In early July, I'll head out to Afghanistan. The Commanding General of I Corps, LTG Scaparotti, will become the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC), and is bringing a small staff, including six JAGs, with him.
You can learn more about the IJC here. Generally, the NATO mission in Afghanistan is broken up into six different Regional Commands (RC's): East, South, Southwest, West, North, and Capital. Each of these Regional Commands is led by a 2-star General from one of the NATO countries. (Currently, the US has responsibility for the East, South, and Southwest RC's; Italy has the West, Germany the North, and Turkey the Capital). All six RC's are under the command of the NATO International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF. The Commander of ISAF (COMISAF) is currently GEN David Patreaus, but that will change when he retires later this summer. The IJC is kind of the buffer between the Regional Commands and COMISAF. The IJC is a relatively new creation (~2009), and this will be the first time a functioning Corps-sized element will be inserted together to command and run IJC operations. Generally, the IJC is a strategic-level command responsible for overseeing the day-to-day tactical operations carried out by the Regional Commands and making recommendations for future operations and transition in Afghanistan. I'm one of only six JAG officers (NATO calls us "LEGADs" - short for Legal Advisers) from the US assigned to the IJC. I am assigned to the Current Operations (CUOPS) cross-functional team, which means I'll primarily be providing legal advice on missions and operations happening currently. In my spare time, I'll likely be involved in furthering Rule of Law initiatives and providing legal reviews of investigations.
I am especially excited about serving in a NATO command. I will be assigned to NATO (rather than to US Forces), and working shona ba shona (Dari for "shoulder to shoulder") with partners from 60+ nations, as well as officials from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) and partners from the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). All in all, US forces make up only about 1/3 of the IJC, so I'll definitely be in the minority. I see this as an excellent opportunity to learn some German or Italian (although, unfortunately, not to sample their beer or wine, as all US personnel are prohibited from drinking while in country!!) and learn about cultures around the world.
As far as living conditions, I won't be staying at the Ritz Carlton, but I will have a roof (well, tent) over my head, three hot meals a day, and an Internet connection. Really, what else does a girl need? The IJC is based at the North Kabul International Airport (NKIA), which is just a few miles from downtown Kabul. (And no, I still haven't figured out whether its Ka-BOOOL or KA-bul .... tom-A-to, TOM-ahh-to, whatever!). From what I know now, I'll have a bunk-bed in an 8-woman tent (hopefully they'll pity the old lady -- like they did at DCC -- and give me one of the bottom bunks!). There is a bathroom and hot-water shower just a short walk away (ask me again in January how "short" that walk really is!), a gym with a few treadmills, and a chow-hall that serves hot meals at least 3 times a day. Because its a NATO facility, we don't have all the "luxuries" you've heard about at the big US Forward Operating Bases (FOB), but I consider myself very lucky that I'm not at a Combat Outpost (COP) having MREs hurled out of helicopters once a month. I'll be able to get regular mail (will post address here when I have it), and have a pretty regular Internet connection most days (gmail & facebook). So its not the Ritz, but its not awful either! :)
Oh, and to answer the most popular question I've gotten so far: No, Doug is not coming with me, nor does he have any kind of "special privileges" to visit me there (nor would he want to!). He'll be carrying on with retired life, taking care of the pups and keeping the home-fires burning. I will get a two-week R&R leave sometime during the year, and will be able to fly somewhere - probably Europe or Asia - to meet him.
Bottom line is that I'm excited to go, but also heartbroken about leaving Doug & the pups for a whole year. We'll make it, and we'll all come out the other end better for having experienced this!
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