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October 2008
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Kandahar - There is more to this mission than war fighting. The modern Army is as much about the elements of combat is it is about building relations within the communities that it operates in and around. Here in Afghanistan, that focus is accentuated by the needs to support the United States efforts to build the Afghan National Army into a free standing military that is respected not only by opposing forces, but by the communities where it's soldiers live. VMO's, or village medical operations are missions designed to utilize the resources of the Army to bring needed medical aid to local areas. These missions have been fundamental to the operations of Special Forces teams in its efforts to "win hearts and minds." However, VMO missions for Army National Guard teams, while serving similar means, are also a natural extension of what National Guard understands better than any organization within the armed forces... the relationship between citizen and soldier.
We arrived in the village on the edge of Kandahar city in the morning, shortly after 10 am. The mission was a mixture of Afghan National Army soldiers, Afghan Army medics, US Army National Guard and Navy Reserve medics and Army National Guard security forces. A perimeter security was established as the medical supplies and US donated clothing items and shoes were unloaded. The site for the village medical operation was the walled compound of the new village school funded by US dollars. With the use of a loud speaker, the Afghan Army spokesman made the announcement to the village that medical services and clothing items were available for the children. At the time of the announcement, the village seemed vacant; within an hour following, several hundred men, women and children were lined up outside of the gate.
The Afghan Army soldiers controlled the crowd, allowing only small groups in at a time. The initial groups were made up of only children, with many of the young girls carrying a sibling. As the morning progressed, more women dressed in the traditional burka began to arrive. Medical exams and prescriptions for some health items were performed by Afghan Army medics. Cases that required more detailed attention were deferred to the US Naval Reserve medical officer, Lieutenant Dunlavey. Through the day there were several of these cases... a young boy who had been injured during the the fighting in Panjawi, a mother with a sick infant, and a young girl who had progressively lost her sight to the point of being functionally blind.
Children bring forth a universal response. Be it Afghan Army or American soldiers, the compassion and genuine concern for the youth is not limited by politics or national interests. The image is often a strange juxtaposition, as a caring hand of a soldier matches with the innocence of a child, always highlighted by the soldiers rifle and camouflage dress. It is an image of protector and caregiver that also defines the role of the modern Army. The young boy was brought in with his father. He had an infected wound under the his chin that had not improved. Lieutenant Dunlavey had requested that his father bring him to this village medical operation, having seen the boy previously in Panjawi. The father had taken his son to Pakistan for medical treatment in the mean time, but the Pakistani doctors were unable to help. After a quick medical check, Dunlavey gave him a strong injectable dose of anti-biotic, cleaned the wound and affixed a new dressing. Her hope was that injection would stay the infection. However, like all things here proper healing would be challenged by the limitations of effective follow-up care.
The American Army does its best to address the needs of the local villagers on these types of operations. The women with the sick infant was an issue of malnutrition. The Afghan women was given a full exam to establish her health and the baby was examined and then given medication and supplements to build back its weight and strength. When the medical problem is beyond the abilities of the medical staff in the field, the problem is evaluated and attempts are made to get the child or adult to a facility where a more thorough medical evaluation can made and where more thorough care can be provided. In the case of the young girl who was suffering from a progressive loss of vision, she arrived wearing a swath of felt tied to her forehead. It was a "cure" from the traditions of tribal medicine that dictate that by wearing a prescribed item over the ailed eye healing would result. These local practices are as much about tradition as faith in their god and are part of the challenges medics must overcome as they try to teach better health practices. For the little girl, Dunlavey gave her an examination during the village medical operation, and then arranged to have her transported the following week to a US Army facility in the north to have her evaluated further to determine if a course of action was available to help her regain her site.
In that adjacent room women and children were having their prescriptions filled from the cases of medical supplies either purchased with US funds or donated by US military personnel State side. Most of these prescriptions were being written by the Afghan Army medic who was examining groups of women and children in yet another room down the way. Afghan women have a second class status in this country. Yet what is interesting is how much care and compassion is given to the Afghan girls. It is one of the many strange balances of life here, where women even at a young age are expected to maintain the household even while the boys play and the men sit and watch. At this village medical operation the young girls were ushered in first by the Afghan soldiers. Following the medical exam and any needed prescriptions, the women and children were directed towards a line where boxes of US donated sandals, clothing items, and hygiene products were assembled. There is no greater statement to the heart of the US effort here than seeing these children who have so little smile with the receipt of the donated gift of clothing. For the US soldiers, it is confirmation of their purpose here.
The village medical operation lasted for close to four hours. In that time dozens of women and children were seen, evaluated and sent back to their homes with medications and supplies. There are always more people in wait than can be seen. The hope, however, is to extend the hand of US forces as well as that of the Afghan National Army forces is a way that leaves a memory beyond that of war fighting and loss of life. Change rests not with the adults, but with the children of the upcoming generations. Providing them with hope is one step closer to winning the hearts and minds of a culture.
Three Army National Guard ETTs were hit the other today while traveling in their Humvee near Jalalabad. All three are reported to be okay and are receiving medical care in country. Their interpreter, however, was killed. It’s a solemn reminder of the daily threat the exists here. The news was sobering, yet I find it interesting how an incident like this only goes to strengthen these soldiers resolve to help the Afghans build a better and safer country. These soldiers continue to find the balance between war fighter and emissary.
Archived blogs: RSS feed: Click here Copyright, Scott Kesterson- 2006 3 CommentsLeave a comment |
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I just found your blog and it is great. I just returned from Kandahar this past March with Operation Enduring Freedom rotation six. Your description of a VMO is spot on. I participated on six or seven of these operations and they are vital to our success. One VMO is equal to two or three kinetic TICs (troops in contact). They see that the Taliban and al Queada propaganda is false � we are not heartless infidels. We deliver the goods and they do NOT. We provide medical care, school supplies, farm supplies, vets, and basic life support that we in America take for granted. Also these actions legitimize the ANA and Afghan government. Sometimes a VMO is the first contact that the average Afghan will see of the new Afghan government or any other outside sideworld. No Red Cross, Oxfam, or other NGO; it is too dangerous for them. Can you post the address of the local ETTs or Civil Affairs (CA) team that goes out to the Afghan population? When I left the S-6 or CA shop was going to the Danish or ISAF. I will be sending a few boxes of supplies soon.
Thanks for the great work and showing what it is really like in Afghanistan! You are better than national offices of ABC, NBC, CBS and other media outlets.
Tashakur or thank you in Pashtu,
Great site!
Best site I see. Thanks.