NWD seeks volunteers for vital Afghan civil works projects
Someday, our grandchildren will rest on our knees and ask us in all innocence, “Papa (or Nanna), what did you do in the great Global War on Terrorism?
That’s when we can look them in the eyes and state with tremendous pride, “Well, I filled sand bags in Louisiana to reinforce the levees AND I helped Afghanistan rebuild its country.”
The Corps asks for volunteers to assist its districts around the nation during all manner of disasters, the most visible being hurricane relief operations. But, USACE also taps its people to help with America’s missions overseas. One of these is the rebuilding of the Afghani infrastructure through the reconstruction of roads, irrigation systems, power generation and utilities, police and border patrol stations, medical facilities, schools, and other infrastructure facilities.
“Northwestern Division is now the Corps' lead for coordinating volunteers from NWD, Pacific Ocean Division, and the Centers and Labs to fill deployment needs for this important work,” said Brig. Gen. Bill Rapp, NWD Commander. “I am asking our professionals throughout all five districts and at the division level to step up for a tour of service in the Afghanistan Engineering District. We need your talents and you will make a positive difference in the world through your service."
AED currently has seven area offices, 22 resident offices, and six project offices in Afghanistan, and will manage more than $2 billion in construction projects this year, which is twice as much as fiscal 2007. There are several hundred billets that NWD employees are qualified to operate in.
"The folks in the Afghanistan Engineer District are doing great work building Afghan engineering and construction capacity and helping to establish a stable Afghan national government. This effort will greatly improve the lives of Afghan citizens and improve our nation's security” said Col. Miroslav P. Kurka, deputy commander of Northwestern Division and former commander of the AED.
"The year I spent in Afghanistan was by far the most rewarding experience in my career and the great adventure of my life,” he said. “I was part of history and I encourage anyone with skills and heart to volunteer for a tour with AED. I'm sure you'll find an assignment with AED challenging and very rewarding." Kurka’s sentiments are echoed by Tracy Bell, the Portland District Emergency Operations Center Manager.
“I would encourage anyone who can deploy to Afghanistan for 6-12 months to take advantage of the opportunity,” Bell said, who served in country from June to August this year. “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. [for more on Tracy's time in Afghanistan, click here]
“The most difficult thing I did there was to leave,” Bell said. “I developed a strong friendship with many people -- I felt secure the entire time I was in Afghanistan -- and hope to deploy again soon.”
"The folks in the Afghanistan Engineer District are doing great work building Afghan engineering and construction capacity and helping to establish a stable Afghan national government. This effort will greatly improve the lives of Afghan citizens and improve our nation's security”
-Col. Miroslav P. Kurka, deputy commander of Northwestern Division and former commander of the AED
Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp visited AED in late July to witness the progress being made thanks to Corps’ workers.
"This is a very important mission, and our part of it is to build facilities and capacity," said Van Antwerp. "Anyone who has deployed here or to Iraq will tell you that this changed their life. You get outside yourself and focus on working with a team that feels like a family, which is an incredible experience.
"AED is going to grow, and that’s why we’re trying to get out in front with a work force that can take on growth," Van Antwerp said. AED currently has 72 military and 229 civilian volunteers and is projected to reach nearly 400 by the end of 2008.
"We’re at a place in time where we’re writing the book," Van Antwerp continued. "We’re using tried and true practices, but we’re adapting those practices to a new environment that doesn’t have time to wait. We need to do it now!
"Talk to an AED employee and ask, ‘Why did you come, and why did you stay?’ and you’ll find out that it’s something special," Van Antwerp said. "So come join them and be part of it."
Workers in the Northwestern Division are encouraged to join in this historic undertaking and make a lasting contribution in getting Afghanistan back on its feet after years of great hardship and suffering. There are several persuasive reasons to step up. First, the Corps has hundreds of jobs in a wide variety of specialties and so it is likely your specialty is represented.
Second, it’s easy to apply. Go to http://cpolwapp.belvoir.army.mil/coe-gwot/
Third, serving in the Afghanistan Engineer District presents a unique opportunity for professional and personal challenge, adventure and national service. Volunteers will experience a unique and different culture and service overseas while being handsomely compensated for their efforts (see your local HR rep for details). Afghanistan services offers an opportunity to see places most people only read about.
-Article written by Bruce Huffman and Bernard Tate.
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