Life Deployed as an Agriculture Advisor

Ag Advisors mid year conference in Republican Palace

Advisors complete training with Department of State

Round table with Deputy Secretary Negroponte

Travel by air to small combat outpost as this

sixty man base. Note fish ponds surrounding post.

This power plant provided a base for large army unit which was a great distance from main element in Baghdad

Both bases are now turned over to Iraqi forces

Most Advisors stayed in one place, but I found the travel from base to base enabled more engagements with the Iraqis.



The trade off was living out of a bag and under a mosquito net.

Your office was wherever you can find a working computer and Internet.

Friendships was a plus. Engineer retired from DOD, but not
from doing good deeds.

R & R is a must to maintain relations with home, but the opportunity to see other countries is a plus if managed. My son happened to be in one of these countries deployed as a soldier. So I worked out an in country side trip between assignments.

Dust Storm Deployments are notorious for stories of intolerable heat and dust

But what is surprising is since you are outside much of the time and work from within thin wood or metal building the winter cold and wet weather is limiting.

Some bases had outstanding main buildings

with all other support still in tents or bunkers. First snow in past 100 years

A farewell meal served in Sheik's private hall

Farewell sunset over Mosul 2006

Last field visit 2008 Walked over 40 hectors crops

after sub district received new irrigation water