FOB Smart at 1900 - Sunday
Weeks end every week - but this week ended with more snow this region has seen in decades - maybe ever. We survived the latest round of snow with little more than nuisance caused in walking to and from the DFAC or our offices 200 yards away from our quarters. The food train, or trucks in our case, may have slowed a little, but the soul train of this FOB continues chugging forward, full steam ahead, and cleared for takeoff. Talk about metaphors...
Today we enjoyed company from our Afghan National Army civil affairs counterparts. Many came for training, including hand-pump well maintenance and windmill well pump maintenance. We braved the cold for quite awhile and soaked our winter boots, or in some cases, as with me - summer boots! It was an experience to remember, watching all of our friends climb atop concrete wellheads and climb up and down a moderate-height windmill for lessons and demonstrations. It is moments such as these today that remind us, at least me, of why we are here. To mentor, teach, and train. So while I did not climb the windmill this time, I was taking photographs today, I did stand side-by-side with our military partners and encourage them... to stay warm!
Life can be so strange at times. It can present tragedy one day and blissful excitement the next. I am so appreciative of this entire Afghan experience I have been given, and made for myself, and consider myself to be too lucky with regard to where I was deployed (FOB Smart) and with whom I have worked (PRT and local Afghans).
143, Kaesen.
Good night and good day.
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