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Published Monday, June 22, 2009 in Local

48th soldiers settling into Afghanistan

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

Members of the 48th Infantry Brigade Bravo Company Second Battalion are getting themselves acclimated to life in Afghanistan as they prepare to begin their year-long mission.

The battalion, which is based from Newnan's Jackson-Pless National Guard Armory, arrived in-country about a week ago. They are currently stationed in Kabul at Camp Phoenix, according to an e-mail update from 1st Lt. Jason Rich of Griffin.

Soldiers spent their first four days watching PowerPoint presentations bringing them up to date on everything from uniform standards to current military tactics being used in the country.

The unit is getting acclimated to the higher altitude -- 5,800 feet -- while working on their cardiovascular fitness.

"It is remarkable how a mile in altitude will degrade the oxygen levels as much as it does," said Rich. "Walking four miles in gear -- a task which at sea level is not a major accomplishment for a decently conditioned soldier -- is now a daunting task."

Rich expects things will get easier after a few weeks as their bodies grow accustomed to the lack of oxygen.

According to Rich, the entire company is temporarily living together in a large building with bunk beds. The accommodations will be "short-lived" though, because the unit will soon be moved "down range to our final locations." Rich called that wait "agonizing."

For now, the living conditions are better than the ones they faced while training at Camp Shelby, Miss.

"We have air conditions, individual showers, a 24-hour dining facility, top-notch gym, running track, pool tables, Ping-Pong tables, Internet rooms, phone banks -- the list goes on," said Rich. "The overall mood within the ranks is a mix between anxiety and excitement -- the soldiers are all ready to get started doing our jobs, meeting their fears and training the Afghanistan National Security Forces. It seems like the time spent here at Camp Phoenix has allowed the reality of the situation to set in with some of the leadership. Some have become a little more quiet than usual, others seem unaffected. I guess everyone has their coping methods."

Rich reports that many of the soldiers have purchased cell phones in order to call home without having to walk to the phone banks or wait in lines. The phone rates calling back to the states are approximately a quarter a minute. Incoming calls, however, are free, and so stateside loved ones can buy international phone cards and call as often as they like.

Despite the threat of war hanging over their heads, Rich said the experience is not all bad.

"The countryside, when not obscured by dust and sand in the air, is beautiful," he said. "Here in Kabul, we are surrounded by mountains, and -- looking around -- there is snow visible on the tops of some."

Afghanistan is still unmistakably a third-world nation. Rich said the coalition recently supplied 24-hour electricity service to Kabul, which is "a major feat here in Afghanistan."

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