AFPAK Hands Experiences / Recommendations

Sir, that's your normal job - how can you build a relationship by meeting one time a month? Need to do some mud hut time, some tea time on the side of a mountain trail, go to an Afghan wedding as a guest....not dodge papercuts!

CSM, If he wasn't a MG in Kabul I'd agree with you.

Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF have ended and we are now in Operation Freedoms Sentinel and on the NATO side Resolute Support. Combat operations are over and the advising here in Afghanistan has evolved from the dirt and mud huts out in the hinterlands to the concrete jungle of Kabul. The majority of AFPAK hands in country are stationed in Kabul and almost all advising is done at the National/Ministerial levels. Long gone are the days of walking a patrol with your Afghan Company or Battalion commanders. We are now advising the Ministers and deputy's within Afghanistan's Government offices. I highly doubt any Hand will ever see the inside of a mud hut or drink tea on the side of a mountain trail again. We do however drink a lot of tea with our counterparts inside their respective government offices. Times are changing. We are down to 10,000 BOG, The Afghans are in the lead and we are no longer leading the patrols. I for one see this as a good thing and I hope the country continues to move forward on a positive pace.

Thanks for the update MAJ (Join to see), the AFPAK hands are a combat multiplier, if used for correctly (e.g. relationship!)

Just peachy - you?