges between the people of Iraq, the U.S. and other countries, starting with the young people, the future generation of scientists," said Al Sarraf.
"Through this, we will be in touch with different countries and cultures," Shuker said. "We want to learn, build Iraq, and teach our children for the future of Iraq."