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On 12/10/2010 12:14:02 PM Specialist Melanie McBride, 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion wrote
I just completed my first mission in the Horn of Africa with the 402nd Functional Specialty Team. This was the last phase of a three-phase mission. Phase one consisted of collecting stool samples from children in the Shinile region of Ethiopia and assessing them for parasites. Phase two was the treatment phase where we gave antibiotics to all children. And the last phase was to reassess the children to see if the treatment was effective.
With this being my first deployment and my first mission on this deployment, I was not sure what to expect. We visited 10 different kebeles, all of which our team has visited before, so I expected our visits to go rather smooth. I came to find out that a smooth-running mission in Africa may not be same as a smooth-running mission in the United States. After getting to Ethiopia we had to readjust and change plans several times. I learned this is not such an unusual thing and that changing plans every day, sometimes several times a day, is normal.
When we finally started the mission the mood in the different villages varied widely. It went from happy chanting children to indifference, to even carefulness. In most all villages a crowd formed right away and happy children would ask us for candy and would eagerly follow the Ethiopian nursing students and me on our quest to find the same 10 children who were sampled in phase one of the mission. One village was rather cold and indifferent to our presence for the duration of our visit there, and one other was even careful. Upon our arrival a crowd of military-aged men came to greet us. But as soon as we explained why we were there, people recognized us from before and warmed up to us.
It was very helpful having the Ethiopian nursing students with us since they knew very well how to work with African people. Working with them is much different then working with Americans whether they are military or civilian. I personally could not detect a system in the work they were doing and was amazed when at the end of our visit in each village we had met our objective. I learned much about the African culture on this mission. It was a wonderful experience and I am eager to go on the next mission.
PA mission to Ethiopia 1/8/2011 · By Airman 1st Class Jevon Smith
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa strategic communication combat camera videographer
VETCAP in Negele 1/8/2011 · Captain David Creech
402nd Civil Affairs Battalion functional specialty team veterinarian
Visiting Our Teams over the Holidays 1/4/2011 · Rear Admiral Brian Losey, commander, and Captain John Dixon, chief of staff, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa
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