May 11, 2012
Brad Marine, the college’s regional director of military affairs for Kentucky, shared this account of his experience during his recent deployment with the Kentucky National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team III to Afghanistan:
It was a privilege to deploy with the Kentucky National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) III to Afghanistan. Without a doubt, these were some of the finest soldiers I have ever had the pleasure to work with during my 20 years of service.
The roles of the ADT teams in Afghanistan are critical to that country’s ability to sustain and develop their agribusiness structure. ADT team specialists provided guidance and assistance on a wide variety of agribusiness services to include veterinary services, irrigation, education, and marketability of produce to the world economy.
As a Security Force member, it was our job to ensure the safety of the ADT team and those we worked with in the civilian sector. This also gave me a wonderful opportunity to interact with the local Afghan population on a regular basis, an experience I will always appreciate.
What I found most amazing about the culture was the hospitality and their ability to adapt. Despite the fact the country has been at war for the past 30 years, the people of Afghanistan remain upbeat and gracious.
Another amazing part of the Afghanistan culture is the children and their ability to overcome difficulties and keep a smile on their face. One young boy who was 11 became a trusted friend of mine (see picture). He worked full-time (pedaling kabobs and soda to the troops) to support his mother and younger siblings, and he went to school when the time allowed. He never complained and was always grateful when we visited.
I could fill the pages with stories of sacrifice, courage and determination demonstrated by our troops and their families as well as that of Afghan people as they fight for freedom. There are so many and so few pages to work with but I will leave you with this.
Our fighting forces are the best in the world and the families they leave back home are the valiant who must be willing to sacrifice the ones they love and hold dearest. Please take a moment to say thank you to the family members and continue to offer your support to the brave men and women in our military.
