Spent my second full day at my new job today. I still work for MPRI, Logistics Directorate, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A), but instead of being the Logistics Training Director for Central Supply Depot, I an the senior mentor to General Shah Aga, Director of Logistics and Materiel Readiness for the Afghan National Army. Yesterday I met Gen Shah Aga in his office at G-4. Today I attended a meeting at the Ministry of Defense with the general and his staff. Gen Shah Aga is a likable, heavy-set, forward-thinking old warrior who fled to Pakistan with his family during the Taliban rule and returned to help his country grow and prosper.

Most of the high ranking Afghan officers have mentors/trainers, many of whom are MPRI personnel. The coalition (and specifically the US) is pouring millions of dollars of support, equipment, weapons, etc., into this country and we're trying to help the government learn to control and allocate their army like the US. The only system they know is the old Soviet system which never was very good anyway.

On another note, my previous boss, Dana Call, just got back from vacation. He lives in South Dakota and happened to be home at the same time my dad rode to Sturgis, SD, for the annual Harley rally. Dad stayed at Dana's house for a few days. When Dana returned, he brought a digital camera for his driver, Sheron. Yesterday Sheron brought his camera to me and asked me to download the pics he took over the weekend. I posted them here. I thought it was interesting what a true Afghan took pics of on his day off.

Out.