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From Paul Krajeski in Afganistan |
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Written by Paul Krajeski
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Tuesday, 04 July 2006 |
It’s been a month and a day since leaving Rhode Island. After spending a couple weeks at Ft. Benning, Georgia, I made it to Kabul on June 17th. After four years talking and teaching about the Global War on Terror to ROTC cadets, I’m now in a position to experience it first hand.
I am fortunate to interact intimately each day with our Afghan allies. I serve as the Chief of the National Military Academy of Afghanistan (NMAA) Implementation Team, which currently consists of 12 US soldiers. NMAA is in its second year of existence and is modeled very closely after West Point. Much time, treasure, and talent has already been committed by the United States into this effort. So far, NMAA is far ahead of where the United States Military Academy was two years after its founding in 1802. But this country doesn’t have the luxury of several decades to develop an institution capable of producing officers dedicated to defending the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
NMAA is one of the good news stories coming out of Afghanistan. The staff and faculty, many of whom fought against the Taliban, are true patriots dedicated to the success of the Academy. You can see the future of this country in the eyes of the 336 cadets currently enrolled. I am impressed by their discipline and willingness to learn. A conscientious effort has been made to ensure all provinces are represented among the corps of cadets. And in 2009 NMAA will admit its first class with women. (It took USMA 174 years to do that!)
In my role as advisor, I interact each day with the Academy commander, MG Mohammed Sharif Yeftali, and his staff. Many issues are on the plate, among them: faculty and staff accessions, cadet evaluations and admissions, Academy accreditation, infrastructure upgrades, and curriculum development. Most exciting is planning for the new Academy at Qhargeh, an old military compound outside Kabul last occupied by Taliban forces (and now a pile of rubble courtesy of the USAF). The US has committed several million dollars to its construction, which should start about the time I leave next summer.
My conversations with NMAA personnel and several interpreters leave me with no doubt that Afghanistan is better off now than it was in 2001. There is still much poverty which I see on the streets every day. And of course, remnants of the Taliban continue to preach and fight for a morally bankrupt system supported by drug money and outside influence. Nevertheless, Coalition Forces and the Afghan people are developing the “way ahead” to a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous nation. It will take decades to get there. Think of South Korea’s road to progress after 1953.
In celebration of the Fourth of July, the NMAA Team will assemble on the roof of HQ, renew our oaths, light up a few cigars, and read the Declaration of Independence!
Happy Independence Day!
Paul
Paul C. Krajeski
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army
Chief, National Military Academy Afghanistan (NMAA)
Implementation Team
Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 July 2006 )
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