PRT breaks ground on $3 million road project

Published Sept. 29, 2006
By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Kapinos
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- The Air Force led Bagram Provincial Reconstruction team officially started a new road system in the Kapisa province that will connect all districts and the provincial capitol Sept. 28.

The contract is the first of its kind in Afghanistan and was awarded to Shams Construction Company of Kabul during a conference with the PRT Sept. 18.

"Today is a great day for the people of Kapisa, as well as the people of Afghanistan," said Brig. Gen. Daniel Pepin to a large audience of religious, political and military leaders. General Pepin, a Canadian, is the deputy commanding general for all reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

"This road is significant," said Army Major Donald Johnson, the Director of Civil Military Operations for the Bagram PRT. "This will be the first time that people will be able to travel to all the districts across the province; bringing commerce, security and stability to the region.

"Our goal is to aid in making them more self-sufficient and a future partner in the international arena," he added.

The Kapisa province which is located close to Bagram Airfield, is home to approximately 450,000 residents and is one of two provinces that work hand-in-hand with the Bagram PRT. The other province is the Parwan province which is also located close by.

A mix of civilian, U.S. military and Coalition forces, the PRT works to promote conditions for self-sufficiency, enduring prosperity, and a secure, stable environment. The PRTs are an off-shoot of humanitarian operations units created by the Army in 2002. From wells to schools to hydro-electric projects, the teams are helping to rebuild Afghanistan.

Slowly, project by project, the teams work throughout Afghanistan with the purpose of bringing stability and prosperity to the region. They do not do the work themselves, but work with local contractors who then empower villagers in the area to do the work. The completed projects then truly belong to the village instead of just being given to them by coalition forces.

"This is your road, to be built by your people," said General Pepin to the large crowd. "Roads bring people and people bring business. Business improves life for everyone."

The road opening was just one of the two goodwill projects that the Bagram PRT accomplished that day. Another was a large food donation, part of the "Meals for Mullahs" program that the team has taken on. The goal is to give the food to local religious leaders for distribution to the surrounding villages. The food donation this day will feed several hundred people in the province.

"All villages in the province have Mullahs, or religious leaders," said Tech. Sgt. Derril McDonald, a structures journeyman from Vandenberg Air Force Base who volunteered to be a member of the PRT.

"People follow the Mullahs, it's the easiest way for us to get food to them," said Sergeant McDonald.