KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines typically come to mind when people think of those who are deployed. They, along with coalition forces, are the ones who are mentioned in the news. However, there is one group that has been here during 10th Mountain Division (LI) headquarters' tour in Afghanistan that many do not know about -- government employees.
There are two civilians who have been making big contributions at Regional Command South headquarters on Kandahar Airfield with the 10th Mountain Division who are familiar with deployments. William Steffen del Solar, RC-S safety director, is serving his fifth deployment with the division. Carolyn R. Ferguson, executive assistant to Maj. Gen. James L. Terry, RC-S and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander, was preparing to return home from her third.
Del Solar has been here since the end of April. His office split the deployment in half, about six months each, so that there would be fresh eyes on their mission. Del Solar said he knew he would be going overseas when he was hired by the Safety Office in May 2003.
"We are not like the rest of the civilians. When the unit goes, we go. We're assigned to the unit. I know I'm going to deploy," he explained.
Unlike del Solar, Ferguson was given the option and agreed to come to Afghanistan when she was asked by Terry. On her last deployment, she went as executive assistant to the commanding general at the time, now Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, where Terry had been the deputy commanding general of operations. When Terry took over command of 10th Mountain, she anticipated an invitation on this deployment.
"I knew he was taking command, and I told my husband, 'You know he's going to ask me to go with him,' and he did," she said. "It was the day of his change of command, and he said, 'Hey Carolyn, can I fly you over?'"
Ferguson began working at Fort Drum in 1990 as secretary to the commander of Division Artillery. When that commander moved up to headquarters to be the chief of staff in 1993, he asked her to accompany him. She eventually worked as assistant to the deputy commanding generals of operations and support before ultimately landing in the commanding general's office.
Del Solar moved to Fort Drum and into the Operations Company's safety office in 2003 after he made the transition from active-duty military life back into the civilian world and earned a degree in geology.
"I had done safety and environmental work in the past, taught risk management and done safety-related things in the Army, and I got lucky -- they picked me," he said.
His job consists of assisting the commander and staff in managing safety and risk management for RC-S. This includes not only U.S. forces, but NATO forces -- any Soldier, airmen, sailor or Marine from any nation and civilians, too, if they fall under the command of RC South.
"I am a consultant and adviser for fire, explosives, electrical, ranges, vehicles, accident investigation and accident analysis," he elaborated.
His office facilitates and supplies assets for any of the task forces that need support.
"We're another set of eyes to look at explosives and safety, either to make recommendations or supply something if we can," del Solar said.
He remarked that there is no job in the Army designed specifically for safety, which is why the position is filled by a civilian.
"You have to have a certain level of expertise," he said.
Similarly, Ferguson, who is in charge of officer and noncommissioned officer evaluation reports, scheduling, and all other administrative responsibilities for the general, observed how much her experience has been a benefit over here. She had the option to be flown occasionally to Afghanistan to take care of the same work, so she would not have to remain in-country the whole year, but she declined.
"I would rather go the whole time this time or not at all because it's disruptive if you come back and forth -- one, for the organization, and two, for my family," she explained.
However, it's not just the administrative benefits that she has reaped during her time here.
"The 10th Mountain -- my team -- wanted me to come with them. They take care of me and make sure I have no issues while being over here. And I think its great continuity," she said. "If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have gotten to know all of the Soldiers, the officers, the NCOs, everybody within (Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion). I wouldn't have known any of them like I do now."
That same focus on the positive and safe environment of others is something that del Solar's time in theater has allowed him to further develop from a safety standpoint during his tour here.
"Things can always be better, so I can always do something," he said.
After an investigation into some nonbattle injury casualties from Combined Team Uruzgan in June, he and a team of engineers put together a new standard operating procedure for assessing and navigating water obstacles in the field that will be incorporated into future field manuals and documents.
"Your Mountain buddies take care of you here, and you've got to take care of each other there too," he said about the return to Fort Drum.
"I think it truly shows you, by coming here, what the Soldiers go through because you have no idea when you're back home," Ferguson said. "I've been gone a year, and when you have those back-to-back-to-back deployments like the military do … I don't know how they do it, I really don't. I think it really gives you a better appreciation."
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