BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - As the noon sun crept toward the mountains west of Janquadam, children ran from all corners of the village, greeting the group of Soldiers from the 28th Forward Agri-business Development Team, Feb. 28.
On this warm February day, the team was on a mission to help a blind farmer develop his fields and build a new vineyard to eventually grow grapes in.
The ADT, a National Guard unit deployed from Nebraska, has come to Afghanistan to assist, teach, train and educate the farmers on better farming techniques and introduce the farmers to grasses and alfalfa for better animal health.
After exchanging hellos with locals, the guardsman set to work measuring and marking the field for the new vineyard as well as taking soil samples.
While the Soldiers worked, children swarmed all around them offering home-made sling shots for a dollar each. Some troops paid the children for their wares, while others offered up whatever they could - candy, gum, pens, gloves. Soon, smiling children played in the field and some even assisted them in their tasks.
No strangers to this village, Soldiers from the 28th have visited several times before.
"On previous mission we assessed the farmer's fields," said Army Sgt.
1st Class Eldon R. Kuntzelman. "Then we got a letter of agreement from the land owner and later presented our plan to him."
"Marking and measuring the field was our primary mission," said Army 1st Lt.
Eric Sattelberg, Agricultural team chief. "Our goal on every mission is to improve relations with the locals. In the long run, this type of mission will strengthen the bond between Afghanistan and the U.S. because they know that we are here to help grow this nation rather than destroy it."
The 28th has more plans for Janquadam including installing grain storage bins, planting fruit and nut trees, working with animal health, water management, training and education in tractor maintenance, setting up green houses and underground storage for vegetables.
The future of ADT operations is simple explained Sattelberg - grow this nation into a thriving country of different fruits and vegetables. "The goal is a continuation of the projects from one ADT rotation to the next," said Sattelberg. "Several teams are either on the ground or being identified for a potential rotation. We are here doing one field at a time through demonstration farms as well as with other projects."
The demonstration crops afford the farmers an opportunity to learn a variety of methods for growing crops and then allow the local farmers to try different techniques for growing crops in their own fields.
About half the unit has been deployed before and all of the 52-member team volunteered for the deployment. The 28th works in four provinces - Bamyan, Panjshir, Parwan and Kapisa. Four other ADTs operate across Afghanistan with more on the way.
After the work was done the children shared more than sling shots and gum with the group of agricultural specialists - they shared themselves.
They talked, they gave high-fives and they smiled and laughed...a precious commodity in a time of war. As the troops left, the children followed them out of the village with one collective question - when would they be back?
"The locals are becoming very familiar with the ADT and our mission since we have conducted numerous missions to the same locations," said Sattelberg.
"We are respectful toward the locals and I think as long as we continue to respect them, they will continue to welcome us in their village."