Afghanistan?
Hey guys, was hoping that some of you that have been to both Iraq and Afghanistan could give me a basic run down of what to expect. I have been in Iraq almost a year now and volunteered for a direct transfer to Afghanistan at the end of the month. I know there will be differences in terrain, weather, customs of the locals etc., but was curious which place you preferred.
To answer the inevitable question, no I am not mil anymore. I am a contractor, but attached to Army line units, wear the uniform and am issued weapons, so I will likely be at a COP or FOB out somewhere.
Thanks for any advice and answers.
Originally Posted By bs295:
Hey guys, was hoping that some of you that have been to both Iraq and Afghanistan could give me a basic run down of what to expect. I have been in Iraq almost a year now and volunteered for a direct transfer to Afghanistan at the end of the month. I know there will be differences in terrain, weather, customs of the locals etc., but was curious which place you preferred.
To answer the inevitable question, no I am not mil anymore. I am a contractor, but attached to Army line units, wear the uniform and am issued weapons, so I will likely be at a COP or FOB out somewhere.
Thanks for any advice and answers.
You work for MRPI? If you were .mil get a tank and access to the military forums. We tend to hang out there far more than here. To answer your question, it all depends on where you are in Afghanistan. If you're in Khandahar, Zabul, Paktia, or Helmand, your life will be infinitely different than if you were in Kabul, or Parwan for example. Iraq has very little to do with Afghanistan, that will be a very steep learning curve for you coming directly from Iraq.
Weather all depends on what part you'll be located. I'm out and about in Afghanistan every now and then (civilian .mil), and Kabul/Bagram area is fairly nice, although watch out for the altitude in Kabul if you're at all susceptible to that. It can get fairly cold at night this time of year, just because of the altitude, but Bagram is nice. Definitely going to be a nice change for you coming from Iraq. Down south, Kandahar and past, it's definitely much hotter and a lot more mosquitoes and other shit.
I never got out of the bases, so I won't be able to help you on anything past weather and finding your way around some of the places. Good luck, though!
I was in the desert both times. The only difference is that the civilians in A'stan are dumber then the civilians in Iraq.
People are dumber than Iraqi's huh? That will be interesting.
I don't know exactly where I'm headed, all I know right now is East, so I expect that the altitude will have me screwed up for a few days.
Any other advice or experience is welcome.
Originally Posted By bs295:
People are dumber than Iraqi's huh? That will be interesting.
I don't know exactly where I'm headed, all I know right now is East, so I expect that the altitude will have me screwed up for a few days.
Any other advice or experience is welcome.
Well when your family tree has all of 3 branches.....and yes altitude is a bitch for awhile, you will be sucking wind. Also come winter time you will freeze your nuts off.
having been to both places I wouldn't say the people are dumber, but a different mindset. A fair number of the Iraqis I delt with were educated and had a view or some exposure to the outside world and could understand they could make their country better,more peaceful safer etc. and were working to that end. They also had an understanding of central government.
The Afghans were much more tribal and didn't give a lick about central governement. The attitude was our village has been here for thousands of years and we like it the way it is, don't come in here and offer us indoor plumbing and internet we don't need it or want it. If someone thinks using the same template for ops in Iraq is a key to success in Afghanistan they've obviously not been there.
