PRT NURISTAN MEDICS HELP GIVE BURN PATIENT SENSE OF HOPE

By Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs



PRT NURISTAN MEDICS HELP GIVE BURN PATIENT SENSE OF HOPE

By Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team medical team helped a four year-old boy from the Alishang village in Laghman province recover from second degree burns on both arms and minor burns on his face, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 6.
Afsar Khan was playing in his home, approximately three weeks prior, with his three brothers and bumped into the kitchen stove, spilling a pot of boiling water on him, causing burns on his upper body, mostly his left arm.
After a local clinic in Laghman did everything they could for the boy, his father, Noor Muhammad took him to the Nuristan PRT medical team, Dreiling said. After showing his referral at the control point, he was escorted to the PRT clinic where he was greeted by U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Destiney Dowdy, medical service journeyman from Russellville, Arkansas, ten days after the incident, on Sept. 24.
“I didn’t know how bad his burns were when Afsar and his father came into the clinic,” said Dowdy. “As soon as we took the bandages off, I was shocked at how badly his wounds were bleeding. It was a lot worse than I pictured it to be.”
“I was in my morning briefing when I got a call from Dowdy, saying that there was a patient who needed to be seen,” stated Dreiling. “The bandages weren’t taken off until I got there and I was surprised to see how bad it was. It’s not a typical injury you normally see.”
According to Dreiling, when Afsar first came into the clinic, he was constantly crying from the pain and very uncomfortable the entire time. He wasn’t used to seeing Americans, let alone servicmembers in uniform with weapons. His father was reluctant to allow the medics to treat his son, but knew he had tried all he could and was more concerned with Afsar’s well-being.

“I hope the people here put more trust in Americans because we really are here to help and our medics want to make sure that they get the medical attention they need,” Dowdy said.
Since that day, Afsar hasn’t cried at all and he looks forward to going back to the clinic every other day. He even helps to take off the bandages and holds it in place when they’re being wrapped around his arm, according to Dreiling.
“It’s certainly rewarding, as a U.S. servicemember, to be able to go to other countries and help those around us who really need it and who probably can’t afford to see a doctor,” said Dreiling. “It makes my job worthwhile and I look forward to seeing Afsar. He truly is my favorite patient.”
Most of Afsar’s wounds are healed, with the exception of his left arm, which the PRT Nuristan medics are routinely treating to make sure that he has a full recovery.
The Nuristan PRT is a joint force consisting of Navy, Air Force, and Army. The services work side by side also with the local community in order to provide structure and governance within the area of operation.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afsar Khan, a 4-year-old from the Alishang village, takes off his own bandage while getting his routine treatment on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 6. Afsar is seen by the PRT medics in order to treat his second degree burn, which occurred three weeks ago and is progressively healing. (U.S. photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, medical department head and senior medical officer from, McLean, Virginia, applies antibacterial cream to 4-year-old Alishan village native Afsar Khan's arm on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 6. Afsar is routinely seen by the PRT medics in order to treat his second degree burn, which occurred three weeks ago and is progressively healing. (U.S. photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Destiney Dowdy, medical service journeyman from Russellville, Arkansas, puts a smile on 4-year-old Alishan village native Afsar Khan's face during his routine visit to treat his left arm. Afsar is seen by the PRT medics in order to treat his second degree burn, which occurred three weeks ago and is progressively healing. (U.S. photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

PRT Nuristan Meet with Nuristan Provincial Council and Community Leaders

By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan- Public Affairs

FOB KALA GUSH, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan commander met with six newly elected members of the Provincial Council of Nuristan, and community leaders Oct. 9 to discuss PRT Nuristan’s strategy on security and development for the province.

The six members of the Provincial Council were accompanied by Senator DadMohammed, the Waygul district representative of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, and community leaders from the Wama, Waygul, Parun, Dow Ab, and Nurgarm districts. In total, 17 men came to voice their concerns about recent withdrawals of coalition forces of in Barg-e Matal and Kamdash.

A community member from Wama said, “People are with the government, we don’t want to go back in time.”  A different community member said, “We don’t want to live in the stone age.” These statements show that the people of Nuristan want to work with the government of Afghanistan, it’s security forces, as well as Coalition Forces.

The council members and the community leaders fear that with Coalition Forces pulling out of certain areas and canceling infrastructure projects, the Taliban will get the upper hand. One community leader said that the Taliban use their people’s lack of education, work, and money to recruit Nuristanis to work for them and attack Coalition Forces.

“The meeting was productive because it engaged the new Provincial Council members of Nuristan of the requirements necessary for continual development including demonstrating support of Coalition Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as well as not tolerating and reporting Anti Afghanistan Forces activity in the area, ” said. McCormack

The bottom line for the Provincial Council members and community leaders is, not only do the people have to ensure security, but they must be willing to help themselves. Nuristan has many problems with their roads being washed out, snowed in and blocked by boulders. To levitate this issue, PRT Nuristan purchased road building equipment to turn over to the Department of Public Works, but there was no representative in the Nurgaram district to take over the equipment.

One of the goals for the Provincial Council members and community leaders to accomplish by the next meeting with McCormack was to find a representative to be responsible for the equipment and name a person PRT engineers can train to work the equipment.

“There is no need to throw seeds on a field full of rocks. It’s their responsibility to clear the field of rocks and ensure it is fertile ground to grow those seeds. The seeds are symbolic of Coalition Forces and American dollars,” said McCormack.

Another goal included building a better relationship with the people of Kunar. Nuristan and Kunar have had poor relations in the past, is preventing the people of Nuristan access to the road in the Chapa Dara valley of Kunar.  The road is the only way for Nuristanis to reach the south and it is currently controlled by the Taliban. The objective is to let the past be the past and to create a partnership to regain control of not only the road Chapa Dara valley, but of their country as well.

Nuristan Provence, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack, native from Hampstead, New Hampshire, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, and Kathryn Hoffman, native from Washington D.C., a Foreign Service Officer, with Department of State, hold a meeting with 17 members of the Provincial Council, Oct. 09. PRT Nuristan, Department of State and the Provincial Council identify issues has been preventing security, governance, and infrastructure in Nuristan. (U.S. Air Force photo / 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

PRT Engineers teach local Afghans self reliance

Story by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan Public Affairs


NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Engineers assigned to Nuristan’s Provincial Reconstruction Team conducted a concrete self-help class for local Afghans at Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 8.

Held every Thursday, the self-help class, which averages 10 to 15 students a week, teaches villagers basic construction techniques they can use to improve their local communities.

“When I started the development of the classes, I looked into the Nuristan province’s state of living and sanitation issues,” U.S. Navy Lt. Christopher Saunders, who began the classes shortly after the new PRT arrived this summer, said. “I decided that the best plan of action was to have the local community do self-help projects that would teach them something to take back to their villages so they can improve their sanitation and ventilation conditions.”

The current project, headed by the PRT engineers, but taught by Afghan engineers working with the PRT at FOB Kalagush, is the construction of a pit latrine. The students learned to excavate a deep hole, and line the inner wall with brick. The students also discussed ventilation techniques, decreasing the chances of spreading infectious diseases.

“We’re hoping that in addition to the materials we provide for them to improve their villages, that they gain a better understanding of the construction we teach them, and also develop better relationships with the people from other villages that they are working here with,” Saunders said.

After the class, PRT engineers sent the Afghan villagers home with ten bags of cement to work on the projects discussed in the class. Periodically, the PRT will send the Afghan engineers to the villages to check on the students’ progress.

“I get a great deal of satisfaction when I see pictures of finished projects from the locals,” said Saunders. “It shows that they’re taking in these lessons and using what we’ve taught them to give back to their villages.”

The Nuristan PRT is a joint force consisting of U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy servicemembers, whose ongoing mission is to aid in reconstruction efforts within the province.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jordan Parker of Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, from , loads cement mixer into a cement truck while Lt. j.g. Christopher Saunders supervises during the cement self-help class on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, in this photo taken Oct. 1. The self help concrete class, headed by Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan engineers, but taught by local engineers who work on the FOB, is held every Thursday and teaches locals from all over the Nuristan province various projects that they take back to their villages to help rebuild it. (Courtesy Photo)(RELEASED

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan students of the self-help concrete class carry bags of cement out of a shed to be taken to their village in order to finish their current project on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 8. The self help concrete class, headed by Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan engineers, but taught by local engineers who work on the FOB, is held every Thursday and teaches locals from all over the Nuristan province various projects that they take back to their villages to help rebuild it. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

Team Nuristan Visits Kandah Village

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack, native from Hampstead, New Hampshire, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the Alingar district governor Nangali, discuss the priorities for the Rajai village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack, native from Hampstead, New Hampshire, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the Alingar district governor Nangali, discuss the priorities for the Kandah village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. J.G. Stacy Gross, native from Lakeville, Minnesota, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, looks at one child’s English book in the Kandah village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghanistan National Police officer Zawa, of the Alingar district, shakes hands with children in the Kanda village while on patrol with the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, Oct 7. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army 1st Lt. Julia Malouin, native from Manhattan, New York, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the Alingar district governor Nangali, discuss the priorities for the Kanda village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack, native from Hampstead, New Hampshire, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the Alingar district governor Nangali, discuss the priorities for the Kanda village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

BRINGING THE ARMY 10-MILER TO ALL NURISTAN TROOPS

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs


NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The sun had not yet risen over Forward Operating Base Kalagush in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Oct. 4, but there were Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force troops on the track, preparing themselves for a long journey, a 10-mile run.

Eighteen servicemembers from Forward Operating Base Kala Gush participated in the 10-mile shadow run, around the FOB, in support of the 25th annual Army 10-Miler, an Army tradition that is held every October at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

The Army 10-Miler is the largest ten mile race held in America. It is sponsored by U.S. Army Military District of Washington. The purpose of the run is to support all ambitions in maintaining good health, and boost interaction within the community, while still providing support for the Army.

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Randal Maurer and 1st Lt. George Pierce, who are stationed together with the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment in Fort Carson, Colorado, decided to bring that tradition, in what is called a shadow run, to other servicemembers stationed at FOB Kala Gush.

Maurer has participated in the D.C. marathon before, and thought it would be a good idea to let other troops unfamiliar with the Army tradition, get a taste of what he believes is a genuine self-motivating, valuable experience.

“I wanted to try to better myself and to see if I could do it,” Maurer said. “I wanted to give others the opportunity to do that also.”

Pierce, who also sponsored the run for his former Army ROTC class at University of North Carolina, decided to help promote the run as soon as he got to FOB Kala Gush.

“I decided, with Lt. Maurer, to coordinate the marathon as a fun run, a morale booster,” said Peirce. “Something like this allows people to work hard and have fun at the same time. It also promotes camaraderie.”

That camaraderie was shown by Soldiers of the 2-77 to a fellow troop who was on his last two laps, and they all decided to join him and encourage him to finish it out. Everyone finished the race.

The Army 10-Mile Shadow run was a marathon that consisted of servicemembers from 2-77 FA and the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction team, which is a joint force of Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

For more information on the Army 10-Miler, visit www.thearmytenmiler.com. 

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. servicemembers participate in the Army 10-mile shadow run on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, October 4. The marathon was held in honor of the annual Army 10-Miler that is held in October in Washington D.C., in support of maintaining good health, boosting interaction within the community, and providing support for the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

 

 

 

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army 1st Lt. Randall Maurer, runs by a concession stand while participating in the Army 10-mile shadow run on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, October 4. The marathon was held in honor of the annual Army 10-Miler that is held in October in Washington D.C., in support of maintaining good health, boosting interaction within the community, and providing support for the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

 

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Spc. Rich Kutch, Fort Collins, Colorado, reviews runners' times during the Army 10-mile shadow run on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, October 4. The marathon was held in honor of the annual Army 10-Miler that is held in October in Washington D.C., in support of maintaining good health, boosting interaction within the community, and providing support for the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

 

 

October is here, a time for tricks, treats, and memories

Commentary
By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne
Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan- Public Affairs

FOB Kala Gush, Nuristan Afghanistan – Being deployed reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day, every day is the same, so it’s hard to remember good old American holidays. Now that October is here, Halloween comes to mind, and memories of past Halloweens flood not only my memory, but the memory of Halloween for other service members as well.

I remember being eight years old and going to a haunted tent with some of the neighborhood kids. We went as a group through the tent and finally made our way to the haunted cemetery, when Jason came around the corner with his chainsaw and hockey mask, and I took off running. I rounded the corner and ran into a wire holding the tent down, that same night I also ruined my beloved Beauty and the Beast shoes. It’s a memory I will never forget and it still makes me laugh till this day.

Below are some Halloween memories of service members here in Afghanistan.

Pfc. David Loomis, security force for the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, said his fondest childhood memory is, “When I was little kid, I dressed up like Zorro and I had a light sword, it was awesome!”

Marine Corps 1st Lt. Bradley Brill, Afghanistan National Army embedded training team leader said, “When I was 13, I chased down kids who stole another kid’s candy.” As you can see, Lt. Brill was always a motivated and dedicated Marine, even in his youth.

“One Halloween, when I was eight, I didn’t have a costume, so I took a box, wrapped it in aluminum foil, put it on my body and called myself a robot,” said Spc. Miles Sleeper, PRT Nuristan, security force.

Another memory from the past was from radio operator for the 2-77 Field Artillery Task Force Steel Warriors, Pfc. Allan Vargas, “In the sixth grade, I dressed up as Darth Vader from the movie Star Wars and the force was with me all night long because I got a whole bunch of candy!”

Not all Halloween memories are childhood ones, some of the most memorable Halloweens are ones we spend as adults.

“Last Halloween when I was going home from my deployment in Iraq, we had gotten held over in Germany and got to stay in a five star hotel and eat a five course meal for free,” said Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, PRT Nuristan, Public Affairs photographer.

Petty Officer 3rd Class, Travis Mobley, radio operator and mail clerk for PRT Nuristan said, “Last year was the first year I celebrated Halloween, I was in downtown San Diego dressed up like Stewie Griffin from Family Guy. It was great I was the only Stewie downtown and I got all the girls.”

One memory that many families can relate to is a memory from Capt. Luis Arriola, the 2-77 Field Artillery Task Force Steel Warriors Battalion communication officer, who said his fondest memory was, “When my wife, daughter and I took a ride on a horse carriage through a pumpkin patch, my wife picked out a pumpkin and my daughter said no, she wanted two other pumpkins, she picked up two big pumpkins at the same time and fell over, it was so cute!”

I asked service members at Kala Gush what are some of the best traditions of Halloween they miss, here is what they said:

* Trick-or-treating with their families
* Watching scary movies
* Going to Halloween parties
* Having an excuse to dress up
* Setting up the yard with decorations
* Haunted Houses
* Carving pumpkins
* Pumpkin and Pecan pie
* CANDY!!!!!

If anyone would like to send any candy, decorations or anything that will help to lift the spirits of our service members at FOB Kala Gush, please send it to:

Public Affairs Office
PRT Nuristan/FOB Kala Gush
APO AE 09354

A meeting in Kowtalay Village

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, Nuristan provincial reconstruction team executive officer, and other Nuristan PRT members meet with the Kowtalay village elders to discuss village reconstruction ideas and provide atmospherics for future operations outside of forward operating base kalagush, October 1. The Nuristan PRT routinely conducts ground assault convoys to local villages in order to identify local leadership, which helps reinforce their commitment to governance and gain support for coalition forces.