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!



TX ADT-5 Utilizes Veterinary Medicine in COIN

Purpose

TX ADT-5 utilizes veterinary medicine to enter formerly non-permissive areas in Ghazni Province. 

Discussion

TX ADT-5 is utilizing veterinary medicine and the lines of communication between the veterinarians and Agriculture Extension Agents in Ghazni Province to reach out to formerly non-permissive districts and build positive relationships with their populations.

Outcome

This project will result in better animal health by helping ensure that animals are vaccinated, people are educated in basic animal health and hygiene, and training more artificial insemination specialists for increased reproduction rates.  This will have the secondary effects of improving community health, creating numerous full-time jobs in the field of artificial insemination, and increasing the population’s overall income with increased animal reproduction rates.

 CPT Ashleigh Fann, U.S. Army Veterinarian attached to TX ADT-5, conducts a key leader engagement for the head veterinarian and artificial insemination technician for Ghazni Province.

CPT Fann talks with the Jaghatu veterinarian to evaluate his experience and education level.  This was the first time in almost two years American troops visited Jaghatu District.

Afghan Juicing Project

Purpose

TX ADT-5 works together with USDA, USAID, and Afghan businesses to bring the middle of the value-chain for excess apples from Pakistan back to Afghanistan.

Discussion

TX ADT-5, in partnership, is working to bring  the middle of the apple value-chain back to Afghanistan, increasing the economy locally by creating jobs and lowering import/export and storage costs from outside the country.  We have done this through agriculture education, building cool storage facilities, and creating partnerships between local growers and Afghan business owners.

Outcome

This project was done by utilizing human capital and personal knowledge.  Though some funding was used from our partner organizations, the success of this story is that Afghans are now starting to reach out and create business relationships with each other, thus making them more self-sufficient while at the same time increasing their own economy. 

This is the start of a business relationship between Kabul businesses and Ghazni Province grower’s associations, mainly from Kwaja O’mari apple growers, and is expanding to include other fruits and districts in Ghazni Province.  This is keeping money within the Afghan economy as well as keeping any of the orchard production from going to waste. 

This project was accomplished by working with local grower’s associations, the Provincial Director of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL), Sultan Hussein, the agriculture extension agent from Kwaja O’mari, USDA, USAID, and Kabul businessmen.

TX ADT poses with USDA reps and Kabul businessmen.

Ghazni will provide an additional 10 metric tons of apples for juice to the Kabul juice factory.