KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan –
1st Lt. Graham Auten
What do you do? I am the lead engineer on the Kapisa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). The PRT consists of 64 military personnel, with eight engineers managing 38 active infrastructure projects worth approximately $64 million. The team consists of two USAF civil engineering officers, one USAF structures troop, two US Army Corps of engineers, two local national engineers, and one contracted information manager.
What's a day in the life like ... while in (where ever)? The life on a PRT is so dynamic; everything can change in the matter of moments. Missions outside the wire can last anywhere from 3 hours to 10 days. We are constantly trying to find the balance between office work and performing quality assurance visits on all of our projects.
What will you remember about your deployment 20 years from now? I will remember the relationships made with both my Air Force counterparts as-well- as the US Army personnel that are on the team. It is an honor to serve with these men who have truly answered our nations call.
What's the most useful item you packed? The most useful item I packed is a good pair of boots, if I did not have a comfortable pair of boots, I would be hurting.
When did you realize you "weren't in Kansas anymore;" aka your "Dorothy" moment? My "Dorothy" moment so far has to be the afternoon of September 11, 2009. We got suited up in our body armor, got our weapons, packed enough gear to sustain us for five days outside the wire, and mounted an MRAP's. The route traveled has had some security concerns and our intelligence brief, specifically outlined all the threats that we could face. I just couldn't help but think that eight years prior, my senior year of high school, I would be riding in a mounted combat patrol through the mountains of Afghanistan.
What has been the highlight of your tour? The highlight of the deployment has to be the continued improvement of our Afghan contractors and the capacity that is being built within the Afghan government. We have noticed a significant difference in the three months we have been here and I hope to see more gains.
What's the best part of the deployment? The best part of the deployment so far has been the times outside the wire with the Afghans. The adults and children alike are truly interesting and very similar to citizens in the US. I have been able to share meals with locals, take part in their games, discuss their goals, and aspirations for the future.
The worst part? The worst part of the deployment so far has been the limited time we have been able to spend with both Afghanistan Government officials and the diverse local population. It is inherently hard to have unlimited access to the local population in order to help train, coach, and mentor the provincial government and provide the infrastructure necessary to stimulate economic development.
What new survival skill have you learned? The PRT spent three months in Pre-Deployment Combat Skills Training at Camp Atterbury, IN before deploying to Afghanistan. It is safe to say that the single most important survival skill I have learned took place in Afghanistan. I have learned to eat and workout, whenever I get the chance, because you never know if you will have time later.
What do you do during down time? During my down time I usually try to call home to family.
What is the first thing you will do when you return? The first thing I am going to do when I return is spend A LOT of quality time with my family and friends. They are all very supportive and understanding of life here in Afghanistan.
What is the first thing you will eat when you return? The first thing that I will eat when I return will be a nice big steak!
What insight/experience will you take away from your time over there? It is our responsibility to do everything we can as a PRT to provide the most effective infrastructure necessary to facilitate and stimulate economic development in the province. The coalition presence in Afghanistan will be lasting and our primary focus is helping the Afghans through calculated projects that create the greatest impact for the countries populace.
What do you miss the most? I miss being able to escape in my car for the weekend to go to the mountains of North Carolina or spend a few days on the beaches of South Carolina. Having the ability to get away from everything for a few days, can help keep you remain sane after a tough week at work.
How is your job that you are doing now different from the job back stateside? My job here in Afghanistan is a polar opposite of my home station job. Being an engineer on a PRT is the rawest form of engineering a deployed engineer can possibly do; we are constantly on the job site working with the local contractors, mentoring them through project management, economy of resources, discussing the infrastructure issues with the people in their communities. This requires inherent risk, constantly being outside the wire, interacting with community leaders and determining engineering solutions to their problems that will eventually lead to successful and prosperous districts.
Have you tried the local cuisine? Oh yes, the cuisine here is great. The assortments of kabobs are great and the Afghan melons are the perfect mix of watermelon and cantaloupe. Our interpreters are great, they encourage us to try everything, when we are in the local bazaars.
What do you think about what you hear on the news from what is going on stateside? Throughout the deployment and pre-deployment training we have heard things from home, read about them through online news sources, and gotten updates from family. We are focused on our job here and can't spend the time worrying about the issues taking place at home.
Do you have plans for any extra money that you might be making from this deployment? When I return home, I plan on saving a majority of the extra moneyand continue to invest in my home.
About when are you to return? Mid-march 2010