Courtesy Photo | Spc. Kyle Emmel, of Mandan, N.D., is serving in Afghanistan with the North Dakota Army...... read more read more
BAGRAM, Afghanistan — At any given time, North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers are at work around the world. Currently, Soldiers are at Camp Atterbury, Ind., in final preparations before deploying to Kosovo, serving in the African countries of Djibouti and Ghana, preparing to leave for Iraq and serving in Afghanistan.
The third rotation of 1-188th Air Defense Artillery Soldiers performing the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment system mission have been in Afghanistan since March 2009. They're expected to return home from the yearlong mission, which included two months of mobilization training, by January 2010.
The following question-and-answer interview provides a glimpse into the day-to-day life of one of these North Dakota Soldiers, Spc. Kyle S. Emmel, who joined the Guard on Oct. 10, 2006. He is the son of Doyle and Nancy Emmel, of Mandan, N.D.
What is an average day for you?
An average day isn't too bad. We use our camera systems to monitor activities outside of our FOB (forward operating base). We work in the TOC (tactical operations center), and our schedule is a simple shift schedule based on how many people are here or, say, on leave.
Our FOB is at an altitude of about 7,000 feet. It is dry, but does rain at least once a week. It has already started the cool down cycle for fall.
Do you feel you are doing rewarding work? Why or why not?
At first glance it would seem like a boring job and, yes, there's a lot of young in me that would rather be out there on the ground all of the time. When you step back and see all that we cover for the FOB and the units here, it does take on a vital role. I think it's due most in part to our North Dakota work ethic, but we have taken what can be seen at face value as an unexciting job and turned it into a vital and proactive mission.
We not only work with but have been accepted as part of the team with the active unit here. When we have more time to give and they are undermanned due to personnel being out, we pick up what we can where can — if it's helping with other systems to working in the motor pool.
What is the most unique or interesting thing you have experienced during your mobilization?
I was 19 when I signed up on this mission and now I'm turning 21 here. I have been able to do some great growing up out here. I have shifted gears on a moment's notice more than a couple of times, from filling in where needed to moving to a new FOB when needed. I know that now more than before I am ready to tackle any task that I take on back home.
The second part of this is the experience of seeing this part of the world, and although I realize it's just a snapshot of all the third worlds, it's good to at least understanding and appreciating with my own eyes what their life is like here.
How do you and your fellow Soldiers spend your free time?
Some fill their time with work that is familiar to them back home, such as working in the shop. Some have been attending online collage [college], and some have even met up with local-national friends that they knew from the last RAID mission.
Myself, I have been working on all of my plans for when I return. I have been planning out what and where my summer stock car program will go in 2010. I have decided to start a local charity program out of all of it. I have put together a new Web site for that, as well, and I'm reading everything I can.
What do you miss the most about home?
Family and friends, as I'm sure everyone does.
What was the best part about going home on leave?
I was able to surprise my folks when I went home on leave. They had thought I was heading to Europe for leave. I was picked up at the airport and walked up the block to catch them off guard on the porch with my niece and nephews. It was a great moment and a great two weeks.
| Date Taken: | 09.04.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2009 09:23 |
| Story ID: | 38360 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 337 |
| Downloads: | 259 |
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