Muleskinner Report #4 - PDF - The National Guard

24 Pages·2010·1.23 MB·English

by  Orlando, Marie

The Muleskinner Report
Mo Agri-Business Development Team IV
V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4 S E P T E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 0
C o m m a n d e r ’ s C o r n e r
DRIVING
THE TEAM

How the ADT will address corruption
Commander
Col. Fortune

In
Deputy Commander a Sept. 10, 2010 The article goes on to bring an otherwise friendly
Lt. Col. Charles speech, President say that “There is no au- conversation to screeching

Barrack Obama said that thoritative estimate of the halt. It seems that many
Senior Enlisted
the United States is going toll that corruption has tak- have either seen rampant
Senior Master Sgt.
to encourage "an Afghan en on the Afghan econo- corruption and are afraid to
Blankenship

government that can deliv- my,” and that “U.S. offi- talk about it, or that they
er services for its people." cials acknowledge that they have partaken in the cor-
www.facebook.com/ are still struggling to plug ruption themselves.
But while helping Presi-
MONG.ADTIV
large leaks. An estimated
dent Karzai establish a Corruption has a desta-
$1 billion a year, for exam-
widely accepted and legiti- bilizing effect on the coun-
ple, is leaving the country
INSIDE mate government, Obama try as a whole and under-
in bags of cash carried out
said he would pressure the mines the efforts of Coali-
THIS ISSUE:
of Kabul airport. Authori-
Afghan President to ad- tion Forces to counter the
Corruption cont. 2-3 ties suspect that much of
dress corruption. insurgency here in Afghan-
the outflow is diverted for-
istan.
Obama commented that
Campaign 4-5 eign aid.”
he frequently tells Karzai, Former International
Planning
Having only been on the
“The only way that you are Security Assistance Force
Self Governance 6-7 ground in Afghanistan for
going to have a stable gov- commander General Stan-
a little over a month now,
ernment over the long term ley McChrystal said in a
Nangarhar U 8-9 the members of ADT IV
is if the Afghan people feel Nov. 2009 memorandum,
have not yet seen the cor-
that you're looking out for “The Afghan people will
Muleskinner 10
ruption first hand.
Team them, and that means mak- decide who wins this fight,
ing sure that the tradition However, we have seen and we, the Government of
Senior’s Space 11
of corruption in the gov- signs of it such as large the Islamic Republic of
ernment is reduced.” mansions being built in the Afghanistan and ISAF, are
Building Trust 12
middle of Jalalabad slums in a struggle for their sup-
On that same day, The
Ramadan and 13 where an average worker, port.”
Washington Post ran an
Iftars if he is lucky enough to
article that stated, “After Obviously, if the aver-
even have a job, makes
SECFOR 14 nearly nine years of nation- age Afghan continues to
only about three dollars per
building in Afghanistan, see corrupt officials grow
Meet the Team 15-20 day.
experts said, the U.S. Gov- rich while the government
Pictures from 22-23 ernment faces mounting And while there have itself fails to provide basic
the Field evidence that it has helped been exceptions, I have services for its people, any
to assemble one of the personally found that the efforts on the part of Coali-
Resources and 24
Contacts most corrupt governments mere mention of the sub- tion Forces to help legiti-
in the world.” ject of corruption to a gov-
ernment official tends to (Continued on page 2)
VO LUME 4, ISSUE 4 PAGE 2
How the ADT will address corruption

local personnel to perform the work.
(Continued from page 1) Suppose an AEA has determined In addition to skilled and unskilled
that by extending an irrigation ditch
laborers, the contractor may also hire
mize the government will be fruit- in a small village by 200 meters, he
one or more supervisors depending
less. can improve the water supply in that
on the size and complexity of the
village for 15 farmers. He then goes
So what can the U.S. Govern- project.
through a project approval process
ment and military do to address
which requires him to get signatures In conjunction with the ADT and
corruption in Afghanistan? For
from the village elders, the ADT, the contractor, the AEA next develops a
starters, we can develop and em-
district sub-governor, and the direc- pamphlet that briefly describes all
place transparent, auditable, and
tor of agriculture, irrigation, and aspects of the project so the villagers
controlled processes to help en-
livestock. and workers know what to expect
sure that every dollar we spend
once the work starts. When this has
gets to its intended recipient. This requirement to get approval
been completed, he calls a meeting
from multiple parties is considered a
Second, we can let Afghan with the people of the village, passes
“management control.” It helps en-
officials at all levels know that we out the pamphlet, and along with the
sure that all the stakeholders are
are watching them and that we are ADT and contractor, explains in de-
aware of the project and that the pro-
going to work with their superiors tail the purpose and scope of the pro-
ject is not intended to be self-serving
to hold them accountable. Third, ject, its total cost, who will work on
for its originator.
we can train and possibly even it, when, how, and how much they
inspire these officials to be better Once he has obtained approval, will be paid, when it is expected to
leaders and managers. the AEA works with the ADT to be completed, and how all of the in-
solicit bids and select an Afghan dividual costs add up to the total
As the Nangarhar ADT, we
contractor to perform the technical cost.
work closely with officials at the
and administrative tasks associated
lowest level of government; This is an example of
with the project. When the selection
namely the Agriculture Extension “transparency” in that it allows all
process is complete, the newly hired
Agents who interact directly with stakeholders to see and monitor the
contractor goes to the village and
local farmers. So it is at this lev- inner-workings of the process. The
through an interview process, hires
el that we can best address the AEA also explains to the villagers
corruption problem. that the ADT’s phone number is
listed on the pamphlet and that they
On Sept. 15, we conducted an
can call at any time if they see that
all-day training session with the
the process described is not being
AEAs on how to manage small,
agriculture-related projects and as followed.
part of this training, introduced Once work begins, the contractor
them to the concepts of transpar- handles many of the technical and
ency, management controls, and administrative functions ranging
auditable systems. from preparation of engineering
drawings to tracking of days and
Our next step is to provide
hours worked by each employee.
them the opportunity to manage
some small projects and to closely During the course of the project,
monitor them to ensure they can the ADT conducts independent qual-
apply these principles. 1st Lt. Jeremy Berendzen inspects an Agriculture ity assurance inspections and makes
Extension Center currently under construction in periodic payments to the contractor.
To get a better idea how these
Acheen district to ensure it meets the specifica- As the administrator for the project,
concepts will translate into prac-
tions outlined in the Statement of Work. QA/
the contractor also serves as the pay
tice, let’s take a detailed look at
QC inspections help ensure that a contractor
the mechanics of the process we does not “cut corners,” or he risks not being
will require the AEAs to follow. paid, or even having the entire project cancelled.
(Continued on page 3)
VO LUME 4, ISSUE 4 PAGE 3
How the ADT will address corruption

We’ve tried setting up a democratic
(Continued from page 2) ghan people a sense that their gov- process. We’ve tried killing insur-
ernment, at least at the AEA level, is
gents. But none of these things have
agent and disburses cash to the not stealing from them and on the
had the desired effects and to some
workers on a pre-determined pay- contrary, is working hard to fight
extent, many of our efforts have set
day. corruption.
the country back even further.
The AEA’s role in the dis- Second, it will teach both the vil-
Now it’s time to roll up our
bursement process is to oversee lagers and the AEAs what transpar-
sleeves and do the hard work. Suc-
this activity and make sure that ent, accountable government looks
cess here will come, not from spend-
the contractor keeps accurate rec- like; our hope is that at some point
ing money and digging wells, but
ords. These records then provide down the road, maybe the Afghan
from instituting robust, transparent,
an “audit trail” which allows the people will begin to demand this
and auditable processes.
AEA and ADT to ensure that kind of transparency and accounta-
none of the funds associated with bility in other areas. To achieve this, we must take the
the project were embezzled along time to understand how Afghans
Finally, it will demonstrate for
the way. think. We must train government
the AEAs the concept of selfless
officials about leadership, manage-
When work on the project has service and will hopefully make
ment, and stewardship. We must
been completed, the AEA and them better leaders.
look over the shoulders of these offi-
ADT generate another pamphlet
Winston Churchill once said, cials every step of the way and hold
for the village that summarizes
“You can always count on the them accountable. We must fight the
what actually happened in terms
Americans to do the right thing – corruption problem at all levels of
of the outcome of the project and
after they’ve tried everything else.” government all the time. We must
all associated cash disbursements.
show the Afghans what “right” looks
Our experience in Afghanistan
Again, the AEA and members like.
has proven Mr. Churchill right once
of the ADT meet with the villag-
again. During the last nine years If we do these things, we can
ers to distribute the pamphlet and
we’ve tried doing the things that leave this country with our heads
review it with them in detail. This
were easy for us like throwing mon- held high, knowing that we have set
last step closes the “transparency
ey at Afghanistan and assuming them up for success. If we don’t do
loop” in the sense that the villag-
most of it would trickle down to the these things, all of our money and all
ers knew what was supposed to
people. We’ve tried to find the one of our brick and mortar projects will
happen before the project started,
crop or one industry or one technol- not save the Afghan government
and here they are told what actual-
ogy that would take hold and spark from itself.
ly happened now that it is com-
growth and development here.
plete. This further reinforc-
es their faith and confidence Mr. M. Hussein Safi, Nangarhar
that the project was con- DAIL, presents a certificate of
ducted in an uncorrupt man- training to agriculture extension
agents, after completion of Pro-
ner.
ject Management Training con-
Although time consum- ducted at FOB Finley-Shields. The
ing and labor intensive for training was prepared by the ADT
but Mr. Safi went through re-
the ADT, we believe that
hearsals with the unit prior to the
forcing AEAs to manage
training and then participated as an
projects in this manner will
instructor in the classes, explaining
accomplish a number of
the concepts to his extension
important goals. agents, (Photo by Capt. Marie Orlando)
First and foremost, it
will begin to give the Af-
PAGE 4
Campaign Planning for Stability Operations:
Applying design to ill-structured problems during agricultural recon-
struction
Second, design is a tracted operation requir-
By Lt. Col. North Charles “methodology for apply- ing long-term solutions.
ing critical and creative
On Aug. 27, ADT Finally, the academic
thinking to understand,
IV issued our and government institu-
visualize, and describe
campaign plan. This tional body of knowledge
complex, ill-structured
plan articulates the com- does not offer a consen-
problems and develop
mander’s vision for how sus or fixed solution set
approaches to solve
we will accomplish our for agriculture recon-
them.” ADT IV em-
mi s s i on h e r e i n struction. These factors
ployed the concepts of ill
Nangarhar Province. combine to create a
-defined problems and
This article briefly ex- seemingly intractable
design to produce our
plains how ADT IV lead- problem set, a classic ill-
campaign plan.
ers developed and pro- defined problem.
“Five duced the campaign plan. Five significant chal-
Design, as defined in
lenges combine to make
significant The Army’s current FM 5-0 and exercised by
agriculture reconstruction
operational framework ADT IV, centers on three
during stability opera-
challenges for full spectrum opera- components: the ability
tions an ill-defined prob-
tions contains four ele- to view an ill-defined
combine to lem.
ments: offense, defense, problem from many an-
make stability operations and First, no Army, joint gles, an understanding of
civil support operations. or interagency doctrine the current situation and
agriculture
Conducting agriculture exists to guide units con- access to subject matter
reconstruction reconstruction is a com- ducting agriculture re- experts. ADT IV tackled
ponent or a subset of a construction. the challenging problem
during stability operation. of agriculture reconstruc-
Second, currently nine
tion in Nangarhar using
stability Field Manual 5-0, National Guard ADTs
each of these compo-
“The Operations Pro- operate in Afghanistan
operations an nents.
cess,” provides guide- and each team faces a
lines for planning Army unique operational envi- Previous Missouri
ill-defined
operations, including sta- ronment in their area of National Guard ADTs,
problem.” bility operations. The operations. No one-size- local USDA and USAID
March 2010 edition of fits-all approach has staff on FOB Finley-
FM 5-0 introduces the emerged. Shields, USAID imple-
two key concepts that are menting partners, and our
Third, a wide variety
especially important for higher headquarters all
of governmental agencies
planning during stability provided perspective on
and non-governmental
operations. First, ill- the problem. ADT IV
agencies conduct parallel
defined problems are gained situational
agriculture reconstruction
“complex, nonlinear, and knowledge through meet-
efforts to varying degrees
dynamic… involving ings with the Nangarhar
or with different empha-
multiple military (joint DAIL, Agriculture Ex-
ses.
and multinational) and tension Agents, village
civilian organizations Fourth, agriculture
over extended periods.” reconstruction is a pro- (Continued on page 5)
TH E MULE SKIN NER RE PO RT
VO LUME 4, ISSUE 4 PAGE 5

(Continued from page 4) ysis, it became clear that team’s available resources
increasing the legitimacy against these lines of oper-
elders, Nangarhar Univer- of the Government of the ation to establish our prior- “These emerged
sity faculty, and farmers Islamic Republic of Af- ities of effort.
as ADT IV’s four
throughout the province. ghanistan and building the
Finally, the campaign
capacity of GIRoA were lines of
In addition to academic plan includes an operation-
the keys to success. As
a nd i nstit utional al timeline requiring for-
articulated in previous operation:
knowledge, subject matter mal assessment check-
Muleskinner articles, Col.
expert advice came from points to ensure the team’s Agriculture
Fortune, with input from
our Missouri “strategic efforts are having the in-
the rest of the team, envi- Extension,
partners” (University of tended effect. Formal as-
sioned and defined the end
Missouri, Lincoln Univer- sessments are especially Agriculture
state. ADT IV also devel-
sity, Missouri Department important during stability
oped and tested a number
of Agriculture, Missouri operations when units are Economics,
of assumptions to ensure
Farm Bureau, and Associ- conducting non-standard
our framework rested on a Agriculture
ation of Missouri Electric missions to achieve effects
solid foundation.
Cooperatives to name a against ill-defined prob- Administration,
few). Following this analysis, lems. The end result was a
and Agriculture
four requirements emerged campaign plan that details
Two additional key
as our focus: increase the all this analysis and turns
subject matter expert re- Education.”
capacity of the province’s these concepts into execut-
sources included: Roland
AEAs, increase agricultur- able tasks.
Bunch’s “Two Ears of
al capacity in the province
Corn” and the Naval Post- Planning non-standard

(with an emphasis on em-
graduate School's Center missions – for example,
ploying military-aged
for Stabilization and Re- agriculture redevelopment
males in the process), in-
construction Studies' during stability operations
crease the capacity of the
workshop "Agriculture: – presents a number of
DAIL and increase agri- Agriculture Extension
Promoting Livelihoods in significant challenges for
cultural education opportu- Agent Project
Conflict-Affected Envi- commanders and their
nities. These emerged as Management Training
ronments.” staffs. The Army’s exist- conducted on Sep. 15,
ADT IV’s four Lines Of
ing planning doctrine is contributes to all four
The results of shaping Operation: Agriculture
more than adequate, but it lines of operation.
the ill-defined problem Extension, Agriculture
requires extensive prepara- Below, Dir. Safi and
and applying the principles Economics, Agriculture
tion, tough analysis, crea- Col. Fortune jointly
of design narrowed what Administration, and Agri-
tive thinking, and follow- field questions from
had initially appeared to be culture Education.
through. the attendees.
seemingly endless options.
Before assigning tasks
ADT IV considered and
to the team, ADT IV con-
eventually rejected con-
sidered the capabilities of
cepts ranging from empha-
other coalition forces, gov-
sizing high-value market
ernmental agencies and
crops (saffron or soybeans,
non-governmental agen-
for example); to encourag-
cies operating throughout
ing co-ops; to revitalizing
the province. Col. Fortune
the large, state-run, Soviet-
also determined how ADT
era farms; to building ex-
IV would incorporate anti-
tensive brick-and-mortar
corruption and public in-
construction.
formation efforts. Only
As a result of our anal- then did ADT IV array the
PAGE 6
Steps toward self governance
By Sgt. 1st Class Earl was initiated a little project is identified by
Eisenbacher over a year ago t h e C D C i t i s
through the joint forwarded to the
O efforts of USAID and District Development
n e o f t h e t h e P r o v i n c i a l Authority. Each CDC
challenges faced by the Reconstruction Team. c h o o s e s a
United States in its representative to the
The PDC is a
counter-insurgency DDA. The DDA
formally structured
c a m p a i g n i n prepares those requests
process with identified
Afghanistan is the for presentation,
members who review,
creation of a stable e v a l u a t i o n a n d
recommend and act
functioning governance preparation by the
upon the issues and
system that responds to appropriate Technical
problems brought
the needs and desires Working Group.
“ With the before it.
of ordinary Afghans.
advent of the Not every district
Many programs and There are four
O&M budgeting t h r o u g h o u t
processes have been supporting, lower-level
process, Afghan Afghanistan has a
government initiated by Coalition organizations which functional DDA.
officials will Forces in Afghanistan push up issues and Nangarhar province is
projects to the PDC. In
rapidly move to address this pressing unique in the scope and
addition, the process
into the “run need.
effectiveness of the
allows some projects,
phase” of
O n e o f t ho s e DDA program in that it
identified at the PDC
responsive
p r o g r a m s , t h e p r o v i d e s t h i s
level, to be pushed
governance by
P r o v i n c i a l functionality in all
down to the lower
being directly
Development Council, twenty-two of its
responsible for levels for resolution.
seeks to create a districts.
financing and process where Afghans The PDC and its
maintaining can identify projects s u p p o r t i n g In conjunction with
PDC approved and issues they wish to organizations meet the DDA, USAID has
projects.” s p o n s o r e d t h e
be addressed by the once a month in order
Afghanistan Social
provincial government to ensure they remain
Outreach Program.
a n d w h e r e t h e responsive to the needs
ASOP is a recent
provincial government and desires of the
addition to Afghan
can utilize a formal people at large.
g o v e r n a n c e
systematic method of The process starts at d e v e l o p m e n t ,
e v a l u a t i n g a n d the village level where b e g i n n i n g i t s
prioritizing those approximately ten operations a little over
issues and projects. villages are clustered to
three months ago.
The topics raised form a Community
through the PDC Development Council. ASOP works at the
process include Members of the CDC district level in
agriculture-related are selected by the conjunction with the
projects which directly people who live within DDA. While the DDA
impact the mission of that cluster of villages. f o c u s e s o n
development within the
ADT IV.
After an issue or
(Continued on page 7)
The PDC process
TH E MULE SKIN NER RE PO RT
PAGE 7
VO LUME 4, ISSUE 4
Steps toward self governance
(Continued from page 6) military Civil Affairs units will of the fiscal year. Each individual
occasionally push down ideas line director will be responsible
district, ASOP focuses on originating from the TWG to the for allocating that rolling budget
governance and security issues. DDA. to prioritize and fund proposed
ASOP members are elected by the projects and proposals and to
Projects evaluated at the TWG
residents of the district. ASOP maintain existing infrastructure.
may originate with the DDA or
has 45 members and at least five
the respective line directors for The Afghan government has
are required to be women.
that area of government. The learned the bureaucratic PDC
Nangarhar Province has seven TWG not only considers and process well. Within a little over
TWGs. Those seven TWGs approves development projects a year, they have moved from the
include Agriculture and Rural but also discusses and makes “crawl” to the “walk” phase of
Development, Health and decisions on urgent issues within responsive governance. With the
Nutrition, Infrastructure and their purview. advent of the O&M budgeting
Natural Resources and Education. process, Afghan government
Projects that are approved by
The Nangarhar Faculty of officials will rapidly move into
the TWG are forwarded to the
Agriculture and Faculty of the “run” phase of responsive
PDC for final resolution. The
Veterinary Medicine have their governance by being directly
PDC is chaired by either the
own TWG which does not include responsible for financing and
provincial governor or deputy
a CDC or DDA component. Each maintaining PDC approved
governor. PDC meetings are
TWG is chaired by its respective projects.
attended by all the TWG chairmen
line director. If a TWG covers the
or their designees. The PDC George Roemer, the USAID
area of two or more directorates,
meets monthly at the governor’s field program officer at Forward
the chair is either reached by
palace to discuss projects, Operating Base Finely-Shields,
consensus of the line directors or
proposals and issues affecting the said, “It is very rewarding to see
rotates among them.
entire province. The members Afghans discover they can govern
As an example, the Agriculture also vote to approve or disapprove themselves through the PDC
and Rural Development TWG in specific projects and proposals. process.”
which ADT IV participates,
If a project or proposal is
includes the Director of
approved by the PDC it is eligible
Agriculture, Irrigation and
for funding and implementation.
Livestock, the Nangarhar Valley
As a practical matter, most project
Development Authority and the
funding is currently accomplished
Director of Rural Development.
by donor organizations such as
The TWG is officially co-chaired
USAID, USDA, DoD or non-
by all three line directors of these
governmental organizations.
agencies but in practice, Mr.
Mohammed Hussein Safi, the In order to facilitate moving
the Afghan government away
DAIL, generally chairs TWG
from reliance on donor
meetings.
organizations, the central
Engineer Safi leads a discussion with mem-
ADT’s first involvement with
government has instituted a new bers of the Sheshembah Agriculture Re-
the process begins with the TWG.
Operations and Maintenance search Station Technical Working Group
ADT members attend the TWG to
Budget process. Under this concerning flood damage throughout
observe the proceedings and begin
process each provincial line Nangarhar Province. (Photo by Lt. Col. North
to assess which projects they will
director receives a rolling Charles)
consider funding. However,
$100,000 budget for each quarter
PAGE 8
Nangarhar U
curriculum to offer de-
By Capt. John Paluczak
gree programs in engi-
N neering, agriculture, and
angarhar University
education. The universi-
is the second largest
ty expanded again in
and second oldest univer-
1994 to include schools Department of Agricul-
sity in Afghanistan, and
in literature, economics, ture, Nangarhar Universi-
plays an important part in
political science, and vet- ty’s biggest problem is
educating the country’s
erinary medicine. getting the students practi-
future leaders.
cal experience because
Nangarhar University
With a campus and there are no laboratories at
sits on about 400 acres of
faculty devastated by thir- the university and almost
“Nangarhar Uni- ty years of warfare and land just outside of Jala- no opportunities for
labad, the capital of
versity plays a lack of effective govern- “hands on” work. Anoth-
Nangarhar. 5,900 stu-
pivotal role in ance, ADT IV has initiat- er major issue is getting
dents, including 200 fe-
educating future ed plans to help rebuild the people, once they fin-
male students, currently
leaders of not the intellectual foundation attend Nangarhar Univer- ish their education, to stay
for the School of Agricul- in Afghanistan.
just Nangarhar sity. Approximately
ture and the School of
Province, but all 1000 students graduate With no labs at
Veterinary Medicine.
of Afghanistan.” from the university every Nangarhar University, the
ADT IV has estab- year. Students at the ADT is working to estab-
lished relationships with University can elect to lish internship and extern-
Nangarhar University’s pursue degrees in agri- ship programs that will
Dean of Agriculture, Dr. culture, engineering, provide the students prac-
Mohammad Asif Bawary, medicine, theology, eco- tical, real world experi-
and Dean of Veterinary nomics, political science, ence. These experiences
Medicine, Dr. Sayed and veterinary medicine. will provide a good sub-
Rafiullah Halim. As stitute for the practical
Nangarhar University
Nangarhar University hands-on learning a labor-
plays a pivotal role in
rebuilds, ADT IV will atory program normally
educating the future lead-
assist Dr. Halim and Dr. provides at universities
ers of not just Nangarhar
Bawary in facilitating the like those in the United
Province, but all of Af-
expansion of knowledge States.
ghanistan. As Afghani-
by establishing personal
stan’s future doctors, vet- As Afghanistan contin-
relationships and profes-
erinarians, agriculture ues to stabilize and offer
sional contact with select-
extension agents, govern- greater opportunities to its
ed faculty at Lincoln Uni-
ment officials and other people, we believe that
versity and the University
professionals, these lead- more graduates will re-
of Missouri-Columbia.
ers face the daunting main in the country to
Nangarhar University challenge of rebuilding develop the programs and
was originally established their nation. businesses that will lead
in 1962 as a college of Afghanistan back to peace
According to Dr. Gary
medicine. In 1978, the
Hart of the United States (Continued on page 9)
university expanded its
TH E MULE SKIN NER RE PO RT
VO LUME 4, ISSUE 4 PAGE 9
Nangarhar U
(C ontinued from page 8) institutions of higher education some significant problems that
is to encourage the sharing of must be overcome before it can
research information and best take full advantage of the ADT
and prosperity. practices. Afghanistan may not initiatives. For instance, the
Two Lincoln University be ready for the cutting edge University does not have
professors, Dr. Todd Higgins, agriculture technology utilized enough computers to service
an expert in agronomy, and Dr. in the United States. However, the entire faculty and this limits
Frieda Eivazi, an expert in soil the ability to share intellectual access to email. This problem
science, chemistry, and fertili- information, including current is exacerbated by rotating pow-
ty, have agreed to provide agriculture research results er outages which have no set
Nangarhar University with re- from around the world, is the schedule. Although several
search data and other infor- next step forward toward Nangarhar University profes-
mation on plant life and soil reestablishing Nangarhar Uni- sors speak some English, the
health. Lincoln University’s versity as a leading educational language barrier also poses
historical role in providing ag- institution in southwest Asia. some challenges.
riculture extension services to In addition to linking the As ADT IV assists
small scale farmers will be in- Nangarhar University faculty Nangarhar University in re-
strumental in helping with Missouri’s land grant in- solving some of these issues,
Nangarhar University’s Faculty stitutions, ADT IV plans to we believe the University will
of Agriculture begin to support encourage the development of become one of the shining stars
agriculture extension here in a symbiotic relationship be- of Nangarhar and Afghanistan.
Nangarhar. tween the University and the As it develops into a healthy
At the University of Mis- Nangarhar Director of Agricul- and fully functional learning
souri-Columbia, Dr. Craig ture, Irrigation and Livestock institution, the University will
Roberts, a specialist in forage (DAIL). We believe that this be instrumental in leading this
crop management with the Col- relationship will allow nation into a long-term future
lege of Agriculture, Food and Nangarhar University students of prosperity and peace, mak-
Natural Resources, and Dr. to obtain hands-on experience ing the world a better and safer
Craig Payne, a veterinarian while, at the same time, provid- place.
specializing in beef cattle pro- ing free labor to the DAIL and
duction from the College of promulgating the latest agricul- Give us an “N”
Veterinary Medicine, have ture technologies out to the
Give us an A”…
agreed to provide information field.
products regarding animal feed In addition, we hope to see
and animal health. Dr. Roberts’ the development of a continu-
and Dr. Payne’s expertise will ing education program for the
assist both Nangarhar Universi- DAIL’s Agriculture Extension
ty’s Faculty of Agriculture and Agents which would provide
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine them training on the latest agri- “N!”
improve animal health and cultural technologies such as “A“….
productivity for both subsist- row cropping, irrigation tech-
ence farmers and the few com- niques, pasture management,
mercial animal production fa- animal husbandry and other Give us
cilities in Nangarhar. agriculture subjects directly books!
The goal of establishing affecting Afghan farmers. Give us a lab!
relationships between these Nangarhar University faces
The Muleskinner Team
Mo Agri-business Development Team IV
V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 4 S E P T E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 0

 Thanks to the
Commander’s Comments
sponsors of our
unit that have sent
care packages to
the unit members
and to the chil- O ur first full month in We have taken the long pelting us with rocks, but
dren of Afghani-
Afghanistan has come way around on several of when they still wouldn’t
stan.
and gone and I think we are our missions, but it has kept stop, he motioned to our
 USO starting to make some us out of harm’s way. turret gunner to go ahead
headway in empowering the and shoot them!
 Maloney Family
Afghan government’s
Whatever the case, we
 Cronk Family Agriculture Extension
are working with
Agents (AEAs) and in
 Jim and Katie government officials in the
addressing the corruption
Roberson districts to spread the word
problem here, at least in our
that we are there to help,
 Dennis O’Leary little sphere of influence.
and that throwing rocks at
Local 136 Fenton
We are also helping us is not in their best
 Rick and Mary Nangarhar’s Director of interests.
Rutledge
Agriculture, Irrigation, and
On behalf of the entire
Livestock develop an
 James Tinder ADT IV team, I want to
Operations and Sgt. 1st Class Dana Squires, Personnel
thank the families back
Maintenance budget which Sergeant, unloads packages to deliver
home for their support of
to members of ADT IV.
will allow him to sustain his
our Airmen and Soldiers
INSIDE THIS
agriculture-related assets While we haven’t been
since our arrival here at
SECTION:
once the Missouri ADT attacked, we have had
Forward Operating Base
Senior’s 11 mission is complete. unruly teenage boys throw
Finley-Shields.
Space rocks at our convoy on a
The threat situation here
couple of occasions. Many Thanks to your emails,
in Nangarhar seems to be
Learning to 12 of these kids give us what letters, and care packages,
slightly worse now than it
trust appears to be a friendly unit morale is high and I see
has been during the past
Ramadan and 13 “thumbs up” as we drive by, a lot of happy troopers.
couple of years. However,
Iftars the team’s SECFOR platoon but they throw rocks at the I know they would all
Days of our 14 has done an outstanding job last vehicle once it has rather be enjoying your
lives: SECFOR planning and conducting passed. company back home, but
Meet the 15-20 missions, and ADT IV has This makes me think that they realize that we have an
Team not been attacked and has they are not necessarily important mission to
not had to fire even a single being hostile, but rather, accomplish here in
Pictures from 22-23
the Field shot in self defense. that rock throwing is an Nangarhar Province.
I believe that one of the Afghan national sport of Knowing they have your
Back at the 24 keys to our success has been sorts. love and support allows
homestead outstanding judgment and In one particular village, them to focus on that
decision making on the part there was an older man mission. Please keep up the
of our senior NCOs. yelling at some kids for great work!