Mission #1 Part 2

We arrive at our destination, a Forward Operations Base (FOB) 45 minutes flight time out of Kabul. As we arrive at the LZ (landing zone), we are met by our host, an eneregetic, petite woman of about 50, who has the broadest smile and a positive disposition. RT is a USDA Forest Service employee, with an 8th grader back home, who volunteered because she felt she needed to "give something back". She is the resident civilian ag advisor on this FOB which is a Polish Military compound with some US Military presence. In other words, it is a NATO base, so we are camping with mainly Polish soldiers for the next 3 days.

RT has been kind enough to pack a lunch for us as we have to get to a mission briefing in 15 minutes! Literally 25 minutes after landing we will be getting ready to go out on a convoy operation! Both Dave K and I scarf down self made sandwiches, some chips, cookies and water, before we hurridly gather our gear, load up and head to our briefing. Maybe its a good thing all this is happening so fast because I have no time to think about what we're about to get into.

As we arrive at the meeting area Dave K and I are immediately split up and told what MWRAP we will be in. I am warmly greeted by my soon to be escorts and they immediately start to give me a quick but thorough introduction to my new "ride". It is one of the safest vehicles in the world! After being told about where everything was stowed, where the medical kit, fire extinguishers, ammuntion and radio gear was located, I was briefed on how to react if there was a roll-over and how to escape by releasing the 700 lb. door I would be sitting next to. When I thought I was done getting my instructions, to my surprise, I was introduced to the "gunner" who said I was now his pupil for the next several minutes. He smiled when he obviously saw the blank look I was giving him because I had no clue what he meant. He jumped up onto the MWRAP and told me to climb up to the turret with him. He then proceeded to introduce me to a world I had long avoided. Ever since seeing the life altering consequences of guns up close and personal as a youth in Jamaica, I have had an aversion to firearms. Well, today that all changed. The young gunner gave me a quick lesson in loading and firing a Mark 19, a 50 cal, an M4 rifle and an M9 pistol. All this without firing a shot. This was all just in case we got into a bad situation, everyone on board the vehicle including civilians like me had to be able to utilize all assets at our disposal! If it got bad enough I would be handed a 9mm, M9 and it would be everyman for himself! Talk about an adrenalin rush...I hadn't landed 30 minutes and I was fully immersed into the military mind set. We all stood around as we were briefed on the mission for the afternoon and then we loaded up into the cramped, dark confines of this most heavily armed and armoured vehicle. RT and I shared the same MWRAP while Dave K was in the other. We strapped ourselves in as tightly as we could because, we were warned, we would be bouncing around in the cabin throughout the journey. At the front and rear of the convoy were a couple HUMVEES. As we left the base the convoy slowly moved through the firing range so each weapon could be tested for the last time. It was at this point I was glad they insisted we had in our earplugs. The noise was still deafening as each weapon was fired in turn and we got the okay to proceed. Slowly the convoy rumbled out of the base and we were on our way.

We made our way through the town in a circuitous route so as not to be predictable. As we made our way through some narrow, dusty pothole filled dirt roads (they were correct - I was jolted almost into unconciousness), I saw a scene that repeated itself time and again throughout the afternoon. From the alley ways, out of walled houses, up from ditches beside the roadway, child after child kept appearing and then running next to the vehicles. Literally hundreds of children like ants to a picnic - they all gave us the thumbs up sign, every single one of them! From rooftops and windows we saw children of all ages with their little fists showing us their thumbs...the soldiers loved it...for two reasons. They could tell the genuine excitement and acceptance from the population through the children but also if the children were allowed to be so close and run next to the military convoy then all was well and no bad guys were around.

After a few detours due to muddy roads that the heavy vehicles dared not enter we reached our first destination. Before we were allowed to disembark the soldiers went into full security alert mode and formed a perimeter, set up roadblocks and showed off their incredibly rigid and precise military tactics. Once it was safe and the area was secure we took a tour of this newly built slaughter facility, vet clinic and livestock barn that is part of the provincial reconstruction team project. Animals in the past were slaughtered anywhere on any street and livestock was sold wherever they happened to be. This facility would insure that the sanitary conditions in this town would improve, animals would be checked for diseases before they are sold or slaughtered and there would be a central place for the commerce of livestock sales. This is typical of the stories I am here to cover. A military and civilian team working with the locals at a basic level to improve the lives and livelyhood of the citizens here in this district. I will spare you the discription of sight and smell as my gag reflex worked overtime :)

Once we got all the visuals we needed and the team was satisfied that all was in order and things were progressing well, we mounted up and headed for our next stop. Again, once we reached this goverment farm where the PRT is helping to improve agriculture techniques and introducing new crop, the military went into their security mode once again, setting up perimeters and safe zones so we could get a tour of the facility. They were on high alert as we walked through the farm. The eyes of our escorts never stopped moving and scanning the surroundings. After meeting with some of the caretakers who were asked if there was any Taliban activities around the farm (there was none) we finished up our filming and were told we were losing daylight and we had to hurry back to the base. This time we took the main roads and raced back to base in short order.

At the base I thanked my escorts from my vehicle, especially medic Kinney and Lt. Roberts who gave me insights into their methods of conops - why they are so vigilant and serious (because they want to return to their families), working with the locals and the personal feeling of satisfaction they get knowing that they are helping in such a worthwhile endeavor. Getting off the MWRAP, every bone in my body hurt, my muscles ached and it was with great difficulty I walked back to get assigned a cell - yes, that's what they call a room in the TTI building I was to stay in. What is TTI you ask? Taliban Training Institute. That's what this building was many years ago. It has no running water and electricity is just being put in. Dave K and I get a small room with a wood partition and two beds. Showers and latrines are outdoors and we're told that this is a "dark" FOB which means complete lights out at dark so flashlights are a must to go back and forth to the latrines. After unpacking we go to the mess hall where hundreds of soldier are dining on very good food provided by KBR. We eat very well, get settled in for the night, I take a shower like a good soldier :) with other good soldiers and once my head hit the pillow I was out!

What a day, what an experience, I would say once in a lifetime but we have 3 more bases to visit.

Stay tuned...