By Army Sgt. Amber Robinson
Task Force Spartan Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Over the last year, Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Spartan, have visited many of the villages in Northeast Afghanistan's Waygal Valley, working with shura members, assessing local needs and facilitating regional development.
After the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's four-month extension in Afghanistan, the Chosin Soldiers used the extra time to meet with villagers from a small, isolated community deep in the Waygal.
Soldiers came by way of helicopter into the village of Waygal March 7, which is located in rural Nuristan Province to conduct a shura with village elders.
"We were conducting a shura in Bella when one of the elders who had come all the way from Waygal approached us and invited us to come be guests in their village," said Army Capt. Joe Evans, commander, B Company, 1-32 Infantry. "After several cancellations of mission due to weather, we were able to execute."
Upon the company's air assault into the area, shura members warmly welcomed the Soldiers. After the Soldiers were settled into their accommodations, a schoolhouse near the landing zone, they met with shura members to introduce themselves and begin their assessment.
"The elders were very receptive and glad to have us," Evans recalled. "We expressed our gratitude for their hospitality and support."
TF Chosin began the shura with a discussion about battalion projects and the progress the people had made during the past year.
Chosin Soldiers asked general questions about the village and the surrounding area. Waygal, although nestled deep in a remote pocket of the valley, boasts a relatively well-educated populace, widespread use of electricity and stability. Elders also educated Soldiers on area history.
In the past, we have not been able to work with American forces or non-governmental organizations on projects because the area has been so far north and hard to reach," a shura member said.
Battle Company hopes to remedy this by focusing attention on road projects for the village and the general area. Villagers described roads as their primary need during their initial shura with TF Chosin.
In the following days, the Soldiers of Battle Company received a tour of Waygal. They took in the key infrastructure and visited the schools, even sitting in on an algebra class.
"The town was very well developed," Evans said. "The village's electricity was powered by three personally funded 'micro-hydros,' their educational system was well-developed and all the villagers were very friendly, many inviting us for [tea] and other refreshments."
While command group individuals worked on the village assessment, small elements, including Afghan National Army soldiers, conducted a quick cordon and search of the village. No threatening weapons or ammunition was found.
"The village has many individuals who work for the ANA, ANP or government of Afghanistan," Evans said. "We also have many Afghans who work on our FOBs who hail from Waygal. They support [International Security Assistance Force – Afghanistan] forces and hope to continue to strengthen our relationship in the future."
Chosin Soldiers also provided humanitarian assistance items during their stay, offering blankets, food staples and clothing items.
During the course of their stay, the Soldiers and shura members continued their deliberations about upcoming projects for Waygal. Upcoming projects include a girls' school, a medical clinic and two roads connecting the village with other population centers.
"The roads will allow the people of Waygal to continue to grow and prosper," Evans said. "They are an agriculturally based community, so the roads will allow them to take their crops and livestock to more locations. It will also provide them the opportunity to network and strengthen their governmental ties."
Overall, the Chosin Soldiers seemed very impressed by the village. The infantrymen will continue to visit the village and assess needs. In exchange, shura members will work closely with ISAF personnel in keeping militant extremists at bay and working to build a stronger Afghan government.
"Of all the villages I have visited, the Waygal village has been one of the friendliest and most harmonious I have seen," Evans said. "The people of Waygal take much pride in their village and in themselves. We are pleased to continue to work with them."
Waygal Village is important because of its size, development, prosperity and governmental ties. The voluntary decision of Waygal elders to host ISAF troops and begin a relationship with them demonstrates the kind of initiative that will produce a more stable, prosperous Afghanistan.
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2007 11:05 |
| Story ID: | 9482 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 72 |
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