Warrior of the Week

Lt General Caldwell, NTM-A/CSTC-A Commander, recognized Air Force paralegal as the warrior of the week on 14 Dec 10. TSgt Wikoff has created an outstanding relationship with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Ministry of Defense's GS Legal Department.

MGen Nooristani and Former Mentor

My predecessor stopped by MGen Nooristani's office to award him a commemorative plaque for his achievements in modernizing MoD Legal. MGen Nooristani is a rarity in Afghan government. He is decisive, intelligent, and overall well intentioned. We offer our advice and most times, MGen Nooristani takes action. We identified problems at the National Military Hospital and the next day, he is touring the hospital and giving a speech to hospital workers about the need to improve patient care. Afghanistan needs more leaders like him.

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TJAG and Protesting Recruits

These three young attorney recruits haven't been paid for two months. The ANA keeps making excuses for their incompetence. These three brave souls came in from the Legal School and KMTC to complain about the lack of pay. The ANA TJAG is in the middle and tried to be conciliatory and appeal to the recruits patriotism. The personnel officer started yelling at them and saying you can't get money from a milk cow's udder. I guess something is lost in translation.

TJAG is going to try to get "bonus" money to pay them for their service over the past two months and the recruits should have recieved their bank debit cards for their pay today.

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Mud Houses up the Hillside

We went over to the Afghan National Army's (ANA) National Military Hospital (NMH). We have reports of poor patient care, theft of supplies, and moonlighting (absent) medical staff. The Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) is doing what he can, but its difficult going against the tide.

This photo is of mud homes that climb up the hillside near the hospital. They blend in with the surroundings and are hard to discern. However, surrounding the blue house in the middle are similar structures made of brown mud going all the way up the hill.

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Today Show live from Camp Eggers

NBC's Today Show with Lester Holt began broadcasting live from Camp Eggers at 1630 on 25 Nov 2010, Thanksgiving. The camera work, coordination with New York, and Lester Holt's professional delivery were amazing. The most amazing aspect was being live on television 9,500 miles from the United States.

These are the South Dakota boys (Task Force Rushmore) who are National Guardsmen providing base support in the Kabul area. These stalwart South Dakotans are professionals and superlative in supporting all our needs here.

Lester Holt is putting on his coat after interviewing troops and Airmen inside the "Goat" Dining Facility (DFAC) at Camp Eggers. The teleprompter was not working correctly and Mr. Holt didn't skip a beat. Very professional in his delivery and he evinced a genuine concern for the armed forces.

Today Show live from Camp Eggers
South Dakota's Task Force Rushmore at Camp Eggers
Lester Holt (NBC) at Camp Eggers

Col Akhbar & Friends

We went to the National Military Hospital (NMH) in Kabul to visit with the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA), Colonel Akhbar. Col Akhbar is trying to do a good job under difficult circumstances. The hospital commander is corrupt and Col Akhbar appears honest and trying to implement the rule of law for the betterment of his country and people. It gives one hope for Afghanistan if the rule of law gets to the tipping point and becomes the norm in government agencies.

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Afghan Oath Ceremony

Thirty-two new attorneys took their oath on Korans as new members of the Afghan Army at Kabul Military Training Center. The continued progress of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to recruit and to train gives hope for the future. Afghanistan has a long ways to go but I believe they are sincere and hard working. With quality leadership they may be able to make it. The question is if they have enough time.

.Command Website: http://www.ntm-a.com/
"Shohna ba Shohna -- Shoulder to Shoulder"