Downs said that while deployed to Iraq in 2006, his convoy drove by an orphanage, and he felt he needed to do something for them. “I e-mailed my mother and said, ‘Hey, we want to do something.’ So, she started collecting clothes and shoes,” he said. “And then when we got here, she just said, ‘Hey, do you guys want me to collect stuff again?’”
Downs works in the squadron’s tactical ops center, so he didn’t have the ability to visit the locals, and relied on other elements of the sqdn for help. A friend of Downs, who deployed with him to Iraq and helped deliver much need supplies to an orphanage in Iraq, helped get the donations to the kids in Afghanistan as well.
“I have 2 kids at home, and both of them are well off. I kind of wanted to do the same for a bunch of other little kids here, and take care of them; provide for them, I guess,” said Sgt. Tom Peck, a cavalry scout with HHT’s personal security detachment (PSD), which goes on regular trips into the Afghan communities. “So, Downs and I got together; his mom worked again with the kids at West Middle and got a bunch of shoes sent to us.”
The students helped in a big way. Poeckes said that her academic mentoring class needed to select a service learning project for the school year, to which many students suggested helping needy children. Having donated to the orphanage in Iraq, Poeckes suggested that they help raise donations for the kids of Afghanistan.
Poeckes said that one of her students came in one day with a clipping from a newspaper that showed 2 little Afghan girls watching U.S. Soldiers go by ... the little girls had no shoes. “The students came up with different ways to collect donations,” she explained. “They completed public service announcements, posters, and public speaking appearances asking for help in collecting. The response was overwhelming.”
Poeckes said that they received more than 300 pairs of shoes in all sizes and varieties, along with some socks and various other items. “We had to cut off collecting in order to find ways to ship them, which cost $594 to ship all of those shoes,” Poeckes said. “We had some fundraisers and donations from other school activities, and sent them off.”
Once Downs received all of the packages, they set out to Charikaar. Troop C maintained security while Soldiers of HHT’s PSD distributed the donations. Downs, Peck and others organized the children in a line to distribute the treats and other goods, while the interpreters helped the children fit shoes. After a while, the courtyard was bustling with movement and excitement.
“I think the drop went good,” Downs said of the visit to the orphanage. “I mean, kids are kids, right? They looked happy. They looked a little sceptical at first. I don’t know if it’s going to change anything, but those kids have shoes now, and I’m glad we did it.”
“I think the kids had a great time with it,” said Peck. “I know we had a great time with it as well. You can only help so many, but thanks to the kids of West Middle School’s efforts, and Downs’ mother, who coordinated the shipping," he continued, "the kids of the Charikaar orphanage now have shoes that fit, and the U.S. Soldiers are able to continue to build trust with the people of Afghanistan.
“The people of Panjshir are eager to work with the ROP and Kentucky ADT program,” said Abdul Sabir, the Panjshir DAIL extension agent, through an interpreter. “They love to work on agriculture, and hope that even after this closing ceremony, that both orgs. will continue to promote agriculture in Panjshir Prov.”
The Panjshir Valley currently survives on subsistence farming. The program, through the use of high-value crops like cherries and apricots, is designed to turn the valley’s basic needs-based field into a source of income for the farmers. “Afghanistan does not have a lot of industry or other types of jobs, so agriculture is the main source of income for many of its peoples,” said Sabir. “If we can increase the development of agriculture in our prov., and in the country, then we can help the people to make more money and support their families better.”
“The ADT along with the PRT has a unique ability to bring knowledge and experience to the Afghan people through our joint efforts. We hope we can assist Panjshir to be one of the first provs. to transition,” said Lt. Col. Blake Settle, the Panjshir Kentucky ADT cmdr. “We're bringing everything together, and this is the time for the Panjshiries to take the lead in their prov.”
The Kentucky ADT is also working with Panjshir farmers to create an int'l. market for the fruits and vegetables they produce. The first step in this process is creating a brand that indentifies the products as being from Panjshir. “The Panjshir Valley has a very rich agriculture base, and produces very high-quality products. People already recognize this quality in many of the Afghan markets, including those in Kabul,” said Settle. “We're currently looking at opportunities to brand the name of Panjshir on those products, and spread them out into other markets in foreign countries.”
“If this road is completed, the travel time through all of Panjshir to Badakhshan will be cut down from 24 to 4 hours,” said Abed Wardak, local national engr. with the PRT.
“Up to this point, it's been quite a challenge, because we're the first to come up here and do any type of paved roadway construction,” said AF 2nd Lt. Phil Compton, PRT dep. engr. “It’s great to see this much progress, because the previous roadway was so bad that we've had contractors lose equipment during construction, just trying to move stuff up here.”
“This project will be good for Panjshir, because there are many jobless people here, and this project will create jobs for people,” said Wardak. All Panjshir PRT-funded construction projects require 70% of all unskilled labor to be hired within a 20-km (12.4 miles) radius of the project.
“The road gives the unskilled laborers in the local area a chance to work under professionals, and build new skills they can apply at home and in their villages,” said Compton. "As the road is being constructed, locals will have more job opportunities, and once the road is completed, it will enable travel and future trade," he said.
The op also tested the ANA’s ability to operate for an extended period away from their bases, and rely on logistical sustainment and support during the week-long op. “Each unit during the mission will be required to keep themselves supplied with not only food and fuel, but also any other support such as maintenance or ammo,” said Zazai. “This op will be a test of our ability to conduct sustained ops with minimal support from the U.S. military.”
“One of the primary goals of the op, is to place a great deal of pressure upon the enemy,” said Lt. Col. Steve Boesen, TF Lethal cmdr. “That pressure will create separation between the insurgents and the local population. The Afghan and U.S. forces hope to exploit that with future missions and projects that will benefit the locals.”
First Lt. Chris Burk, a plt leader in Co. D, led his platoon during the clearing ops in and around Sahak. “The mission accomplished many goals by discovering weapon caches, explosives, persons of interest, and general security sweeps,” said Burk. “In addition, ANA and U.S. forces were able to disrupt the enemy’s ability to operate near the village.”
Burk’s platoon cleared more than 4 large caches, rounded up more than a dozen insurgents, and confiscated more than 30 unregistered weapons. Afghan law allows individuals to own weapons as long as they are registered with the Afghan govt.
“Jalalabad was built for 50,000, but currently has a population of over 200,000,” said Kaker. "Many of the city’s residents use rickshaws to sell their products," Kaker said. "The rickshaws are a heavy source of congestion, responsible for traffic jams, as well as clogging up the city’s sidewalks. The rickshaw parking lot will operate as a market similar to a flea market," he continued. "The rickshaw owners will have to pay a rental fee to the city, thus creating a revenue source for further development."
"The RAMP UP program will be the primary source of funding for the parking lot," said Ruge. If successful, this project will allow RAMP UP to invest more heavily in Jalalabad. “This is only the beginning of what I hope to accomplish during my first 2 years here,” Ruge said. “This project is very important for the future of Jalalabad, and I’m excited to get started working on it.”
“I'm happy that Dan has been selected as the lead for Jalalabad,” said Kaker. “I look forward to doing good work with him.” RAMP UP is a project designed to build the capacity of the GoA officials, and deliver small service projects to help the municipality generate revenue, and provide services to the citizens of Jalalabad.
The ANA cmdr. and squad leaders maintain command and control over the patrol from the first step. They're responsible for conducting IED sweeping, posting security, and coordinating with other maneuver elements in the area.
At a security pause, the ANA received a mission to push out farther and check multiple ANA outposts, and the progress made on fortifying a new outpost. The cmdr. gave his intent to the soldiers, and they adjusted the patrol route to complete the new task. “I think it was a good patrol, because everything went according to plan while we were out there,” said Sgt. Naqibullah, a squad leader for the 2nd Tolay.
The Marines of the advisor team fell into the patrol where the ANA patrol leader wanted them, and were able to watch the way the soldiers conducted the patrol. “We just go on the patrol with them to see where they are at, and assess their development,” said 1st Lt. J. D. Gould, cmdr for AT-4. “With the logistical support, the ANA could run their own battlespace here.”
"As an advisor team, it's also important for the Marines to see firsthand how the patrols go, because the Afghans culturally try to please people," said Staff Sgt. Adam Wilson, the team chief for AT-4. This makes it challenging, because the soldiers focus on the good aspects, trying to paint a pretty picture for the Marines. "If the advisor team can get that clear picture, than they can give the ANA better training suggestions," said Wilson.
"It's very important for the ANA to do as many Afghan-lead patrols as possible, and improve on the minor issues, said Gould." Being out as much as they can will let the people know that they can provide their own security.
“It was a great patrol, because people can see us, and we keep the insurgents in check,” said Naqibullah. “When the Marines leave, we need to be able to secure the area to see what's going on.”