Arrived for Training Sir!

Fifteen Defense Department candidates from around the world arrived in Indianapolis to be checked, trained and assessed at a little known Army training base called Camp Atterbury.  We all signed up for this, answering the Pentagon’s call for Government Civilian Expeditionary workforce volunteers, and somehow we were selected.  A Ministry of Defense Advisor (MoDA) is just that, an advisor to a foreign Ministry counterpart as they work to build their Government’s institutions.  Our Constitution set up the military to be under civilian control, so it would be quite hypocritical of us having their Ministries advised by our military officers, hence the need for experienced civilians. 

It was already a long day for most but this was just the beginning as we went straight to check-in and orientation.  The 12-14 hour work days, seven days per week will come to define our lives for the next 14 months.  It’s a good collection of folks, varied in their reasons for taking time from their lives and families, to embark on this adventure.  Among them are two women, three gents coming straight from Saudi whom we call the Saudi Triplets, an IT guy, three law enforcement types, logisticians, financiers, lawyers, infrastructure, and acquisition manager types like me.  Some are here for the adventure, others for the money, but most like me are here to contribute in a far different way than what we were used to.  We are all experienced Government employees with graying hair, here to learn how to be the interface between the NATO Coalition and the Afghan Ministry of Defense.  

They said the mission is to Train, Advise and Assist, but no one here is naïve enough to think we won’t be expected to be “nudgers” of our host counterparts into building an enduring capability without our help……no kidding.