hello again from afghanistan!
it has been a very busy couple of weeks, and i apologize for not having written sooner, but life out here is very hectic. i was sick yesterday, but i'm feeling much better today. i think it was mostly just the schedule that ran me into the ground, but i got a day of (mostly) rest, and today is friday, which is the muslim holy day, so usually it's not too busy around here on fridays, so i should be able to rest a little more today. i can't get into too much detail, but i usually work between 12 and 15 hours per day here in my office and around the FOB as need be, plus any missions i go on (usually about 3 per week), and then on top of that i have night guard duty once every three days, so sleep and relaxation have been in short supply lately. i think it'll get better after a couple of months when my body gets more used to it, and i get better at my job so stuff doesnt take me as long. (intersting side note, i have now been in theater for almost a month, one down, eight to go)
there are some perks to being here though... yesterday 5 of the Patriots cheerleaders came and visited the base, signed some pictures, and talked with us a bit. of course it was the day i was sick, so i wasnt looking my best, but it was good to talk to them for a few minutes, and tell them the cowboys were going to crush them in the superbowl this year!
i am trying desperatly to find the right way to handle humanitarian aid. i dont want to give handouts to everyone who comes to the base seeking help, in fact, i would prefer not to give away anything from the base, but rather have the afghan govt give it away, in order to strengthen their appearance and actual capability. but if i do find a way to give it away through the govt, i need to train whoever it is that will be in charge of giving it away. how should the process work? how can they prove they have real need? how can they earn the help they need and not just get a handout? i would love to model it after the church's welfare system, but i dont have access to any church manuals or anything. dad, maybe with all your experience in bishoprics, you could advise me on how to do this. any other sources of advice are welcome as well.
in other news, i am contemplating transfering to utah state when i get back and going through the ROTC program there with a good friend of mine here in afghanistan. let me shed some light on the reasoning behind this move.
first, the army owns me outright until 2011, but still technically owns me until 2016, and can deploy me as needed anytime until june of 2016. and as my job, civil affairs, is highly needed all over the world, it is highly likely that i would be pulled back out of civilian life at least once, and probably more like 2 or even 3 times during that 5 year gap. and they could deploy me with any unit, as any job, as they need at that exact moment. so instead of being powerless those 5 years, if i go back, and go through ROTC, use that scholarship money to finish school, and then become an officer, return to my unit, and then when i deploy once or twice or three times, it is with my own unit, doing my own job, and as an officer to boot. then i would be done with all army obligations probably in 2016 or 2017, and would probably be a captain, with with almost 10 years of experience in real world international relations, dealing directly with governors, generals and smaller local leaders all over the world. and this is a long way off, but my long range plans would then put me working in the state department as a foreign affairs officer after my time in the military is over. i know, lots of stuff, but none of it is decided, and is subject to change, just wanted to let you know what i was thinking about.
well, i gotta run, but i did get the address for letters/packages:
John O Nelson
PRT Kunar, Asadabad
Camp Wright
APO, AE 09354
and you can get flat rate apo boxes from the post office for like 10 bucks, so it shouldnt be very expensive to mail anything here.
lots of love,
john
No comments:
Post a Comment