The Sergeant Major: Herat Feb 08

I went to the Herat Regional Training Center, located in north western Afghanistan in order to attend the ANP graduation. The Police had just completed an 8 week period of instruction much like Basic Training.

This is the graduating class, the guy goose stepping up to the podium is going to recieve an award from Deputy Minister Mangal. I find it ironic that the Afghans take great pride in defeating the Soviets, yet they emulate the Soviets in many ways. Such as their marching techniques.

There I was minding my own business, when all of a sudden some dude is hugging me. I was just reaching for my "nine" and while I was gaining PID (positve ID of my target) I realized I knew the guy. When I was here in 2006, I served with the guy I am stading next to in the photo, his code name is "Silverback". The Colonel behind us is a good friend from Texas and still lives under the illusion that somehow the South won the Civil War.

Afghan Airlines, whoa. We fly military, thankfully. This is the high tech baggage unloading system at the Herat airport. The guy in the white turbin is the conveyor belt and the push cart is the baggage tractor. However, I admire the efficiency of the system. This area serves as baggage claims as well. The guy on the left is patiently waiting for the "conveyor belt" to throw his bags at him.