Gamberi Trip Post Four

I know these experiences are going to be worth it in the end but today tested my patience with the whole thing. I feel like I’ve been turned into the Major’s bitch producing whatever wonderful product he can think of to make him look good. I know that’s not true and what we’re doing together is serving a greater purpose and is very important but I don’t know why I’m feeling so frustrated by the do this do that thing. I should be used to it by now.

I think what’s bothering the most is he tells me today that we’re going to stay here until Dec. 24. At first he said Dec. 29 but I gave him a look that I guess he interpreted as “I don’t think so” and he recanted and came up with the 24th instead. Even so I hated the thought of staying here for two weeks. I didn’t bring enough stuff to last me for that long and the camera the office let me take with me only has one battery and no charger and guess what. It died today. Thank goodness I brought my own camera but because I thought I’d only be here a week and the Major was adamant I pack light so I didn’t bring my battery charger. I had to explain to him that the Navy is not required to provide equipment to support these IA missions because it is expected the Army will provide everything needed to do the job they are asking of us so I brought nadda except for my own gear and now I find myself using it to do my job here.

I was so tense by the end of the day I got on the treadmill and pounded out an hour of running and fast walking just to get past the frustration and relax. Today the Gamberi OIC had invited some village elders to have lunch at the dining facility on the U.S. part of the base. Most of them were at least older than 50 and were very traditional Muslim men from a village just outside the ANA base. There were about ten of them and each shared part of the responsibility of overlooking the daily life of their village.

One of the interpreters told me that their village was burned down by the Taliban and they moved into a tent close by the base. The goal of the meeting today was to build trust and understanding between the ANA, U.S. forces and the village so they will inform us if the Taliban try to operate from their village. They asked to have a school built for their children and some blankets and other basic supplies.To me this is a perfect opportunity to provide simple comfort items as a low cost and what they would give us in return is much more valuable. Information about the Taliban. It’s a win win.

Unfortunately it’s not that simple and as an outsider looking in the Army doesn’t make it simple either. I’m glad to be witnessing the raw relationship building that is happening here because this is where we have the opportunity to gain so much from giving so little but will we be able to win the trust of the village elders and their families? If we expect to leave Afghanistan and not have to come back, we have to succeed at this endeavor.