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NEWS | March 2, 2010

Arkansas leadership observes ADT in action

By Lt. Col. Keith Moore Arkansas National Guard

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind., - Leadership of the Arkansas Army and Air National Guard visited with troops from the Arkansas Agricultural Development Team (ADT) as they trained in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan Feb. 26.

Brig. Gen. Roger McClellan, the joint force land component commander of the Arkansas Guard, and Brig. Gen. Riley Porter, joint force air component commander of the Arkansas Air Guard, mixed with the Soldiers and Airmen of the ADT in the early morning hours as the team prepared for a training mission to perform an agricultural assessment of a village several miles across the installation.

The generals watched as the Soldiers and Airmen loaded the column of Humvees with weapons, ammunition, tools, supplies and equipment for the three-hour mission. The troops talked about the training they had been provided, the weather conditions during their training period and reflected on Family and friends they left in Arkansas.

"It is good to see Soldiers so motivated in spite of the weather conditions," said McClellan, alluding to the early morning temperatures which were noted to be at 19 degrees with occasional snow flurries.

The generals moved from vehicle to vehicle talking to the troops and asking questions about their mission, their individual role and how the training was helping them prepare for Afghanistan.

"Working with the Afghan nationals here in the village scenarios is some of the best training," said 1st Lt. Addison Taylor, a member of the agriculture specialty section. "It has really helped us learn Afghan culture and how to interact with the people."

Camp Atterbury, like many Army training centers, has contracted with a number of Afghans living near the post to work with the troops as role-players and teach cultural and language programs. The fact that these programs are taught by actual Afghans gives the program credibility and realism.

"I think we learned more in just a couple of days of direct interaction with the Afghans here than we would have in a full week of classroom training," said Taylor.

As the team prepared to move out on their mission, the platoon leader assembled the group for a safety briefing and an update on driving route and road conditions. The generals took the opportunity to tell the group how proud they were of the unit - being that the roughly 60-member unit was made up completely of volunteers, and how historically significant the unit and mission are to the people of Afghanistan as well as the people of Arkansas.

Arkansas is one of 10 states, which have fielded one or more agriculture development teams to assist in the redevelopment of agriculture in Afghanistan. The Arkansas ADT will complete their training here in the next few weeks and will depart for their yearlong mission to Afghanistan later in March.

 

 

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