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.

Budget Summits

One of the projects TX ADT-5 has been working on is teaching the Afghan Government to become reliant on it's own budgeting system to fund the development projects needed to improve their economy and quality of life for the people.  We've hosted two Budget Summits, in conjunction with our counterparts here on FOB Ghazni in Task Force White Eagle, to teach the line directors here in Ghazni how to utilize the GIRoA budget system.  See our Good News Stories below from Budget Summit 1&2 to check out how they went.

Budget Summit 1
Purpose

TX ADT-5 works together with the Department of State, Ghazni Civil Affairs Team, American PRT, Polish PRT, and Polish DDG to bring together provincial line directors of education and agriculture with their corresponding ministers in order to encourage an exchange of information at a “Budget Summit”.

Discussion

TX ADT-5, in partnership, identified the issue that the provincial line directors did not know what their budgets were for operations and development nor did they know how to properly request their money for use.  This has resulted in a dependence on Coalition Forces for any development projects and some requests to cover operation costs while the directors underutilized their own budgets.

Outcome

During and after the presentations, the discussion between the provincial directors and their ministers was heated yet productive.  At the end of the Summit, all parties requested another summit with all ministers and line directors invited in order to continue and expand the current dialogue.  Also, the Director of the Civil Service Institute has offered to provide training for the provincial directors in budget formulation and execution, work plan development and leadership skills, and the Minister of Finance wants to expand this program to the other provinces.

CPT Loren Holland presents hte findings from the Task Force White Eagle Budget Working Group to the Provincial Directors, Ministers from Kabul, and some of their American counterparts.

The Minister of Finance representative argues with the Ghazni Director of Education about securing funds for education development programs.

Budget Summit 2

Purpose

TX ADT-5 works together with the Department of State, Ghazni Civil Affairs Team, American PRT, Polish PRT, and Polish DDG to bring together provincial line directors with their corresponding ministers in order to encourage an exchange of information at a second “Budget Summit”.

Discussion

Coalition  partners identified the issue that the provincial line directors did not know  that their budgets were for operations and development; nor did they know how to properly request their money for use.  TX ADT-5 hosted a first budget summit on 13DEC11 that was so successful the program was expanded to include all Provincial line directors and their corresponding ministers or representatives.

Outcome

The Budget Summit was a success both in helping the provincial directors understand the finance and budgeting process within GIRoA, as well as encouraging dialogue between the provincial directors and their corresponding ministers from Kabul.  It also allowed the Coalition Forces from Task Force White Eagle to present their findings in an open forum to the provincial directors, ministry representatives, and their American counterparts, to include Steve Huete (USDA), Rhonda Reinke (US Treasury), and Elizabeth Royall (IJC). 

 The majority of the presentations and discussion was led by Mr. Mohammad Aqha, Treasury Chief of Finance Ministry.  Mr. Aqha explained the money flow process for GIRoA to the line directors in order to help them utilize their budgets fully before requesting funding from Coalition Forces.  The conference was covered extensively by local media.  Mr. Aqha and the Ministry of Finance plan on taking over the Budget Summits and continuing to educate the line directors in the GIRoA money flow process.

Mr. Mohammad Aqha explains the money flow process for GIRoA to the line directors and Provincial Governor of Ghazni.

Ghazni line directors look at handouts of the slides prepared and make notes.



Afghan national media coverage can be found at: http://ariananews.af/regional/government-is-inattentive-towards-ghazni-reconstruction-projects-governor-of-ghazni/

Christmas Memories

I know everyone's been wondering how their Soldier spent the Christmas holiday away from home and the ones they love most.  It's difficult being so far away, and know that you were thought of and talked about.  We spent the day together as a team here, making chili, playing spades and video games, and talking about our traditions back home.  For some, it was opening presents on Christmas Eve, others, eating tamales and chili.  I know for my family, we wake up before the sun on Christmas morning, open presents, have a HUGE breakfast and wrapping paper war, and everyone but the cooks nap until afternoon when the turkey is done. 

See if you can find your Soldier below!

SPC Helstad "gets" SPC Evers wearing one of his Christmas gifts!

SPC Evers sports one of his Christmas gifts while SGT Conwill sorts Christmas letters.

Gettin' ready to make some chili!

Chips and queso were on the menu, too.

SGT Fortune was head chef.

Enjoying our Christmas taste of home.

SSG Pierce smiles while dipping himself a big bowl.

Opening packages from home.

The reigning spades champions at the start of the tournament.

Throwin' 'em down!

New champions take their prize!

The new spades champions!

Man Love Thursday

One of the going jokes around Afghanistan (well, and most likely Iraq, too, but I was never there) is Man Love Thursday.  Although it's probably not something that should be explained through this venue as there might be children that read the posts, the one thing that's safe to say is that ADT Soldiers have taken the idea and made something totally awesome out of it!

The culprits that coordinate this event each week are our ADT medics, aka: The Penguins.  What started out as a joke for ADT Soldiers has become an event for the entire FOB.  The MWR coordinater for the FOB has even gotten involved by providing near-beer and cigars.  The night starts out with at least an hour of smoking (or not) by the fire and watching some really awesome music videos, mainly from the eighties.  The music is always ended with a singing of Fernando to SGT Fernandez and a couple of songs by Abba.  This is followed by a movie, something along the lines of "The Wedding Singer", "The Princess Bride", etc.

See some of the pics below to get an idea of the fun!

Two of our Penguins, SSG Allen and SPC Ford.

SSG Brown, CPT Holland, and SGT Fernandez stay warm by the fire.



SGT Fortune clowns with one of our Military Police officers.




MAJ Carney and LTC James pose with one of our Polish PRT brothers, Pavel (aka: the Beast.)



SGT Healy says "I am smiling!"



Our FOB Forward Surgical Team is in attendance!