American servicemembers take reconstruction to new level

  • Published
  • By Capt. J. Elaine Hunnicutt
  • Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction team 3-1 PAO
JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  American military members helped with about $8 million worth of construction projects in the Nangarhar Province in the last two years here to improve security and to help rebuild the region in Afghanistan. 

Almost $40 million worth of U.S. military-funded construction is ongoing in the province as fiscal 2008 came to a close, and American servicemembers oversaw and helped with the construction projects. 

The Nangarhar Province Reconstruction Team is currently building 20 schools, 12 major roads, five irrigation systems, two bridges and five major structures. This includes the refortification of the existing canal system, built in the 1980s that feeds the entire province including outlying districts that would otherwise be barren and a multidistrict well plan to provide water to the districts in needs. 

"Roads and power are the future, without them this country can not move to the next level of self sustainment. These two things will carry the next generation to a prosperous tomorrow," said Lt. Col. Paul Donovan, the Nangarhar PRT commander. 

The PRT was established in 2003 by the U.S. Army. Today it is made up of a team of active-duty Air Force and Army, Guard and Reserve Army, and civilians from the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture serving approximately one-year tours. 

The province is 7,700 square kilometers, with 22 officially recognized districts. Additionally, the local tribes recognize a 23rd district, which also requires the Nangarhar PRT's attention. 

"This job has been extremely challenging this past year, but has also allowed me to utilized skills that I learned in the civilian sector that I never would have been able to put into practice doing a traditional military civil engineering mission," said Capt. Michael Siebert, a Nangarhar PRT civil engineer. "I have been able to mentor and develop Afghan engineers. They now possess a skillset that will help them develop better communities across their country." 

In 2007, Nangarhar was one of the worst provinces in regard to poppy production. In August 2008, the province was declared poppy free. This radical turnaround in the province can be credited to the aggressive development and reconstruction and the strong governance of Governor Agha Gul Sherzai. 

"In my 14 years as civil affairs, both here and in Iraq, this has been the most ambitious reconstruction mission thus far," said Army Maj. Robert Minton, a Nangarhar PRT civil affairs official. "The level of development here is creating an epicenter for trade and commerce that will take this region beyond merely a level of sustainment." 

"I am proud of the accomplishments of my team in Nangarhar, especially the PRT," Army Col. John Spiszer, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division commander. "They have accomplished a level of development and support to governance not seen anywhere else in Afghanistan. Their efforts in Nangarhar are leading the way and they are ready for the next stage in the areas of security, development and governance."

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