PFC,
Private First Class Maggie Spak just
returned from active duty. She was a truck driver for the Sioux Falls based
National Guard 1742 unit in Afghanistan. Even though her first mission was a
mere 17 miles, it was a sleepless 36 hours long round trip. The U.S. Forward
Operating Bases are closing down. The U.S. Military in cooperation with
approved Afghan personnel transfer the materials to Afghanistan locations. On
this particular mission Maggie drove a gun truck in a convoy of vehicles. A gun
truck consisted of a driver, truck commander, a gunner, an assistant gunner and
a dismount. “We could only go 10 miles
per hour,” Maggie said. The journey was difficult because the road was unpaved
and treacherous. “The roads were hilly, winding, big holes, unfinished and
not kept up,” Spak said.
Whenever the convoy stopped a
“0-5-25” was conducted. This was a check to ensure there weren’t any wires or
evidence of any explosives. It was executed before any personnel were allowed
out of the vehicles. (An average of about 70 U.S. military personnel and 20
Afghan personnel were on any given convoy.) The resistance was known to
casually walk up to a military vehicle and toss a magnetic bomb to the
underside. Maggie and her military companions had to stay alert.
Five days prior to a mission,
preventive maintenance checks were conducted on all vehicles to keep the vehicles
at optimum operating condition. The soldiers equipped the trucks with food and
water. They packed their bags and adjusted to a sleep schedule if needed. Three hours prior to a mission every soldier makes final preparations. That meant if the mission leaves at 4:00 am - well you can do the math.
Of the approximate twenty
missions over 8 months, PFC Spak stated none were as difficult as her first
assignment of 17 miles. In the 12 years the United States has been in
Afghanistan, U.S. Combat engineers have constructed paved roads. This time on a
paved road, for a different mission Maggie drove a Commodity truck or as the
troops nicknamed it: "Pop Tart truck." Water and MRE’s, Meals Ready
to Eat, were transported in this vehicle.
“We had to have a battle load on us (210 rounds),” Spak said. As Maggie
drove the truck within a convoy she observed the Afghan landscape to be green
and very beautiful. That is if you didn't look at all the trash in the ditches.
Afghan being a third world country does not have sanitation disposal. The
people throw their trash alongside the roads.
While on missions, American
military personal were restricted from having any contact with the public. It
was for safety reasons. "You couldn't tell if someone had a suicide vest
on," Maggie said. If someone came too close to one of the convoys, the gunners
would wave them off.
“They are kind-hearted people," Maggie
said as she referred to the Afghan personnel working alongside the U.S.
military. She went on to say that the Afghans were hard working individuals. “They
wanted to get the job done, support their families and to fight for what they
can. They just wanted to survive,” she said.
Not all of Maggie's time was
spent on a mission. She had off time as well. "We had it pretty good over
there. It was a good experience," Spak said. She stayed in a two person
room with air conditioning. Maggie remained in contact with friends and family
via her lap top. When anything such as a threat or actual bombing occurred in
Afghanistan, the internet was shut down across that country until the crisis
passed. Other than that Maggie had contact with the outside world. "It
made it a lot easier," Spak says. They were able to watch TV and take in a
movie; although the visual qualities left something to be desired. There were
activities on base: soccer, basketball, hockey, running and dance night.
Karaoke was a favorite.
Maggie is a collector of
anything to do with "elephants." She found many items to add to her
collection from Afghan souvenir shops that were on base. Clothes, trinkets,
souvenirs were just a few of the items in supply. "They sold a lot of
scarfs and Afghan hats," Maggie says. Many of the items were handmade.
Spak did not see any female Afghans on base but did note that there were many
different nationalities present –male and female.
"Friends were great. They
helped me get my mind off things. I owe them thanks." Spak says as she remembers
her military buddies such as: Alex Lovett, a Minnesotan, co-solider and a best
friend. Alex had a 5 year old daughter back home. "We both supported each
other. It’s hard not having her around all the time. But she is only a phone
call away,” Maggie said.
“Afghanistan isn’t what I
expected. I don’t believe anyone though it would be the way it was. It was an
overall great experience. I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Maggie
concludes.
PFC,
Private First Class Maggie Spak just
returned from active duty. She was a truck driver for the Sioux Falls based
National Guard 1742 unit in Afghanistan. Even though her first mission was a
mere 17 miles, it was a sleepless 36 hours long round trip. The U.S. Forward
Operating Bases are closing down. The U.S. Military in cooperation with
approved Afghan personnel transfer the materials to Afghanistan locations. On
this particular mission Maggie drove a gun truck in a convoy of vehicles. A gun
truck consisted of a driver, truck commander, a gunner, an assistant gunner and
a dismount. “We could only go 10 miles
per hour,” Maggie said. The journey was difficult because the road was unpaved
and treacherous. “The roads were hilly, winding, big holes, unfinished and
not kept up,” Spak said.
Whenever the convoy stopped a “0-5-25” was conducted. This was a check to ensure there weren’t any wires or evidence of any explosives. It was executed before any personnel were allowed out of the vehicles. (An average of about 70 U.S. military personnel and 20 Afghan personnel were on any given convoy.) The resistance was known to casually walk up to a military vehicle and toss a magnetic bomb to the underside. Maggie and her military companions had to stay alert.
Five days prior to a mission, preventive maintenance checks were conducted on all vehicles to keep the vehicles at optimum operating condition. The soldiers equipped the trucks with food and water. They packed their bags and adjusted to a sleep schedule if needed. Three hours prior to a mission every soldier makes final preparations. That meant if the mission leaves at 4:00 am - well you can do the math.
Of the approximate twenty missions over 8 months, PFC Spak stated none were as difficult as her first assignment of 17 miles. In the 12 years the United States has been in Afghanistan, U.S. Combat engineers have constructed paved roads. This time on a paved road, for a different mission Maggie drove a Commodity truck or as the troops nicknamed it: "Pop Tart truck." Water and MRE’s, Meals Ready to Eat, were transported in this vehicle. “We had to have a battle load on us (210 rounds),” Spak said. As Maggie drove the truck within a convoy she observed the Afghan landscape to be green and very beautiful. That is if you didn't look at all the trash in the ditches. Afghan being a third world country does not have sanitation disposal. The people throw their trash alongside the roads.
While on missions, American military personal were restricted from having any contact with the public. It was for safety reasons. "You couldn't tell if someone had a suicide vest on," Maggie said. If someone came too close to one of the convoys, the gunners would wave them off.
“They are kind-hearted people," Maggie said as she referred to the Afghan personnel working alongside the U.S. military. She went on to say that the Afghans were hard working individuals. “They wanted to get the job done, support their families and to fight for what they can. They just wanted to survive,” she said.
Not all of Maggie's time was spent on a mission. She had off time as well. "We had it pretty good over there. It was a good experience," Spak said. She stayed in a two person room with air conditioning. Maggie remained in contact with friends and family via her lap top. When anything such as a threat or actual bombing occurred in Afghanistan, the internet was shut down across that country until the crisis passed. Other than that Maggie had contact with the outside world. "It made it a lot easier," Spak says. They were able to watch TV and take in a movie; although the visual qualities left something to be desired. There were activities on base: soccer, basketball, hockey, running and dance night. Karaoke was a favorite.
Maggie is a collector of anything to do with "elephants." She found many items to add to her collection from Afghan souvenir shops that were on base. Clothes, trinkets, souvenirs were just a few of the items in supply. "They sold a lot of scarfs and Afghan hats," Maggie says. Many of the items were handmade. Spak did not see any female Afghans on base but did note that there were many different nationalities present –male and female.
"Friends were great. They helped me get my mind off things. I owe them thanks." Spak says as she remembers her military buddies such as: Alex Lovett, a Minnesotan, co-solider and a best friend. Alex had a 5 year old daughter back home. "We both supported each other. It’s hard not having her around all the time. But she is only a phone call away,” Maggie said.
“Afghanistan isn’t what I expected. I don’t believe anyone though it would be the way it was. It was an overall great experience. I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Maggie concludes.
Whenever the convoy stopped a “0-5-25” was conducted. This was a check to ensure there weren’t any wires or evidence of any explosives. It was executed before any personnel were allowed out of the vehicles. (An average of about 70 U.S. military personnel and 20 Afghan personnel were on any given convoy.) The resistance was known to casually walk up to a military vehicle and toss a magnetic bomb to the underside. Maggie and her military companions had to stay alert.
Five days prior to a mission, preventive maintenance checks were conducted on all vehicles to keep the vehicles at optimum operating condition. The soldiers equipped the trucks with food and water. They packed their bags and adjusted to a sleep schedule if needed. Three hours prior to a mission every soldier makes final preparations. That meant if the mission leaves at 4:00 am - well you can do the math.
Of the approximate twenty missions over 8 months, PFC Spak stated none were as difficult as her first assignment of 17 miles. In the 12 years the United States has been in Afghanistan, U.S. Combat engineers have constructed paved roads. This time on a paved road, for a different mission Maggie drove a Commodity truck or as the troops nicknamed it: "Pop Tart truck." Water and MRE’s, Meals Ready to Eat, were transported in this vehicle. “We had to have a battle load on us (210 rounds),” Spak said. As Maggie drove the truck within a convoy she observed the Afghan landscape to be green and very beautiful. That is if you didn't look at all the trash in the ditches. Afghan being a third world country does not have sanitation disposal. The people throw their trash alongside the roads.
While on missions, American military personal were restricted from having any contact with the public. It was for safety reasons. "You couldn't tell if someone had a suicide vest on," Maggie said. If someone came too close to one of the convoys, the gunners would wave them off.
“They are kind-hearted people," Maggie said as she referred to the Afghan personnel working alongside the U.S. military. She went on to say that the Afghans were hard working individuals. “They wanted to get the job done, support their families and to fight for what they can. They just wanted to survive,” she said.
Not all of Maggie's time was spent on a mission. She had off time as well. "We had it pretty good over there. It was a good experience," Spak said. She stayed in a two person room with air conditioning. Maggie remained in contact with friends and family via her lap top. When anything such as a threat or actual bombing occurred in Afghanistan, the internet was shut down across that country until the crisis passed. Other than that Maggie had contact with the outside world. "It made it a lot easier," Spak says. They were able to watch TV and take in a movie; although the visual qualities left something to be desired. There were activities on base: soccer, basketball, hockey, running and dance night. Karaoke was a favorite.
Maggie is a collector of anything to do with "elephants." She found many items to add to her collection from Afghan souvenir shops that were on base. Clothes, trinkets, souvenirs were just a few of the items in supply. "They sold a lot of scarfs and Afghan hats," Maggie says. Many of the items were handmade. Spak did not see any female Afghans on base but did note that there were many different nationalities present –male and female.
"Friends were great. They helped me get my mind off things. I owe them thanks." Spak says as she remembers her military buddies such as: Alex Lovett, a Minnesotan, co-solider and a best friend. Alex had a 5 year old daughter back home. "We both supported each other. It’s hard not having her around all the time. But she is only a phone call away,” Maggie said.
“Afghanistan isn’t what I expected. I don’t believe anyone though it would be the way it was. It was an overall great experience. I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Maggie concludes.
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