Airmen Deliver Supplies to Afghan GIs

QALAT, Afghanistan - Airmen and Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team delivered school supplies to an Afghanistan National Army compound here.

The delivery of supplies is part of an ongoing project to help educate the young soldiers, many of whom have nothing more than an elementary school level education.

The program grew from a request from senior ANA officials to help raise the literacy levels of the soldiers, said Major J.D. Loftis, the PRT's information operations officer.

"This program is basically just like your average elementary school program," he said.

But, unlike that average program, the soldiers here were lacking the most basic fundamental supplies.

"They (the soldiers) need supplies," Major Loftis said. "They need chalkboards and chalk. They also need notebooks and pens, things we often take for granted in our schools in the United States. So, we have agreed to help them because we feel that it is a good thing for the ANA soldiers to have that basic education."

The classroom where the soldiers take part in classes would be considered primitive by American standards. There is no electricity, no heat and no running water. In fact, the classroom is simply a wooden building with no door. The only items distinguishing it from a simple shack are the signs and posters along the walls denoting letters and numbers in the native language.

It was because of these shortcomings that the PRT members felt it was important to do all they could in order to help these young men become better soldiers and better citizens. The commander of the ANA soldiers heartily agreed with the American servicemembers.

"We (the ANA) are extremely grateful for the supplies and the generosity shown by the PRT," said ANA Capt. Mohammed Tariq, commander of the compound. "Education is the only way our soldiers can improve themselves."

The supplies, which were given to the Afghan soldiers, came from supplies from within the PRT, and from items gathered from members of the Romanian military, located on a base close to the team.

"This is truly a joint effort between allies," Major Loftis said. "Both of our countries are working together to help another better itself, making it more capable of becoming independent."

During a previous trip to the compound, the team members found the soldiers simply squatting on the floor, with books in their hands learning their lessons. Since then, tables and chairs have been furnished, which along with the supplies, ensure that proper learning can be facilitated.

That "proper learning" is vital to the future of Afghanistan, Major Loftis said.

"All over Afghanistan, human capacity needs to be developed," he said. "This is our chance to help the ANA better themselves. I think that soldiers who can read are a good thing for this country. They can improve their lives and help their citizens improve theirs.