Convoy Virgin

Its been two weeks and most of the new advisors are no longer convoy virgins.  The first outing is nerve racking for most of us, not knowing what to expect.  We rely on our training and the experience of those in the vehicles who have done it.  We gather notes, done body armor, conduct the mission brief where we do all the what-if drills, backup plans and discuss what Ministry offices we will be at and where we want our guards to be.  We then get to our vehicles, charge the weapons, do a last set of checks and off we go.  Our view of the city is through the armored windows.  Not very personal but at least we have protection.  We enter Kabul’s chaotic traffic flow and work our way the mile or so to the Ministry.  It takes us generally an hour to do this.  The first meeting with my principal was cordial as we sized each other up.  For me this a new thing, for the General, I am the next in a long line of advisors over the years.  The Afghans are experts at high context communications and masters at reading you.  After an hour or so, meeting with a number of officials, we load up and convoy back to the castle.  I try to snap a few pictures, but my mind is a whir with thoughts.  We get past our gate and a sense of relief washes over me as we enter the safety of the castle.  We uncharge the weapons and bid farewell to our drivers and guardians and walk back to our offices.  I am drenched in sweat from the journey and not because its 97 degrees outside with 50 lbs of body armor.  Relief.  I am no longer a convoy virgin.  Its been all business since then.