Chapter 1 - My Initial Days in Afghanistan

It was September 2010 when I decided to start a new career as a linguist and cultural advisor with the US Military in Afghanistan. One of my friends who was already working as a cultural advisor introduced me to a recruiter. After a preliminary interview and language testing on the phone, I was asked to come to Baltimore for training and orientation. After spending two weeks in Baltimore along with other candidates I was sent to Combat Readiness Center (CRC) at Fort Benning, Georgia to be processed for the new job. The stay at CRC was quite an experience, especially climbing into a bunk bed and using community showers. At CRC the training was very beneficial, especially, the presentation on improvised explosive device (IED) proved very helpful while I was working in Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

On October 12, 2010, our group of newly hired linguists flew to Qatar. After two days of stay in Qatar, we were flown to Bagram Air Force Base (BAF) in Kabul. At BAF after attending various sessions of orientation for a couple of days, I along with 16 other linguists who were assigned to Helmand province were flown on a military fixed wings Aeroplan to the Camp Leatherneck, a US Marine base near Lashkargah, a city of Helmand province. After putting our stuff in the transient tent, we went to our Company office to receive our assignments. While sitting on wooden benches outside of the company office, under the shade of a camouflage net, POCs of various Marine units appeared one by one and took their linguists, who seemed like "linguists on sale". As my Point of Contact (POC) was stationed at Marjah, no one came for me, so I stayed in the transit tent for a couple of more days. In the tent, I met two other linguists who were also assigned to the Marjah.

After two days all three of us were moved to Camp Dwyer and then to Marjah. We arrived at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Marjah about midnight on an Osprey helicopter. The entire FOB was engulfed in the dark. We were not allowed to turn on our search lights until the bird (helicopter) was gone. A Marine guided us from the landing zone to a transient tent. As other people were sleeping in the tent, therefore, we were asked not to turn any light on. We picked cots, unfolded them, and partially fixed them and slipped in our sleeping bags. I was unable to fix my cot properly in the dark, it was hunched and uncomfortable. I was able to sleep for a couple of hours because I was exhausted due to constant travelling, specifically dragging the three CRC issued green duffle bags and one my own personal bag (for the next 10 years I dragged these green duffle bags, like a curse). I wanted to throw them away, but I couldn’t, because the price tag for the CRC bags was $ 6500, and there was no storage place to keep those duffle bags. During my 10 years of stay I never used most of the items included in the duffle bags.

The next morning our first job was to locate restrooms. We found about 10 -12 plywood cabins in the northeast corner of the FOB. We saw a big box full of packets containing black plastic bags at the same time we saw a Marine coming out of a cabin with a similar bag but loaded. I realized the intensity of the challenge I was going to face in the next couple of minutes. I took a packet of wag bags to familiarize myself with its use. Thanks to the manufacturer who included an instructions card in the packet. My two friends standing in front of me were also trying to figure out a way to use their bags. Ten minutes of brainstorming, an inspection of a plywood stall and watching a couple of marines with filled bags helped us to understand its proper usage. After its successful use, the next problem was where to dispose of ? Thanks to a Marine who saw me holding the used bag and confused, led me to a fire pit. Our first mission of the day was accomplished. We easily found a wooden stand with washing basins next to the shower tent and washed our hands and face. Showers were still closed; however, we noted the shower schedule for civilians, who were mentioned as "All Heads". Other categories were “officers” and “NCOs”. Our next objective was to eat something, so we walked toward the chow hall, which was not far away from the showers. It was a green tent with a few metallic tables and chairs where unitized group ration (UGR) scrambled eggs and biscuits were offered. No tea, coffee or cold drinks were available. That was the first time I ate boiled scrambled eggs with water. After eating at BAF, Leatherneck and Dwyer's dining facilities was absolutely a shocking experience. At about 9.00 AM a Sergeant came to the transient tent looking for me.

He took me to the Psychological Operations (PSYOP) team tent where he assigned me a cot. The situation in this tent was better than the transient tent. A refrigerator and some snacks were available in the tent for everybody. My two other friends who came with me from Leatherneck were still in the transient tent. They were told that they would be moving to other outposts (OPs) in the area. They were already shocked by the FOB Marjah’s experience and were afraid to move to yet more remote areas. At the end of the day, they both decided to quit and go back home. They also asked me to go with them, but I decided to stay and to give my new job a try. On the same day, my team was asked to go to Combat Out Post (COP) Turbett on a three-weeks mission. Next day I packed my rucksack, folded my cot, and hopped on a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP), a US military light tactical vehicle with my team. Combat Out Post Turbett was located about two miles from FOB Marjah, in a small village called "Cru Charay". We arrived at COP Turbett in the late afternoon. After setting my cot under a partially shaded area and eating UGR dinner, I went to bed.

As usual I got up early in the morning. I was very depressed, not only due to the resignation of my two colleagues but also working at a strange and dangerous place.

I did not have a phone at that time, otherwise it might have helped relieve my tension by calling my wife and kids. However, I started discovering COP Turbett instead of sitting and thinking.

Conditions here were almost like Marjah, but a smaller area. The COP was in the middle of a marketplace. Some shops were adjacent to the COP. A water well with a hand pump was in the center of the compound. A few Marines were surrounding the well, one was washing his clothes, two were shaving, holding broken mirrors in one hand and razors in the other, and the fourth one was pumping water. A solar shower bag was also hanging on a wall next to the well. In addition to a mud, cinder block and brick walled compound, there was also an open area where Marines and ANA tents were erected. After a quick survey of the COP, I went to the chow hall, took my UGR breakfast, and came back to my cot. I was sad and my mood was gloomy. As my cot was in an open area so I was able to watch other people walking around.

After a while I saw an Afghan girl in Marine’s uniform coming toward me. After greeting she introduced herself as a linguist with the Female Engagement Team (FET). She brought me a very needed cup of tea. We did not talk in detail, but she seemed very happy and adjusted to the meager facilities available in the COP. I realized how brave that girl was, she opted to come thousands of miles away from her home in the USA to this remote village. I felt sorry for myself that even a man twice her age was complaining about the hardships, but this girl seemed so happy. Her work was inspiring and gave me courage to embrace the same difficulties and adversities of working in Afghanistan. During the next 10 months in Marjah, I saw her supporting every mission and operation in the area. Whether it was Thrikh Nawa or Mirbiland desert in the east, Yellow School, and Patrol Base Zollinger in the north, OP Weapon Company or OP Azadi in the south or Sistani desert in the west of Marjah, I saw her working wholeheartedly with full zeal and courage and without any fear of danger in a very hostile and kinetic area. By visiting home after home along with her team in remote villages of Helmand to connect local females with the American military, she was making a big difference. It was not an easy job in an extremely conservative culture of Marjah and especially when you were working with the forces who were considered as invaders.