KABUL, Afghanistan -- A 21st Theater Sustainment Command sergeant major deployed with the 16th Sustainment Brigade has taken a mentorship role with the first Afghan National Police female graduate of the Kabul Military Training Center's Sergeants Major Academy.
Sergeant Maj. Donna King, an automated logistics specialist and operations sergeant major for the Deputy Command-Support Operations, NATO Training Mission Afghanistan and native of Monticello, Ark., met Afghan Sgt. Maj. Maryam Tabish at the KMTC graduation ceremony at the end of last year.
The two spoke briefly, took a few photos together and began not only an enduring peer mentorship but also a friendship.
"At our first meeting, she and I discussed several topics, and we bonded instantly," said King. "Despite the vast cultural, behavioral and lingual differences, we found that we are very similar in many ways. I made myself available for her and she gladly accepted me as her mentor."
The pair discussed everything from career to family and discovered that, despite their differences, they are very much the same.
"We talked about our families and found that we both come from a family of nine siblings and that we are both very family oriented," said King. "I shared with her how I value hard work and education, which is also important to her as well. She soldiers during the day and goes to school at night; at one point in my career, I did the same. I discovered that she had some of the same hopes and dreams that I do as a woman and also as a leader."
Speaking to other Afghan women about their concerns and struggles, King said, some have expressed that their family members do not want them to have anything to do with the military, while others' husbands and family members are encouraging and supportive. Tabish's fiancée, she said, is very supportive of her having a career.
King meets Tabish at least once a week and says mentorship is critical to the success of her development and Afghanistan's future.
"Throughout my military career, I have had several mentors," said King. "I realized early on, there was no way that I could have made it on my own. Everybody needs somebody, which is why I reached out to her and plan to continue to make myself available for her."
A different country, army, language and culture don't intimidate King when it comes to mentoring Soldiers. It's a part of who she is she said.
"Mentoring is in my heart. I know that no one can make it in this world without some form of mentorship. If given the opportunity, I will without hesitation, serve as a mentor for other Afghan women to allow them to see the hope within themselves and help preserve the opportunities for them to contribute to a better future."
King said she hopes women will continue to play a role in Afghanistan's future and reach out to help other women accomplish their goals.
"Many of the women have come to expect the right to an education, the freedom to choose their future and the opportunity to get good jobs," said King. "I only hope in the years to come, after 2014, this type of critical work can continue"
King was also asked to be guest speaker at the recent ceremony for the first Afghan National Army females to graduate from Regional Military Training Center-West in Heart, Jan. 23. They were the first females to graduate from an ANA training center other than Kabul Military Training Center, marking the signs of progress for women in Afghanistan.
Making a difference, said King, is what's important to her and she hopes that one day the women of Afghanistan will have more opportunities.
"Women are valuable and irreplaceable resources; if we expect for this country to continue to grow and prosper, they must be included," said King. "If I could just bring about a change in one Afghan woman's life or job performance through mentoring, I will have accomplished my goal personally as well as professionally."
(Lantin is a public affairs NCO assigned to the 16th Sustainment Brigade deployed to Afghanistan and attached to NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan on a nine-month combat tour.)
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