Paktika PRT civil affairs Soldiers play integral role

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs Soldiers trained and deployed together, but are located in four separate districts throughout Paktika Province to accomplish their mission in Afghanistan.

Just as reconstruction progresses at various rates from province to province in Afghanistan, reconstruction, to include governance, progresses at various rates from district to district within Paktika.

In order to keep a pulse on the needs and perceptions of the population in Paktika, civil affairs team members from the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion out of Kalamazoo, Mich., frequently interact with local villagers and village elders.

U.S. Army Maj. Gary Gile, CA generalist who calls Concordia, Kans., home, explained that the CAT as a whole acts as a liaison for the military when it comes to connecting Afghans and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

“The role of civil affairs is to go out and talk with the people,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. John Heide, CA specialist from Kalamazoo, Mich. “As support to the PRT, we go out into the villages of the various districts to see how GIRoA is helping and supporting the people of Afghanistan.”

The CAT adapts to meet the needs of the population in the four districts of Sharan, Orgun, Zerok and Waza Khwa. For example, in Sharan District, where the bulk of the PRT is located, the CAT role is different from that of the other three districts and acts as the Civil-Military Operations Center. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Barry Whyte of Fresno, Calif., is the CMOC commander.

“I am responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of my teams,” he said. “I am also responsible for the job assignment and professional development for eight other CA soldiers in four locations throughout Paktika.”

When it comes to the CMOC, wearing several hats is the name of the game. Besides attending brigade meetings for coordination of activities with the PRT, Gile’s main role in Sharana is to advise the Sharana City mayor and the provincial director of agriculture, irrigation and livestock, more commonly known as the DAIL.

If those jobs aren’t enough to juggle, Gile also serves as a project officer for some of the agricultural projects. Out of all his responsibilities, Gile said the most significant role he plays is adviser to the DAIL because he has the potential to impact the whole province in a positive way.

As for Heide, in addition to advising the provincial director of population, he serves as both the linguist manager for the PRT and the director and coordinator of the PRT’s humanitarian assistance like food, supplies and clothing.

“I am attached to (a unit in 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division) as a CA asset helping conduct village assessments and gathering atmospherics for Sharana District to support the PRT and Red Currahee missions,” he explained.

According to Heide, the most significant project in the CMOC right now is the development of a trash pick-up program for the Sharana bazaar. No matter the mission, there are bound to be challenges.

“The biggest obstacle so far has been security restraints,” Gile explained. “Security requirements have made it very difficult to get out and meet with the local government officials I am mentoring.”

In Heide’s opinion, cultural and language barriers between the Afghans and coalition forces are a constant challenge.

“We all want the same things: a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. But the ways ahead are sometimes in conflict,” Heide explained.

Despite these obstacles, the CMOC presses on to leave a lasting impression on Afghanistan through reconstruction efforts. Gile said he is keeping specific goals for this deployment modest.

“We are here such a short time that I hope to just have a positive influence on the provincial leaders I am mentoring,” Gile said.

“My goal … is to help the people of Paktika Province the best that I can, “Heide said. “In the end if I can affect a little change here and there, maybe the people of this Province will see it and be changed for the better, too.”

The CMOC commander said his goal is to maximize the effectiveness of CA and bring his team home safely to their families. He is pleased with the accomplishments of CA across Paktika.

“I think the fact that we have our teams fully engaged and deployed in four different locations is an accomplishment in itself,” Whyte said. “The CA teams are all value added to this PRT and to the maneuver units that they work with and support.”