There are about 50 Vermont Guard from Bravo Troop, 1^st Squadron, 172^nd Cavalry based in Charikar, the capital of Parwan Province, north of Kabul.  They live and work at an Afghan National Police station which they share with the local constabulary. They’ve got many of the ‘comforts’ of a larger base, but on more modest terms.  There’s a small gym, a few showers, some port-o-lets and, in the common area a big flat screen TV that’s always in use – generally by solders playing an NFL Football video game.  Everyone except a few officers bunks together in a large room with the windows covered over.  The soldiers patrol all hours of the day, so someone is nearly always asleep.  A sign on the door says “Day Sleepers, Please Be Respectful” – a sentiment I appreciated after going on a night patrol that ended at 3:30AM.

There’s a constant stream of Afghan citizenry coming and going through the compound gate to visit police officials.  Yesterday a group of distinguished looking local elders came to pay their respects.  

Captain Abdul Qadersafy of the Afghan National Police is in charge of the police station gate.  Each morning he marches the small contingent of policemen he commands to the flagpole at the center of the compound.  Stepping crisply to his orders, they turn and salute the flag as he raises it.  This morning, a boy of perhaps 16 was pushing a wheelbarrow toward the compound entrance and the captain stopped in mid-flagpole and ordered him to stop and stand at attention as the flag was being raised.  A little later the captain invited me to tea and explained that all Afghans should show respect for the nation’s flag.

I mentioned the night patrol.  I also went on a daytime patrol in downtown Charikar. 

Needless to say, one attracts attention when one strolls the shopping district in body armor and a helmet.  But the people were largely friendly; the boys and men inviting me to take photographs.    Along the way we stopped at an Afghan NGO that works to secure greater rights and protections for women.  The director was at first reluctant to speak with me, but soon turned into a voluble, forceful and impressive advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan.  I’ll have a story on our visit there a bit later.

I took quite a few photos of the Vermonters in Charikar.  It’s a small contingent compared to the several hundred at Camp Phoenix in Kabul and the 1,000 at Bagram Airbase. 

Now it’s on to a Combat Outpost Red Hill near the city.  It’s still under construction and we’ll be the first to spend the night there.

Photos Top To Bottom

Corporal Thomas Kleefisch of Windsor
Lt Justin Kokernak of Northfield talks to an Afghan police officer (R) Translator Jamil is on the left
Pfc Martin Ingram of Essex
Sgt Edward 'Cookie' Cabral of Bennington
Sgt Michael Schrader of Northfield talks to children in Charikar

Steve Zind ReportFromAfghanistan@gmail.com