Don't trust the locals. Ever. EVER!
I have several Afghani friends, the majority of the local national (LN) population is looking for all the same things we are...stability, income, and a better way of life for their families. I have had them bring me food from their houses and taken meals with them in my compound. Yes, I have gotten sick after doing this, but then again I have gotten sick in the Philippines, Dubai and America (arby's, McDs, Dominoes and some random salad bars and public buffets).
This was true for Iraq, I can't imagine it's different there.
So this statement says to me--I have never been but it has to be exactly like Iraq. Yep, exactly the same way Chinese and Japanese are the same.
Remember, many of the contractors are unarmed. USE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, move in teams or at least don't go alone. You will be surprised at how quickly safe becomes unsafe.
Almost ALL contractors are unarmed (except for the security companies). There are very strict rules on who can and cannot have a weapon in Afghanistan, it is a huge drawn out process now-way more difficult than it was just a few short years ago.
If you end up on one of the awesome bases, you'll hear the sirens. Don't be the retard that runs 500m to a bunker when you could have proned out and not looked dumb.
The rule is upon impact or hearing of the siren (if they have one) is everyone drops to the ground for 2 minutes. No one ever runs directly for a bunker, so do not worry about "looking the fool" because evidently coolness is of major concern when in a war zone.
Truth of the matter is a rocket comes with your name on it, a mortar comes to whom this may concern. Therefore once you hear the impact occur, if you are still alive, then the message was not for you. If you hear the siren you get down to avoid incoming or shrapnel after it impacts.
Carry a good, weapon-useable knife if possible. A lot of the locals are scared enough of blades to not want to rape/rob/stab you if you have a way to defend yourself.
Carry a knife for many reasons...none of which have ever been to threaten or intimidate LNs. I have yet to see any living everyday as a pirate...looking to rape, pillage and plunder. This is a very asinine statement and is collectively saying that all LNs want to rape, steal or stab you. This could apply anywhere...New York or downtown Houston.
LNs you will encounter on any military installation have already been screened to work on the base. Does this mean none of them are bad guys? Absolutely not...but this does mean a pre screen has occurred. If a 3 letter organization can get themselves blown up by a LN on a secret squirrel base, then you too can be harmed or killed...but again, this could be Anywhere, USA.
Be ready for some godforsaken heat. It's going to suck.
Right now it is cold! This is why cold weather survival is part of your deployment training. From Bagram north to Kabul and to the west it is SNOWING and it is cold!!!
I spent months at a FOB which no longer exists called Chagharan...I was at 9200 feet altitude. It was 50 below ZERO in the winter months.
The majority of Afghanistan is at altitude, it is a mountainous desert. If it is not snowing such as at Kandahar, then you will be in a brief yet chilling rainy season. Kandahar is at 3200 feet...I actually wear pants now as opposed to shorts (I am a Yeti and thrive in lower temps).
During the summer, yes it gets hot..it is a dry heat, think AZ not FL filled with humidity. Temps get NO WHERE near the temps in Iraq (yes I can reference IRQ cause I have been there done that). Kandahar again is one of the more hotter areas, temps hit a high of 120s...have been some short periods where it almost hit 130 but this was brief and not the norm.
For the most parts, it remains in the low 100s and is very tolerable. Drink plenty of water, stay hydrated, dress appropriately (like you would anywhere) and all is good.
I apologize that I do not know what I am talking about and have so very little experience to contribute anything of value to this conversation. Maybe someone who has never been there or only been there briefly can assist???
h34r:
