Yesterday I flew on a small military commuter aircraft to the Afghanistan capital city of Kabul. Basically we, my Army PA counterpart and I, show up at the airport three hours before our flight with enough crap to last us a week for a flight that takes all of 10 minutes. Literally, from the time the plane taxis down the runway to when its wheels down at Kabul International, 10 minutes.
Once we get to KIA (Kabul International Airport) we get picked up by our hosts, the Afghan National Army training team, in three fully loaded MRAPS, each with a mounted 50 cal. machine gun pointing whichever way seems most threatening. We go from one MRAP to anther to see who has room for us and we load our gear in the second one. I'm a little nervous because this is my first time in an official, fully functioning, combat ready MRAP. I gave the guys a good laugh apparently when I failed to know how to close the back door.
I kept getting yelled at to put my foot in the MRAP because I was going to chop it off if I didn't close the door in exactly the manner it needed to be closed. Since the door is armored and heavy, it has a hydraulic system on it. I had to turn the release valve on the door, which is wide open, then I have to hold the 'close' button until the door closes all by itself, then I can push the lock down. It took me three good tries but I finally got it. I could hear them over the radio cracking up and making sarcastic comments about giving training on closing the door. I told them I would gladly give them training on closing their mouths but they declined. God forbid something crazy happens like a roll-over or something and I'm the one trying to open the door. We're doomed. :)
We convoy from KIA to Camp Phoenix, the main camp in Kabul where they throw us out of the MRAP and tell us to be ready by 7 am the next day for our convoy to the ANA (Afghan National Army) base. Such hosts, I felt so loved. We ended up in another wonderful transient tent where we had to muscle ourselves into a couple of lower bunks. I won't go into boring detail about that dusty, overheated, women with attitude place. It's the usual thing here I guess.
Well my cohort and I walked around the base taking some pictures when two Chinook helicopters came in for a landing in the middle of the running track. They kicked up one hell of a dust storm.
The next day we get ready to head out on the convoy to the ANA base. I was in the back of one of the MRAPs when I started to smell what I thought was something burning. I looked around and I din't see anything wrong and I figure it must just be all the electronic gear in the MRAP warming up. I jump out and continue to adjust my pain in the ass combat vest, with nine million pounds of ammunition strapped to the front of it, when I notice white smoke billowing out from under the MRAP. I yell to the guys and ask if its normal for their MRAPs to smoke like that and they unanimously shouted no.
One of the guys got into the vehicle and turned it off. Apparently when the other guy started it, the start button got stuck and stayed on after the engine was going so it burned up. I love the smell of electrical fires. Not really but it takes me back to my electrician days.
So we get another MRAP and finally head out to our destination. The streets of Kabul were busy and people drive like maniacs there. Most of the roads are in terrible shape with pot holes and large cracks everywhere. One of the sergeants made the mistake of trying to adjust the communications radio while standing and when the truck hit a pothole his helmet hit the ceiling with a loud thud. That's why we wear our kevlar helmets in those things. So we don't get a concussion, not to mention if we get attacked. We don't have time to put our protective gear on if that happens.
I'd like to paint you a picture of Kabul city but its difficult when you're seeing it through the dust speckled windows of a fast moving MRAP. Mostly the place is a shambles with trash, mud structures, crumbling buildings and poorly irrigated farmland everywhere.
Moving on to the ANA experience. It wasn't what I expected it to be. I was expecting the soldiers to give me the cold shoulder since I'm a woman but they didn't. They weren't exactly welcoming but not rude or anything.
The ANA base is a basic facility with solid buildings and large training areas. Today's mission was for the ANA soldiers to complete vehicle maintenance orientation and then get their certificates of completion.
We parked the MRAPs and I was told I didn't need to bring my weapon with me but I just looked at the sergeant and said, "I don't go anywhere off the FOBs without my weapon. I can carry my M16 and still take pictures. In Bosnia I carried two weapons and my video gear. I got this, plus I don't want to be left with no options if something goes down." He just smiled and agreed.
My Army buddy and I were the only females there so there was a lot of staring. The soldiers continued with their training and would smile or say hello to me when walking by. I became more and more comfortable about being around them but I was still very aware of my environment and looking out for anything odd.
There was a stray dog at the camp that is very fond of the American soldiers because they bring her food and gentle petting. I was told the ANA soldiers aren't nice to her. It made me wish she could come back to our base with us.
After all the training was completed, we had to set up the vehicles for a photo. The Army guys couldn't seem to decide what to do so I stepped in and told them where to put the vehicles so we could get the best photo possible. This Army E7 gets in the middle of it and starts having a pissing contest with me and says he can handle it so I tell him to handle it then because no one seems to know what to do. It gets resolved with no bloodshed and they end up doing what I told them to do and the photo turns out fine.
That's one thing I don't like is someone telling me how to do my job when they don't know how to do my job. They just want to exercise authority. I know when to pick my battles and today I wasn't going to be pushed around by some flexing Army sergeant.
A part of me wants to think that he didn't like me telling his guys what to do in an authoritative manner in front of the ANA soldiers. Might make him look bad having a woman tell his guys what to do. Whatever, no harm, no foul.
Once the trucks were in place we set up the soldiers in front of the them for the ceremony and photo. During the ceremony an ANA General shows up to congratulate his soldiers and give them some words of motivation and encouragement.
Earlier I had asked one of the sergeants why he had hand sanitizer hanging from his combat vest and he said for the germs when he shakes hands with the soldiers then he says I probably don't have to worry about it because its not likely any of the soldiers are going to shake my hand because I'm a woman. It is what it is with them so I didn't much care.
Because of that conversation I wasn't expecting the General to want to shake my hand but he did, a couple times. He was very amenable and because of his acceptance of me the other leadership warmed up to me as well and they asked if I would take a picture of them together. Of course I obliged. I'm all about making friends or at least coming to an understanding. My cohort just stayed off and didn't interact with anyone from the ANA.
I was glad for the experience and I hope that these men will someday proudly protect Afghanistan's people from the Taliban and others like them.
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