Awards Time!

One of the most important things Commanders can do is recognize the Soldiers that serve under them.  On 27 January 2012, TX ADT-5 honored some of it's Soldiers for their hard work here in Ghazni.  A Soldier receives these awards for doing an exceptional job, going above and beyond expectations of their chain of command.  See if you can find your Soldier below!

Agriculture Extension Agent Conference II

Purpose

TX ADT-V, in conjunction with USDA’s Mark Stull, hosted a second  Agriculture Conference for the Agriculture Extension Agents and Agriculture Extension Interns for Ghazni Province at the request, and sponsored by, the Director of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL) Sultan Hussein. 

Discussion

ADT-V and USDA conducted training on youth agricultural education, soil management, castration, vitamins and minerals needed for optimal livestock health, and care of goats during the winter.

Outcome

The agriculture professionals of Ghazni Province left with increased knowledge in livestock care and agricultural education for youth as well as with materials to help teach their local populations the same classes.  The project was driven by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA), and the responsibility for ongoing education programs will belong to the DAIL’s office. By developing a sustainable government in the agriculture sector the people will give more credibility to the officials and projects in their province and country. Agricultural output will increase because of the impact by the projects and consistency of everyday life (USG Goal 1.1)

This conference was a follow-up to a previously held agriculture conference held in November.  The amount of attendees doubled to 48 for this conference despite winter weather conditions.  This conference transferred the responsibility of hosting the conferences to the DAIL’s office, and was held off of FOB Ghazni.  Questions were asked after each class, allowing an open forum for the exchange of information across districts, tribes, and areas of expertise.

SGM Muckleroy teaches a class on the importance of youth agricultural education and the tools available for the classes.

Attendees take notes on the importance of castration and castration techniques.

Snow!

As you've all probably heard, we've had our first big snow here in Ghazni.  There have been dustings prior, but for us folks from Texas, almost 2 feet in a day and a half was a new experience! 

Check out the fun!

SSG Verdine stands in the snow outside the Ag Team office.

For a frame of reference, the roof is 10 feet tall.

Our Texas flag flying proudly over the snow.

Our motor pool about halfway through the snowfall.

PDSS Brings Snow With Them

Two great things happened this past week: our PDSS (Pre-Deployment Site Survey) arrived from TX ADT-6, and with them came the snow!  The arrival of the PDSS signals to us here in ADT-5 that the light at the end of the tunnel for our deployment is now visible, and the snow is both fun for us and brings hope to Ghazni that the end of their drought might be near.  We've had a whirlwind of a week trying to give our TX -6 representatives as much information as possible to take home with them about what we're doing here, while trying our best to have fun so we don't scare them away!

Check out the pictures below to see our past week's activities!

CPT Rhoda Hampton and 1LT Lisa Longo pose in the snow in the Governor's compound.

Our PDSS!

Snowball fight!

Loading up a Gator with snowballs to drive around the FOB and throw at people...

Getting creative

We had a war with the Military Police...such fun!

TX ADT-5 Hosts Conference for Ghazni Women Business Owners

Purpose

TX ADT-5 works together with USDA, Polish PRT, and the Human Terrain Team to bring together successful businesswomen from Ghazni in order to discuss how the private sector of agribusiness can be expanded, thus increasing the economic stability of the region.

Discussion

TX ADT, with coordinating partners, identified that without the success of the private sector, no economy truly grows.  In order to help promote economic stability and increase agribusiness in Ghazni Province, local businesswomen that had been through the Goldman-Sachs 10,000 Afghan Women program were contacted and asked to attend a conference on FOB Ghazni.  Each came prepared to talk not only about  their current businesses, but also their ideas on either expansion or new business ideas that would increase the agribusiness output for Ghazni Province.  As 80% of Afghanistan’s Gross Domestic Product comes from agribusiness, it’s imperative that the private sector is developed along with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Outcome

The conference was a huge success in both introducing the local businesswomen to the Ghazni team, but also in initiating discussion for future business possibilities.  The women were introduced to the concept of complementary business practices and business partnerships as well as informed about other business outside the region that could use their waste products for production in their own privately owned businesses.  Since the conference, the Ghazni team has received seven new business proposals to review for financing through micro-grants (TX ADT), USAID monies, Ambassador Women’s Initiatives monies, or micro-financing through another privately owned Afghan finance company.  There will be another conference planned in the upcoming weeks for more business owners in Ghazni.

1LT Rebekah Frost discusses the possibility for opening a dairy in Kwaja Omari District, Ghazni Province wiht one of the local businesswomen.

The attendees take a group photo at the conclusion of a very successful conference.