文章基本信息

标题：Guardsmen Help Local Kids While Training Afghan Army
作者：Williams, Timothy M
期刊名称：National Guard
印刷版ISSN：0163-3945
出版年度：2004
卷号：Feb 2004
出版社：National Guard Association of the United States

Guardsmen Help Local Kids While Training Afghan Army

Williams, Timothy M

Vermont

What began as an assignment to train the Afghan National Army (ANA) has also become a mission to help some of that nation's neediest children for a contingent of Vermont Guardsmen.

Members of the 124-th Regional Training Institute from Colchester, Vt., have been working with the ANA since june in Kabul, Afghanistan. Their iocus is training the ANA trainers to take over courses and train their own soldiers.

"We're here to help make their army more efficient and more ellective," said Capt. Scott R. Cadieux, who serves as a mentor for the ANA's Officer and NCO Training Brigade.

"We also want to bring the 'work smarter, not harder' type of philosophy," he said, "and bring their military leadership competencies toward a more Western-type philosophy."

But when the 124th RTI departs in few weeks, it will leave behind more than just smarter ANA leaders.

While in Afghanistan, Cadieux and his iellow Vermont Army Guard trainers established Operation Sandbox, which distributes clothes, toys and school supplies donated lrom across New England to communities around Kabul.

"We've touched over 3,000 children through donations, and have done three runs to different orphanages, each run consisting of a deuce-and-a-half [truck] full of donations," Cadieux said.

A visit to one orphanage stands out in particular to Cadieux.

"The orphanage didn't know we were coming, and when we arrived the coordinator came out in tears," he said. "The coordinator, who spoke perfect English, was very appreciative of the fact that we had a truck full of donations for the kids."

"She had $300 left in her orphanage checking account, and was praying. She said she prayed [the previous] night that a miracle would happen," Cadieux said. "It was just a very good feeling, and an honor to give those gifts on behalf of everyone back home."

By Staff Sgt. Timothy M. Williams