Learning about host nation can change your perspective

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 416th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KARSHI-KHANABAD AIR BASE, Uzbekistan (AFPN) --  In the global war on terrorism, Uzbekistan is an ally. Because of that, I have wanted to know more about the people since I got here in late December.

Now to provide you a broader perspective, Uzbekistan is a country north of Afghanistan and was controlled by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

According the U.S. State Department, Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia. Uzbekistan suddenly found itself on the frontline of the war on terrorism and with increased strategic importance to the stability of Central Asia.

“With its central location, fast growing population, a variety of natural resources and a potential for a diversified economy, an open prosperous Uzbekistan is central to economic growth in the region,” the State Department’s country profile shows. “Uzbekistan aspires to regional leadership and continues to be key in maintaining security in Central Asia.”

A profile is a good first step to learn about a foreign country. But to me, it is about the people. You really don’t know about a place until you meet them in person. That is something I learned nearly 13 years ago when I was assigned to my first base in the Azores, and it has carried through my career to places like England, Italy and Turkey, and more recently to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003. This time it happens to be Uzbekistan.

My first meeting with an Uzbek native took place recently with the reinvigoration of a tour exchange program here. The program, which started here in 2004, enables deployed American forces to visit an Uzbek airfield, and in return, lets Uzbek air force members do likewise.

During our tour, I shook hands with several Uzbek airmen, but with one in particular, I was able to have a conversation through an interpreter. I learned he lived away from base and was very proud of the work he does for his country, something he and I had in common.

He also asked me what I thought of his country. Since I grew up, and currently live, in a northern climate where January is mighty cold, I told him I loved the mild winter weather here and the country is very beautiful with mountains and farmlands. I got a smile and another warm handshake.

Three days later, we had the Uzbek airmen visit us and wouldn’t you know it, one of the people in the group was the same fellow I had a conversation with three days prior.

After he walked around one of our planes, he made his way back to me and asked to have a picture taken with my camera of us together. I was taken aback by that, but not surprised. I could see I had made a friend even though we didn’t know each other’s name and he spoke Russian and I spoke English.

I also had a chance to accompany some Army officials here on a visit the city of Khanabad, which is a city of about 5,300 people. The Army, coincidently, does an incredible job working with the local communities here to help with humanitarian assistance and human relations. They bring along deployed Air Force personnel to assist with orphanage and school visits, which take place quite frequently.

Our visit to Khanabad was familiarization and fact-finding. Our first stop there was with the mayor, Mr. Diyadov. This mayor is proud of his community and showed us through the streets. Once we finished touring the town, we stopped and visited with officials at the city’s school.

The day we were visiting happened to be Uzbekistan’s armed forces day holiday, and at about the time we were there they were preparing a celebration. When we met with the mayor earlier in the trip, there was a memorial in front of the town hall honoring all the town’s residents who died in conflicts past. It was like something I would find in my hometown back in the U.S. honoring our military veterans.

Back at the school, children were everywhere, playing in the courtyards and on the sidewalks. They were smiling and waving, and yet ever so curious about what we were doing. It was a pleasant sight.

On the way back to the base, what I saw reminded me of what I saw when I was walking the streets of Basra, Iraq, less than 18 months ago. There were people doing their every-day thing in the comfort of their own community. They were friendly and obviously thankful for everything they have. It is a sobering reminder of how important freedom and choices are to people.

Whether it was making a friend with an Uzbek airman or meeting a proud mayor, I can see that people here are good people. I didn’t find that out from a profile or from second-hand information. I have seen it and learned it from my host nation people.

Most importantly, I learned we have a wonderful ally in the global war on terrorism here. And it is through efforts in places like this that we will win this war, make more friends, and gain a new perspective.