Story and photo
By Spc. Jon Arguello
173d Brigade Public Affairs
In an effort to increase the confidence Afghans have in their central
government, U.S. and Afghan representatives have planned extensive
humanitarian aid projects aimed at improving the lives of the Afghan
people.
The 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne), or Task Force Fury,
the first unit from the 173d Brigade (Airborne) to arrive in Afghanistan,
immediately began delivering on the humanitarian aid portion of
its mission in the Paktika province where the battalion is based,
laying out an example of how to hit the ground running since its
arrival in March.
The projects, which range from direct aid, such as blankets and
food, to full scale educational exchange programs and reforestation
projects, are a combined effort between the United States Army and
representatives of Paktika Governor Haji Mohammed Ghulab Mangel.
“It’s clear that the people are in need, and the Paktika government
officials have demonstrated that they have a sincere interest in
helping the people in their province,” said Maj. Wayne Metz, 1-508th
Inf (Abn) operations officer. “Part of our mission is to facilitate
the ideas we come up with because the Afghan government is still
growing in its logistical capabilities.”
The goal of these cooperative efforts is to demonstrate that the
government is focused on fulfilling the needs of the Afghan people
and providing them with the security the country needs to grow into
a prosperous democracy, according to Metz.
Several displays of this cooperative goodwill have already taken
place. Not two weeks after the change of responsibility for command
and control of the Paktika province, TF Fury loaded two U.S. Marine
Corps CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters with six pallets of supplies.
This aid was then delivered to three villages that had been cut
off by snow and flood waters. “The Afghan leadership brought the
needs of these people to our attention,” said Metz, who led the
multi-village aid mission.
“It’s our goal to extend the reach of the central government and
there is no better way for the government to demonstrate that it
cares for its people than to come to their aid when they are in
need—in this case to ease the pain and suffering of these people
stranded by the elements.”
More long-term efforts include an educational exchange. The program,
which was conceived by Capt. James Person, a Bravo Company, 1-508th
Inf (Abn) officer, was received with great excitement by Paktika
Education Minister Iqobal, who goes by one name.
Iqobal said the program will help the young Afghan people get linked
to the rest of the world, and he said programs like these are important
for a country that respects human life and education.
“The first phase of the program is an exchange of letters between
students in the U.S. and here in Afghanistan,” said Person, Bravo
Company, 1-508th Inf (Abn) fire support and information operations
officer.
“Volunteer Soldiers will also teach classes about American culture,
and eventually we would like students to be able to travel and experience
a full educational exchange.” The program is scheduled to begin
in April, said Person.
Another initiative in Paktika is a reforestation program. Over the
past 30 years, the remaining forests in the Paktika province have
been destroyed because of anarchy, occupying forces, and the needs
of the population because of the extreme poverty in the region,
said Person.
“People cut down whatever assets they have for heat and whatever
else when they are in dire need,” Person explained. “The forest
is one of the first things to get destroyed. One of the goals of
the program is to teach how important it is to have respect for
the environment.”
The deforestation has also caused serious top soil erosion, Person
said. This erosion leads to lack of farming ability.
But reforestation in Afghanistan will provide more than just shade,
he continued. “The program will not only contribute to the health
of the Afghan environment, it will bring jobs to the province.”
Ten local Afghan citizens will be trained by a representative from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture on how to operate the program.
Those 10 Afghans will then supervise 19-man labor forces, thereby
increasing the government’s self reliance.
“It doesn’t take long to make a difference,” said Metz. “You just
have to be aware of what their needs are, coordinate the effort
with the government, and care enough to act quickly.”
The speed with which the battalion has worked with the government
to improve the lives of the Afghan people in Paktika province has
solidified its relationship to key members of the central and local
governments. The battalion’s efforts have also demonstrated to the
Afghan people that their new government is not like its predecessor.
Maj. Wayne
Metz, 1-508th Inf (Abn) operations officer, speaks with a village
elder prior to handing over two pallets of humanitarian aid on behalf
of coalition forces and the governor of the Paktika Province during
a humanitarian aid drop
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