Afghanistan
The NZDF’s current deployment to Afghanistan began in late October; here the Navy members of the team reflect on their experiences so far and give an insight into their daily lives...
ACH Trace Collinson-Smith
It was great to step off the plane and finally be here! Having seen photos and video clips of the NZPRT, to step onto the dusty gravel for the first time was a buzzy experience. The high altitude took a few weeks to get used to and I was often getting puffed out just walking to and from places. Now I’m used to it and getting buff and fit going to the gym daily and heading up the arduous PT Hill.
Settling into the Chefs’ routine was relatively easy and I was surprised at the stores that are available to us here in Afghanistan. Everyone at the PRT seems to get along and we have a good bunch of people on this rotation.
I have also been on a few foot patrols, ridden on some donkeys and managed to do some shopping at the Bazaar. It feels like I am living in a National Geographic magazine as the society here is a lot different from New Zealand.
I miss my family, but I am enjoying my experiences and looking forward to sharing tales with them in a few months.
CPOWTR Rob Powell
This would be a good place to have a holiday if it wasn’t for the threat of conflict! There is much to see (tourist-wise) and hopefully within the next few months I’ll get to see some of those sights.
I have been very busy in my personnel role and I share an office with a civilian (and get to experience his choices of music—there is music other than Meatloaf!) Some days are very busy with up to three flights coming in and we handle passenger arrivals and departures.
We all keep up with PT, as work allows, including going up PT Hill. I refereed the PRT vs. Afghan National Police soccer match, which the PRT managed to win (on a pitch that had more large loose rocks than grass!)
I take part in patrols to the Bazaar where we interact with the local population. I also aim to visit Bagram and experience life at one of our patrol bases in the province.
LDR Scott Treleaven:
My role is to dispose of unexploded ordnance (UXO) which are remnants of war, and to find and destroy arms caches. Most of the UXOs are old Russian and Chinese munitions and range from sub-munitions (bomblets) to RPGs. WO1 Davidson and I have been on a number of patrols to meet local authorities and seek information on ammo and weapons caches. One of our surreal experiences is that of young children (often younger than ten) coming to the PRT to hand in UXO’s unaware of the danger that it poses to them.
My initial impressions of Afghanistan are of hardship and conflict; many of the local communities show signs of decades of tribal and national wars. I am looking forward to making this area of Afghanistan safer for the communities, by obtaining and destroying as many munitions as possible.
LCO Mark Naish:
So far my time in Afghanistan has been spent on shift work in the camp [Kiwi Base]. Luckily one of my opportunities was to see Bande Amir Lakes. The lakes are one of the country’s major tourist attractions, already drawing thousands of people in the summer months. At an altitude of around 9000ft the clear water reflects the surrounding snow-covered hills perfectly, making it hard to distinguish where the hills start and the lake ends.
As the weather begins to close in and with our operational tempo continuing I am looking forward to other opportunities to head out on a patrol.
LHST Kyle Spencer
I look after all of the geospatial information that we have on Bamyan Province, and use that to create maps and similar products to support our patrols. I haven’t managed to get further than a kilometre or two away from Kiwi Base yet, and on those short trips I was there in support as our Commander visited with local government and police personnel. There are definitely a few cultural differences to get used to, but the locals are generally happy with the PRT presence in their town.
Overall, Kiwi Base is a great place to work; the scenery is nice around here, but I am already looking forward to coming home.
LT Robert Shanks RNZN:
The first months of this deployment have been a blur. Taking over a very busy development portfolio from our predecessors means there is no shortage of projects (and meetings). Some of our larger projects include schools, sealed roads, and health centres, across the Bamyan province. Our American co-workers bring with them considerable funding for projects which do a tremendous amount for the people of Bamyan by building capacity and providing key pillars for economic growth. The American effort also supports our (NZPRT) operations.
Luckily one of our larger projects is located in proximity to the Bande Amir lakes and I was able to visit these during a routine project inspection. Bande Mir is Afghanistan’s first national park and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. That visit will be a highlight I will treasure.
I am really enjoying my time in Afghanistan. I feel lucky to be working as part of the Development cell where I have a direct influence on improving infrastructure and the wellbeing of the local people. This is especially the case when locals are willing to work alongside you and put in their effort to complete a project for the betterment of their whole community.
And all the team say: Thanks for the support from back home, especially from the Navy Chaplains! We are all truly grateful.
COL Martin Dransfield, Commanding the NZPRT
Our arrival coincided with the change of seasons to Autumn and soon after arriving we awoke to snow-coated hills and mountains.
The friendliness of the Bamyan people towards us bears testimony to the work done by previous deployments. However, the potato crop was only a third of its normal output due to a cold snap, and we were soon loading and distributing food containers to outlying districts in order to support the rural communities over the winter months.
Early in our deployment, I had the opportunity to attend the opening of the new paediatric and women’s ward at the Bamyan hospital. It was fantastic to hear and see the progress that has been achieved in medical care. However, there is still much to be done, especially out in the districts.
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