Photo By Catherine Carroll | Oregon National Guard Staff Sgt. Curtis Sanders of the 1186th Military Police, the...... read more read more
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KABUL, Afghanistan – Just two months into the job, the top enlisted security official at the New Kabul Compound has overseen an upgrade of communications technology, supervised scores of missions and helped manage an analysis of the installation’s vulnerabilities.
“I would say between the foot and driving patrols … we’ve been doing a lot – even out in the snow,” said Oregon National Guard Staff Sgt. Curtis Sanders of the 1186th Military Police, the non-commissioned officer in charge of force protection at the coalition base. Sanders, 33, lives in Vancouver, Wash., and works in Portland as a corrections deputy for Multnomah County.
Overseas, he is responsible for dozens of U.S. troops, local security contractors and interpreters. He noted the similarity between his work back home and in Afghanistan, since both involve managing threats.
“At home I supervise inmates,” he added. “My job back there is to keep bad guys in. My job out here is to keep bad guys out.”
The troops under Sanders run the Base Defense Operations Center, conduct convoys, staff guard posts and conduct “presence patrols” of the area surrounding the installation. While on patrol, they often donate items, such as clothes, candy and school supplies, sent from friends and relatives in the U.S. He said his team also hopes to supply blankets to refugee camps in Kabul.
Sanders, originally from Elora, Tenn., said he once considered leaving the military, but now plans to stay in “for the long haul” if he’s able to advance in the ranks. This is his second deployment.
His first was to Hawaii from February 2004 to May 2005 as a law and order military policeman.
The toughest part of being away, he added, is separation from friends and family back home.
He is due to return in the fall.
“I’m here to make sure my 37 guys get home safe,” he said. “That’s the only reward I want.”
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.23.2012 05:05 |
| Story ID: | 84215 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 361 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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