The Last Farewell

I transferred my mentor and advisor duties to the Air Force major next to MGen Nooristani. The AF major wanted to talk to BGen Shoutl next to me in the red beret. BGen Shoutl had some interesting stories to tell about her life. She is very courageous to just be in the Afghan National Army as woman are severely discriminated against in this society.

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Afghan MoD Farewell

I gave Colonel Popal a certificate of appreciation in hopes of encouraging him to follow through with our objectives after I leave. Col Popal speaks English quite well and has the energy to accomplish things at MoD Legal.

The three musketeers who will be leaving our mentor jobs at MoD Legal over the next 3-4 weeks. MGen Nooristani and BGen Karim gave us traditional Afghan garb for our farewell gifts. This Marine Major and Air Force TSgt have done an outstanding job in helping our Afghan partners with Rule of Law.

This our Office of Staff Judge Advocate leadership with MGen Nooristani, BGen Tafun, Judge Rahim, Col Popal, an AFPAK Hand AF Major, and the three departing ANA Legal Development team.

MGen Nooristani, BGen Karim (TJAG), Judge Rahim with me in "Karzai" coat, pakola, and small.

As my parting gift to MGen Nooristani, I gave him a Dale Gallon print of "The Day is Ours." It is the high-water mark of the Confederacy of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg on 3 June 1863. MGen Nooristani, though Chief of MoD Legal, was trained as an artilleryman. The print has cannon leveled at the charging infantry and firing canister.

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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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"

MoD Construction

Foundation for the new Ministry of Defense (MoD) building in Kabul, Afghanistan. The construction is adjacent to the existing MoD building and will be major improvement for the Afghan National Army (ANA). The modern facility should allow the ANA to enter the 21st century.

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LTC Herring and Canadian Navy LCDR

Before our departure to the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC) to observe the first graduating class of Paralegal NCOs. The Canadian Navy Lieutenant Commander has been working with the Afghan National Army for many months and was our driver and convoy commander. He did a superb job getting us out there and back safely. We got back into Kabul at rush hour and he maneuvered the vehicle like a pro.