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NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – She fights the war on terror in Afghanistan as passionately as the Marines in her Female Engagement Team.
She makes sacrifices for America, just like any uniformed service member.
She is Marzia Dawlatzai, a linguist with Female Engagement Team 13, currently in support of Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and she is currently serving both Afghanistan, her native land, and America, her adopted nation.
As a child, Dawlatzai grew up in Mazar e Sharif, and later moved to Kabul.
Her family moved to the United States after the Afghan conflict with the Soviet Union, because her parents wanted to get away from the hardships of post-war Afghanistan.
“Because of safety and security reasons, my family found it hard to live in Afghanistan,” explained Dawlatzai.
At the age of 20, she immigrated to Boulder, Colo., with her family.
“My brother was living in Colorado at the time,” explains Dawlatzai. “So he sponsored our family to have a better life.”
Adapting to American culture wasn’t difficult for her family. In fact, Dawlatzai found it relatively easy to maintain the culture she grew up with.
“After moving there, I found that Muslim communities are very happy,” Dawlatzai explained. “They keep with their all-Islamic practices, and there are even Islamic schools.”
“That’s what’s so beautiful about America,” she added. “You can keep your lifestyle, and plus you can achieve what you want to.”
After moving to America, Dawlatzai wasted no time seizing the opportunities before her.
“In the United States, you can do anything and be anybody,” said Dawlatzai.
She graduated in 2007 with her doctorate in philosophy of theology in Islamic studies from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana.
Dawlatzai has taken advantage of the opportunity she’s found in the U.S., opening up a restaurant, Mateo’s Mexican Grill and Cantina, and starting the non-profit Afghan-Navajo County Food Bank.
But her real passion is for education.
Before returning to Afghanistan, Dawlatzai taught online-classes on woman studies and family law in Islam. Even while working as a linguist, she has taken advantage of her time here, educating children in Nawa.
Dawlatzai wanted to be able to give back to her adopted nation, and help her native country at the same time. This desire led her to the Mission Essential Personnel Company in 2009, where she signed up to be a linguist.
“I really appreciate what my adopted homeland has done for me,” said Dawlatzai. “So, I decided to work with the Marine Corps.”
She currently teaches at Ekra Elementary School aboard Combat Outpost Reilly here. In addition to teaching students at the school, Dawlatzai also purchases clothing for them, with funds from her Afghan-Navajo County Food Bank.
“[As a linguist] I am able to help the Marine Corps and also help Afghanistan,” added Dawlatzai.
Dawlatzai does more than just translate for her Marine counterparts. She provides valuable cultural advice, especially about Afghan women and children, said Sgt. Lauren Nowak, the FET-13 team leader and 27-year-old native of Fremont, Ohio.
“I love working with Marines, especially with my team,” added Dawlatzai. “Working with them has made me a very humble and strong person.”
While teaching, Dawlatzai says that one of her main sources of inspiration is Oprah Winfrey.
“Oprah has been my main role model for years,” added Dawlatzai.
Dawlatzai says she’s been able to help Afghan women deal with their stress and family counseling, with the help and inspiration from articles in The Oprah Magazine.
“She has a really good heart,” said Lance Cpl. Vicky Olivier, a FET -13 team member of and 23-year-old native of Roselle, N.J. “She really has a passion for giving back to the Marine Corps, and especially to her own people.”
Dawlatzai will continue to educate the children of Nawa, serving with the FET-13 Marines until the spring of next year.
“I’ve seen how much my life has changed with my opportunities, and I want to share the gift of education with Afghanistan,” she added.
Editor’s note: Dawlatzai currently resides in Phoenix with her 18-year-old son, Amran. First Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment is assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.04.2011 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 80888 |
| Location: | NAWA DISTRICT, HELMAND PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 580 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Linguist serves with Marines, educates Nawa children, by SSgt Alfred V. Lopez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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