Nangarhar PRT connects with Zangoui

The Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team conducted a dismounted patrol March 7 to Zangoui to get to know local residents and discuss challenges faced by the village.

“We’re out here trying to connect to the people and show them that we have a vested interest in, not only our security but theirs as well,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kevin Peterson, Nangarhar PRT security advisor from Littleton, Colo.

According to one villager, one of the most prominent issues in Zangoui is a lack of power.

“We don’t have electricity from the government, so we use personal generators, which cost 70 rupees (about 80 cents) per kilowatt,” said Dawo Jan, painter and resident of Zangoui.

Other villagers cited concerns ranging from security to agricultural challenges.

The unit also engaged with the local children. According to Peterson, the PRT often acts as friendly representatives for the coalition in Nangarhar, and Afghan children are normally the first to engage the unit to discuss their lives.

At one point, Peterson found himself surrounded by a crowd of kids near a school. He learned from them how to count to 10 in Pashto and showed the children how to count in English.

“You guys have to tell me if I’m doing it wrong,” Peterson said to the children after struggling to say eight in Pashto. “You guys are my teachers.”

Given the close proximity of Zangoui, the PRT often makes these missions on foot.   In addition, dismounted patrols traditionally include multiple groups of personnel interested in talking with the villagers. At one time during the visit, the PRT had four separate conversations going on along a relatively lengthy stretch of road. All the moving pieces and lack of armored vehicles make keeping everyone safe a difficult task, but U.S. Army 1st Lt. Rico Piatelli, Nangarhar PRT infantry platoon leader and resident of Danvers, Mass., thinks it’s worthwhile all the same.

“I love getting out here and talking to kids,” Piatelli said. “A lot of times, you go on missions and everything moves quickly. This gives you a chance to get out here and talk to these kids and the adults. You get to have a good time and relax a little bit, even though it is a heightened security risk.”

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Rico Piatelli, Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team infantry platoon leader from Danvers, Mass., plays catch with Afghan children during a mission to Zangoui Village March 7.