Background – I only used photos from locations and events at which I was present. The majority of the photos were not taken by me because we brought along a Public Affairs Photographer (SGT James Sims) to take pictures so that we were able to perform our jobs. I did however, attend all of the events depicted.
Street in downtown Kabul. It looks like a bad picture but during the winter it really was always that dirty, smoggy and wet.
(Photo: Cheryl Barnett)
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One of our favorite pictures (myself and my coworkers). Taken during the winter in Kabul at Aulladin Orphanage. Kids continually swarm U.S. Armed forces members asking for pens, candy, or anything else we had hanging off of our body armor.
(Photo: Cheryl Barnett)
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Humanitarian aid (HA) drop. We secured the funding for the HA bundles. We packed and loaded the bundles and drove them out to the site. We then had the Afghan National Police hand them out as a way of helping them build relationships and foster good will with civilians. 400 people needed food however, we only had 100 bundles. We printed out tickets and gave them to a government official to distribute to the neediest people. The official gave the tickets first to friends and family who appeared to be less needy or didn’t even live in the area. The tickets were also counterfeited so more than 100 people showed up attempting to receive bundles. The Afghan National Police were beating people in line with belts who weren’t cooperating in the search tents that were set up for security.
(Photo: James Sims)
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Notice the varying degrees of how the women are dressed. Some are more traditional Afghan attire and some are wearing almost typical Western dress. Women begin covering their hair and sometimes faces at different times depending on their family, region, and location.
(Photo: James Sims)
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This is a contractor hired to help train and mentor the Afghan National Police out at a humanitarian aid drop. A large number of people serving overseas are contractors and not actual military members.
(Photo: James Sims)
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People were living in that…
(Photo: James Sims)
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Notice the satellite dishes in the lower right. This was taken in the same village as the people living in tents…also notice the Afghan National Police Officer in the upper left carrying a weapon. Not an uncommon sight.
(Photo: James Sims)