Natosha Monroe

There are many examples of things Troops encounter here in Afghanistan that create a 0-60mph conditioned response. This response of "quick to react" may translate into "quick to anger" once back home in the States. Here's some insight as to why Troops may have a short fuse after deployment: 1) According to one of the Army Chaplains here at Shank, just last night he was awakened to see the father of 3 children who'd been the victim of Taliban violence. He sprang to action and raced to the medical facility to find one small child's heart in the hands of the Army doctor who was attempting to massage it back to rhythm. The other child had been shot through the back of the head and his eyes were out of their sockets. The little girl was ok, but screaming and crying. The father's face was blank and he simply nodded his head in resignation as the Chaplain informed him he'd lost a son and may lose another. This is the reality Soldiers and Afghan citizens face daily here in Afghanistan. So what's startling about a knock on a door or a shake of the foot to wake someone up? For the average person, nothing. But what about that knock on the door or shake on the foot to wake up the Army Chaplain at any time in the night--what might that mean for him?

In the past few days, I’ve experienced more than one alert that our area was receiving IDF--indirect fire from Taliban (most likely) outside our perimeter—and instructing us to put on our body armor and seek shelter.  I actually heard one of the rockets fly over my housing and felt/heard the impact as it landed.  This was my first time to actually feel it, so I think I may always remember that moment in time.

My primary job is Division Behavioral Health NCOIC (non-commissioned officer-in-charge) for the 101st Airborne here in Afghanistan. But an NCO was needed to help get a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) program started up on the base, so I was designated to this duty upon my arrival. I’ll be honest--initially I was a bit disappointed to put my job on pause (particularly my travel to other smaller/more remote areas in the region) to do something else. I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d be doing and hadn’t had much experience with TBI clients previously. But what an amazing opportunity this has turned out to be—beginning a program that will help Troops from all over the country who are brought here for screening, testing, and treatment for various head injuries—and most importantly, the deserved amount of support and comfort when recovery is necessary.

I’ve been in Afghanistan for about a week now and let me tell you…it’s been surreal. I can tell by those around me that once you’re here for a while, things start to seem more “normal”, sure. But right at first, I have had to remind myself a couple times that this is no training exercise--the things I’m seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling…they are very real. Although it seems almost like I’m on a set of an action movie, I most definitely am not—this is the real deal.

As I write this it's going on 1a.m. and I've just finished stuffing all kinds of things into 4 large Army green duffle bags and one assault pack--camo-colored Army-issued backpack. (Forgive my typo's, I'm having to use my cell phone to email this to ACA). Tomorrow a large group will board our military flights & begin our journey to the other side of the world. As I've spent this time training with 100-plus people (can't give out specific information), I can't help but notice how well we represent the beautiful diversity of America. We are all ages from early 20's to graying hair. We are all genders and yes, preferences. We are all races and ethnicities to include different foreign accents.