Tracy Bell's Afghanistan Experience
Tracy Bell, Portland District Emergency Operations Center manager, served this past summer in Afghanistan Engineer District. She worked as the S3 (Operations and Training). AED is in the process of contracting a private Security Company for the District. During her deployment she assisted with writing standard operating procedures for the emergency operations center. She also traveled temporary duty to Iraq (GRN and GRD) to observe their EOC operations.
1. What did you find most rewarding about your service in AED?
Not only did I get the satisfaction of serving my country by supporting our reconstruction mission in Afghanistan, the Afghanistan citizens I met were grateful for the efforts that we, the US Army Corps of Engineers, are putting forth to not only assist them, but to educate them.
2. Why did you volunteer to go?
As a retired Marine, I continue to hear the call to duty to serve our country. I also volunteered to deploy so that perhaps I could fill a void so that others serving on longer deployments would have an opportunity to take leave or an R & R that otherwise would leave a vacancy during their absence.
3. Why do you believe other Corps employees would find a tour in AED to be rewarding?
Not only are there financial incentives, such as bonuses, 35% danger pay, 35% post differential pay, overtime etc, but there are many intangibles as well, such as Patriotism, and the pride of belonging to a unique, skilled group of professionals and opportunities to improve your own professional development. Let's not forget the travel and adventure opportunities while serving in a foreign country.
4. What is going right with the Corps reconstruction efforts in AED?
I believe the smartest thing we are doing in Afghanistan is we are not rebuilding the country for them; we are mentoring and showing the citizens of the country how to rebuild their country.
5. How much of a culture shock should employees expect from their present lives to the lives they'll live in AED?
The weather varies depending on where you are at in country. In Kabul, where the AED headquarters is located, you will experience 4 seasons due to it being 5000 foot elevation. It is warmer in the southern region around Kandahar and to the west near Kunduz.
As far as the Afghan people and their living conditions, it reminded me a great deal of the Navajo reservations near where I grew up in New Mexico. It is a poor country, but that is what they know, unfortunetly just a generation ago it was a rich, thriving country.
Deployees Health and Comfort - For those coming from a military background, deployees will probably not see much of a difference from what we had on any military base, the living conditions at Qalaa House (AED Headquarters) are great, most Corp Project sites offer 1 man (or woman) rooms for billeting. We had 3 hot meals a day with lots of variety. Fitness centers or equipment are available as well.
6. How would you answer someone who says, "AED is a war zone! Isn't it scary? How safe did you feel? Did you find yourself in a firefight with the Taliban? Aren't living conditions horrible? Don't they treat you like you are in the ARMY, that is, like a Soldier? Do I have to go around saluting and saying 'Sir' to everyone? Etc..."
I felt secure the entire time I was in Afghanistan. From the moment we left the airport in Kabul we had military force protection with us. On the compound we also had LN's (Local Nationals) that guard the compound and provided interpretative services. For those employees who travel out to construction sites, they had their own security personnel and interpreters that traveled with them. Civilian personnel are not authorized to be armed, so there would never be an instance where we would have to engage in combat. In AED, we are the clients and the Soldiers and Local security provide security services to us. And although we are in uniform, it is recognized that we are not Soldiers and are not treated as such, it is much like being at our home district, mutual respect is shown to military, civilian employees and contractors.
I would encourage anyone that can deploy to Afghanistan for 6-12 months to take advantage of the opportunity. Don’t limit yourself to the published taskers either. You can fill QA spots, talk to other deployees that have returned or are currently serving. There are a lot of opportunities, let AED know what you can do for them. I developed a strong friendship with many people and hope to deploy again soon. The most difficult thing I did there was to leave.