Medical Clinic Visit

Janda Gelan Central Heath Clinic, Gelan, Afghanistan. Starting the day not knowing what to expect, members of ADT security team and Headquarters traveled to Gelan to assist with security for a health clinic. The health clinic was sponsored by the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team and was aimed at supporting the local doctors with supplies and medical support for the citizens of Gelan district.
Upon arrival at the health clinic ADT soldiers set up protective measures for the immediate area including sniper over watch from a nearby hilltop. ADT soldiers were used as the first and second layer of protection to wand clinic goers with metal detectors and to ensure that the event was safe for all involved.
Although the clinic visit was unannounced the locals began arriving with the sight of the first armored vehicles. Once word got out in the village lines started to form. Some locals stood in line for hours as the women and children were seen first. Those children were a source of amusement and some concern throughout the day. Some seemed healthy and in good spirits while others were being carried in by their parents.
As the day went on it was hard to determine who was arriving for medical care and who was just there to see the activity created by US and Polish forces. The activity became tense when a local Afghan National Policeman located an old RPG round lying in a small hole about 50 meters from the clinic. All of the locals were herded to a safe area behind a wall. Once the crowd was safe and informed by an ADT interpreter of what was happening Polish engineers arrived and prepped the round for destruction. In a matter of minutes the round was destroyed and the clinic resumed operation. Such discarded explosives are prevalent across Afghanistan from many decades of fighting.
The day was brought to a climactic end when the American Soldiers and local kids engaged in a full out snowball fight. The local kids, having many years of practice, came out victorious. The PRT and ADT soldiers retreated to their armored trucks covered in snow and mud but the local children continued their onslaught of snowballs and laughter.
Medical clinic security is not a normal mission requirement for the Texas ADT. This mission support was requested by the PRT and was eagerly supported by the ADT command. It’s the ADT way of assisting other units on our FOB in a “One team, one fight” mentality. It also helps to continue our overall mission of stability for the future of Afghanistan.