Camp Eggers Kabul, Afghanistan
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Photo by: Lan Dalat
!"#$% !& !"#$% "Shahna ba Shahna ~ Ooga-pa-Ooga ~ Shoulder to Shoulder"
Written & Photos by
LAN T. DALAT
Major, United States Army
Gator Alley, Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan 2012
C
amp Eggers is the home of the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A) and Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A) with US Army Lt. General Daniel Bolger sitting at the helm. The mission for these organizations is to advise and assist the military forces of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to include members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP). The bottom-line, NTM-A ensures the Afghans will be self sufficient and can take care of themselves after the western power and its allies have departed. Along the main street, Gator Alley is lined with thick brick walls and tall trees protecting and shading the old villas and palaces of the old regime. Today, these houses have transformed into offices for a large contingent from 37 troop contributing countries to include Albania, Latvia, Montenegro, and Salvador. In order to provide billeting and security to all members of NTM-A/CSTC-A, hundreds of metal shipping containers are stacked three high and transformed into very functional and comfortable living quarters equipped with bunk beds, air conditioning units, electricity, and wireless access points. There are also modern western standard toilets and shower stalls on each
Wooden Camel
Public water pump
CMD SURG Coin
Marshall Dining Facility - Outdoor Patio Steele House - Field Grade Officers Room Marshall Dining Facility - Main Entrance
Electricity: 220v Plug Internet: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g TV: Cable Telephone: Cell Bed: Twin
Three story shipping container barracks Women Barracks only Men Barracks only Occupancy: 2 - 3 man room Bed: Bunk beds Storage: Wall lockers with locks Circulation: Air Conditioned room Security: Lock on door Warrior Gym
of the floor. Every open space between the existing structures is now occupied by the modified metal shipping containers. The old swimming pool and lawns are now covered with concrete that serve as the foundation for the shipping containers. There are banks of diesel generators lined up at the corner of the camp to provide sufficient electricity for office automations, air conditioning units and personal electronics, these consist of computers, game stations, microwaves, coffee machines, and televisions. The camp is equipped to feed thousands of troops and civilians from the 37 countries along with other non-troop contributing countries personnel who contributed in the areas of barber, cashier, cooking and even the coffee house baristas in two dining facilities (DFAC), Goat and Marshall. At Goat, the facility is opened 24 hours a day. Between regular dinning hours, there are cold cuts, cheese, breads, and soups. A dual heated Panini machine allows a diner to create his/her hot sandwich. During regular hours, the DFACs serve planned entrees based on the posted menus.
Mongolian BBQ
Steak Night
Pizza Night
There is Pizza, Mongolian BBQ, and Steak night. On these nights, visitors from other camps and embassies come to join folks at Eggers for the feast. On Pizza night, the cooks prepare three of the most common styles: cheese , meat and the Hawaiian pizzas that are topped with fresh pineapple. On Mongolian BBQ night, the cooks prepared eight large woks and rotate them on a charcoal oven. Each diner may choose his/her vegetables and meat before reaching a wok. Once a wok is available, the diner hands the cook his/her tray of raw ingredients for cooking. The diner then walks to another line and waits for those eight woks to rotate around the oven. If he/she did it right, the correct cooked ingredients will be transferred back onto his/her plate. On steak night, many Europeans from the nearby commands would come over to experience the rib-eye or the T-bone steaks along with crab legs, lobster tails, or fried shrimps. Typically, the diner will go inside the DFAC to pick the choice of seafood, corn on the cob, salads, and drink prior to selecting a steak from the outdoor grill. It’s also very rare for anyone to request for a rare steak while working and living in Afghanistan.
Junior Sergeant Delgerdalai Purevsuren, 2nd Platoon, Mongolian Expeditionary Task Force (METF) stands guard at Camp Eggers
Rose garden
USFOR-A
Quick Reactionary Drill (QDR)
Art Gallery and Gift Shops
Women’s Bazaar Men’s Bazaar
Afghan Bread
Aday Bakery
Pizza Night Volunteer Opportunity
There is a saying “you can leave here weighing 300 pounds or lifting 300 pounds.” For those who prefer the latter, there are two gyms that are equipped with free weights, treadmills, elliptical machines, Nautilus machines, and an exercise room. Within the Robinson Gym or the Warrior Gym, there are several fitness programs tailored to burn calories while building muscles. There are CrossFit, SPIN, P90X, Step Aerobics, Bikram Yoga, and even Zumba/ Dance Party. Shahna ba Shahna ~ Ooga-pa-Ooga ~" !"#$% !& !"#$% Shoulder to Shoulder" is the motto here at NTM-A. For many, working and living in close quarter create some uneasiness. Adding to the sweats from the gym and from the summer heat of Afghanistan, the odors can destroy that working relationship. Fortunately, the free laundry service is available to all assigned personnel. A white mesh Used Cup of Joe for Joe Code. bag with number is assigned to all new personnel during in-processing. Turn in this bag full of dirty laundry before two p.m. each day, a clean and folded laundry bag will be ready for pick up 24 hours later. .Typically, many chose to turn in the laundry before breakfast and pick up after dinner Since the official work hours at NTM-A is from eight a.m. to eight p.m. daily, some people choose to stroll down the Gator Alley to shop at the Exchange store or to wander down to Green Beans Coffee collocating with the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) area for a little relaxation after a long day at work. Duty hours and duty days can be very confusing here in Afghanistan since the Afghan work days are different than those in the states. Thursday in Afghanistan is similar to a Friday back in the states. Friday here is equivalent to a Sunday since most Afghan workers reserve this day for worshipping. Saturday is like a Monday because it’s a beginning of the week for everyone. On Sundays, most US and coalition forces attend services provided by the camp’s chaplains at the clamshell, a big tent that serves as a community center.
Department of Defense
US Army
US Navy
US Air Force
Prior to July 2012, the US and Pakistan relationship has been sour. Because of that status, the shelves inside this Exchange store are often empty. However, after the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton offers a “sorry” to Pakistan; the shelves began to fill up again. At one time, there was a three weeks waiting just to get some shampoos and detergents. Now, that the Exchange is stocked, patron can find many items ranging from soaps, American snacks, new Banner promoting Netzone, a Free Internet Service for US Service Members release DVDs to iPads and other electronics. With the General Orders number one in effect, personnel assigned to Camp Eggers find pleasure in a cup of Joe at Green Beans Coffee house. For $2.45 one can order a small Cappuccino with one shot. For a dollar more, another shot can be added to enhance the caffeine. If you think Starbucks is expensive, most Joes can’t afford drinks at Green Beans. To alleviate that problem, “A Cup of Joe for a Joe” program was born. People back home in the states can donate $2.00 toward a cup of coffee or other beverages. Those troops who signed up for a Cup of Joe for a Joe” program will get an email notification when a Cup of Joe is available for pick up. That offer must be used within 10 days or the offer becomes invalid. For a bonus feature, the troop can choose to be a pen pal with the gift giver. In my case, I met a writer/editor named Victoria Ordin through this gift giving process. Throughout the camp Wi-Fi signals can be picked up through portable computers, tablets, and smart phones. NetZone Wi-Fi Internet service is a government sponsored service available for free to all qualified assigned personnel. During the first few days at the camp, a user ID and password are issued to the new personnel. According to the Department of Defense disclaimer during the log on process of the $1.6 million program, the service is funded for the troops to communicate with family back home via email, the web, and video chat. However, it is forbidden to use the free service to view sexually explicit, racist, hate, tasteless and/or offensive material. In addition, gambling of any kind is prohibited. For those who are not qualified for the free service, there is STANWi-Fi HotSpot service for a fee. For $5.00, an Internet user will have 24 hours of usage or 40 MB, for $10.00, 72 hours of usage, or 400 MB of data, and for the premium price of $20.00, a full seven days of usage or 168 hours for Internet surfing but confined to 1 GB of data. Trojan horse toy
Antique
In addition, there are computers connected to the Internet inside the MWR facility along with other entertainment options. Xboxes and Game Stations are connected to large screens for gamers to release stress. Free movie rental is also available with some 500 DVD titles. Don’t expect to find the latest release here. However, if you are into classic movie night, this is the right place for you to select your entertainment. Speaking of entertainment, there are many forms of entertainment and activities within the vicinity of the clamshell and Green Beans Coffee area. The clamshell has its own schedule to include Tae-kwon-do class, Zumba class, salsa night, swing dance class, combat fencing class, Texas Hold’em, Karaoke night, and flashback night. When it comes to talents, America has its American Idols and the Brits have their talents. Here at Camp Eggers, the talents are the Soldiers serving far away from home. Soldiers risking their lives performing their mission daily, also contribute to the local economy on Fridays as they attempt to win the heart and mind of the local merchants at the bazaar. The most interaction between an American Soldier and an Afghan national is the between a merchant and a buyer. Americans are the buyers of Afghan goods. The bazaars outside Camp Eggers are different than other bazaars in the area. There is a male merchant only bazaar three Fridays a month and a female merchant only bazaar one Friday a month.
Navy Night Kabul Children MRAP Pull
Mongolian Naadam
Kabul City Life
Most people prefer to shop at the male only bazaar due to a large number of merchandise and selection. Whereas, the women's bazaar only sells art and craft products that they made themselves. Three Fridays in a month, the men’s bazaar occupied the parking lot right outside the main gate that begins Gator Alley. They arrive early in trucks and setup their tents that cover the entire area. They lay out their merchandise with care and precision to ensure the buyers will have the best view of the items. They love to haggle with the buyers to get the best deal. Time in Afghanistan will fly by when it is well spent. In my experience, Camp Eggers is one of the best places for a deployed soldier to endure.
Command Surgeon Family
This document is produced by Lan T. Dalat Major, United States Army Kabul, Afghanistan Copyrighted (C) 2012