William Frej, the U.S. Agency for International Development Mission Director, and other USAID representatives met with the commanders of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team and 2nd Battalion,77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel , and Jamaluddin Badrm, the governor of Nuristan, Oct. 21, to discuss the relationship between USAID and its military counterparts.
Frej has worked 20 years for USAID and is the head of USAID Afghanistan team, that provides billion of dollars for development programs for Afghanistan
The Nuristan PRT is the first that Frej has visited on his tour of bases where PRTs are located in Afghanistan. His goals consisted of viewing field conditions, receiving an update on USAID projects and the working relationship between military members and his field officers.
Frej said the visit was to, "Improve our ability through our PRT development advisors to support the military in a much more subtenant way in the next coming months."
U.S Navy Cmdr. Russell McCormack, commander of the Nuristan PRT and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, the 2-77 Field Artillery Regiment commander, shared with Frej their joint vision for the progression of Nuristan and what each unit offers to its development.
"Today was important because it enabled the USAID representatives at the Afghan level to understand the problem and issues in Nuristan so that they can better assist the PRT and Task Force Steel in development, planning, and execution," Forsyth explained.
Also, iJamaluddin Badr, governor of Nuristan, provided the history of Nuristan, challenges that Nuristan faces and to thank USAID for all of their support in rebuilding his country.
"Sons and daughters of this nation run away, but you stay, I appreciate that," Badr said.
Frej was greatly appreciative and his response to the governor was, "You have our commitment to help development in Nuristan, that's why we came here. "
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2009 10:56 |
| Story ID: | 40511 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 380 |
| Downloads: | 358 |
This work, U.S. Agency for International Development Mission Director visits Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and 2-77 Field Artillery Regiment, by Maj. Natassia Cherne, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
