Local leaders in Afghan district meet each other, their future

By Staff Sgt. Shane HamannFebruary 15, 2013

Spin Boldak, Afghanistan meets its future
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – District leaders of Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meet at the district center to discuss cooperation and the future of the district, Feb. 11, 2013. The meeting was the first time government, military and civilian leaders have ever come together to solve ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meets its future
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army Soldier and Afghan Border Policeman exchange greetings after being assigned to the same area to provide security at the Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, district center for a district leaders' shura. The meeting was the first time that governmen... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meets its future
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, help secure the Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, district center for a district leaders' shura, Feb. 11, 2013. The shura was the first time government, military and civilian leaders in the district came t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meets its future
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – District leaders of Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meet at the district center to discuss the future of the district, Feb. 11, 2013. The meeting was the first time that government, military and civilian leaders have ever come together to solve problems in... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meets its future
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (From left) Shahib Jan, the Afghan Uniform Police highway patrol commander; Col. Abduhl Quayoum, the Spin Boldak Afghan Uniformed Police commander; Maj. Brian Carrico, Security Force Assistance Team Tombstone commander; and Capt. Gavino Rivas, a Rule... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meets its future
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meets its future
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Thomas M. Feltey, commander of 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, meets with Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, district leaders shortly after a shura at the district center, Feb. 11, 2013. The meeting brought together district leaders to discuss... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan (Feb. 14, 2013) -- The district of Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, is moving forward after government, military and civilian leaders met at the district center Feb. 11, to discuss the future of the district and to help ensure stability.

The meeting set a precedent by bringing together all of the key leaders in the district for the first time in order to promote cooperation and share problems and successes.

The leaders included the district governor, executive director, Afghan Uniformed and Border Police commanders, justice representatives, the mayor and influential businessmen and civilians.

"Today was the first time all of the players have gotten together," said Capt. Megan E. Piene, the commander of A Company, 81st Civil Affairs Battalion, from Fort Hood, Texas, which makes up part of the Spin Boldak District Support Team. "This is the first time this has ever happened. Where the military and civil side of government comes together."

"We had a nice discussion," said Mohammad Agha, the Spin Boldak district governor. "We were able to discuss a lot of the problems and solve most of them."

The problems that were mentioned were similar to those that might be brought up in town meetings in the United States. They included legal processes, infrastructure, commerce, health care, schools and security cooperation.

"This solves a problem district wide," said Piene. "So people aren't just concentrated in their little areas."

"We want to make sure that we coordinate," said Agha. "We all should sit down and present a problem so that we can come up with a solution."

Ultimately, the group agreed that having more coordination meetings would be the start to finding solutions to most of the problems in the district.

With more such meetings, the leaders of the Spin Boldak district can lay their problems on the table and solve them with everyone's input, said Piene.

"We concluded that, if you belong to any group, we all need to have meetings and discuss our concerns," said Agha. "Everybody needs to take their own responsibilities."

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