The Story:
There’s an old saying that a small idea is the birthplace of great accomplishments. For Col. Stout, who was deployed to Afghanistan from September 2002 to April 2003, that small idea was the realization that rebuilding the war-torn country would require a joint effort by the military, civilians, members of the community, and local organizations. His idea has grown into one of the central components of the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan: the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), deployed throughout the host nation to rebuild and revitalize infrastructure and institutions.
In Afghanistan, Stout met with military commanders, civilian leaders, U.S. interagency members, and Afghan Ministry officials – and slowly his recommendations crystallized. He created the first three PRTs – in Gardez, Bamyan, and Kunduz – by conducting a thorough analysis of the provinces and towns, and then securing the support and resources necessary to make a tangible impact. The PRTs in those three areas are still carrying out their work – and also offering an opportunity for other nations to help the Afghans. Today, the Bamyan PRT is led by New Zealand, and the Kunduz PRT is led by Germany, with support from Belgium, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania, and Switzerland.
Stout’s initial model played a key role in shaping both the Department of Defense’s and U.S. Central Command’s approaches to conducting future reconstruction operations. For his leadership and contributions in Afghanistan, Stout was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal on Dec. 13, 2006.