Change is in the wind

As new people roll in and old people roll out, I'm finding the MPPAT to be a fluid operation. The skills one person brings to Afghanistan aren't the same as the skills of the person getting on the next plane for the United States.

My three newest MPPAT members are more senior in rank. This will now allow me to step back from the day-to-day operation of the MPPAT and allow them to take change. At the same time, this will allow me to focus on the video production work being requested from the top.

I now have a:
- Senior Master Sergeant
- Master Sergeant
- Cheif Petty Officer

And while I now have more senior enlisted serving as the management team, I still expect the MPPAT to have a strong output. But no fear from me about that. These three guys are workers... not managers who sit on their tails. They've come to the table with ideas and effort.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the new MPPAT takes shape as the winds of change begin to shift.

A visit from "home"

Since I've been here we've been visited by dozens of VIPs. Last week, we got a visit from a US senator, which is nothing unusual. But this senator knew me.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R) of Arizona recently paid a visit to the ISAF Headquarters here in Kabul. He was here to visit Gen. McKiernan and get a firsthand update on the war effort. I've interviewed Sen. Kyl a dozen times while working in Yuma and Tucson so I was hoping to see him in hopes he's remember me. I prepositioned myself outside his meeting and when the door opened I stepped forward. I introduced myself but before I could finish, the sentor had a big smile on his face and said, "of course I remember you Dave." Perhaps he was just being nice, but I honestly believed him.

We talked for a couple minutes and I ended the conversation by asking him to call my parents when he returns to Arizona just to say he saw me and I'm doing fine. Sure enough, less than a week later, Sen. Jon Kyl called my parents. To say the very least, they were very proud.

Senator Kyl, if I ever move back to Arizona, you don't just have my vote... I'd be proud to work on your campaign! Thank you.

Easter at ISAF

This past Sunday was Easter here at ISAF. Sorry, no Easter Egg hunt in the garden for the troops. However, there was a sunrise service which allowed me to celebrate the holiest day of the year while offering me a small piece of home. The base also cooked a nice lunch for us.

Normally, Easter Sunday would have me fawning over my beautiful wife, putting on my dress blues for church and taking the kids to an Easter egg hunt. That just wasn't in the card for us this year. "Duty calls" is the theme for 2009 and so here I am in Afghanistan. But Mrs. Blank did a great job keeping everyone's spirits high.

Below are some pictures from this Sunday's service.