While the CoP were in Kabul I took then around to the various organizations that we have our members seconded to. First stop was NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTMA). This group is led by LGen Caldwell a US 3 star General and he is the guy I am getting a golf shirt from. NTMA spends 1 billion (yes billion) dollars a month to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The Afghan National Police are part of ANSF and our guys are in there to assist training and mentoring of the police. Another stop was the European Union Police Mission (EUPOL). A couple of years ago the PM stood up in the House and said that Canada would contribute up to 22 members to the EUPOL Mission in Afghanistan....so here we are. There is quite a stark contrast bewteen EUPOL and NTMA as it relates to the "quality of life" for the members stationed at each place. NTMA is a military base where you share a room with 3-4 of your closest friends. You do not have a bathroom in your room and have to walk several blocks to find one, which is usually shared by a couple hundred people. At NTMA you work every day, all day. Literally from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. Plus, no alcohol allowed at all. At EUPOL...not so much.
EUPOL has an indoor swimming pool, squash courts and bar. You get your own room complete with a private bathroom and the work day is from 8:00 to 6:00 with Friday and Saturday off. As you can imagine, there are some long faces when the crew gets to Kabul and receive their assignments. I have to admit though...everyone really steps up and gets to work...the EUPOL guys of course just have to remind the NTMA crew that every Thursday night is "Margarita Night".
The picture at the Kabul airport is our Close Protection Team (CP). Great bunch of guys who kept us "company" throughout the visit.
LOL....when you mention the differences between EUPOL and NTMA.... some things never change. There always seems to be at least one group that gets the "ice cream" treatment. In Bosnia we had one squadron that had actual beds to sleep on and a day off called Sunday Routine. We called them the Princess Squadron....they never lived it down when the stories eventually got around to ...."what did you do in Theatre?"
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures Son, they are keepers for sure. Thought the protection team looked competent........Dad thought the General was getting the golf shirt, I said you were, which of course he had to have another read.........Take care.........love you.......Mum and Dad.........
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