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Report From Afghanistan
(Host) We turn this morning to Report From Afghanistan, our series of reports on the Vermont National Guard’s yearlong deployment.
Even in the relative safety of Kabul, nothing is taken for granted when it comes to security in Afghanistan. That means it can be quite a production to simply move military personnel and civilian government workers from point A to point B.
That’s the job of one group of Vermont Guard soldiers based at Camp Phoenix in Kabul.
In this Report From Afghanistan, VPR’s Steve Zind gives us a feel for what its like to lead a daily convoy through the city’s streets.
(Clark) "Ok. Progin?"
"Here."
"Clark?"
"Here."
"Turgin?"
"Here."
"Akbari?"
"Should be on his way…"
(Zind) There are 11 bases in the Kabul area and it’s the job of these Vermont Guard members to shuttle passengers and supplies between those bases.
At 7:30 in the morning, the Vermonters in the Alpha Company 186 Brigade Support Unit gather for a roll call and to learn what they’ll be delivering and where they’ll be going today.
(Clark) "I’m Sergeant Clark, CC today. Sergeant Barbour will be your ACC."
(Zind) Sergeant Kevin Clark of Bellows Falls is commanding the unit. Today they’re driving a convoy of armored Humvees escorting lumbering passenger busses called Rhinos.
Clark is in the lead vehicle with driver Ashley Progin of Massachusetts. In the turret mounted on top of the Humvee is the gunner, Specialist Glenn Durgin of Barre.
The line of vehicles rolls through the gates of Camp Phoenix and out into the streets of Kabul. In his matter-of-fact manner, Clark warns the soldiers to be extra vigilant because of a tragic mishap the day before.
(Clark) "There was an accident yesterday and a young girl got killed. It just brings on a lot of hostility. As it is, there’s quite a few that would rather not have us here. We just want to be careful in these areas we go through."
(Zind) Clark points to a spot along the road where a car bomb exploded next to a passing military SUV last May, killing the occupants.
(Clark) "Right in there, where that paint is. They had a vehicle parked there and that’s where it went off."
(Zind) This has been a safe and mostly uneventful deployment for brigade support unit soldiers like Specialist Michael Kelley of Orange.
(Kelley) "I feel comfortable going out everyday. My wife may have a different story (laughs)"
(Zind) The streets are a tight squeeze. And a big armored Humvee packed with equipment has plenty of blind spots.
As he rotates the gun turret in his perch above the vehicle Specialist Glenn Durgin has a better view.
(Clark) "How’s the traffic look over their Durgin?"
(Zind) Clark keeps a close eye on the road and a hand on the Humvee’s piercing horn.
(Clark) "Whoa, whoa whoa! Get the hell out of the road! (horn sounds)"
(Zind) Despite the blast of the horn, these soldiers say they try to be courteous drivers.
And even though they don’t normally come into direct contact with Afghans, gunner Glenn Durgin says the military’s counter-insurgency policy known as ‘COIN’ applies to what they do.
(Durgin) "It actually has everything to do with how we interact with the public, how we portray ourselves, how we handle ourselves, our driving directives, everything. You have to be courteous when you’re driving, courteous in the gunner’s hatch. You can’t be swearing and yelling and everything else."
(Zind) For hours the convoy moves from base to base, dropping off and picking up passengers – called PAX. By mid-afternoon the Vermonters have been on the road for seven hours without lunch; fueled by cigarettes and snacks.
(Clark) "We are headed over to Eggers to pick up PAX. Then we are headed over to KIA to drop off and pick up, then to Phoenix…"
(Zind) Clark refers to his unit as a ‘glorified bus service’ and while Kabul is far more secure than other parts of Afghanistan, hours of tense driving and in the dust and heat of Kabul present their own hazards.
For VPR News, I’m Steve Zind in Kabul, Afghanistan.
To hear an extended version of Steve’s report click on the Additional Audio "Listen" link below.