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Why Serve in Afghanistan?

FrontLines - September 2009

Shannon Darcy

A Q&A with Shannon Darcy, a health advisor to the Afghanistan-Pakistan Task Force who recently completed a rotation in Kabul

Q: What did you do, day to day?

A: It always varies day to day. You could come in and you could have some taskers from Washington. Or sometimes, we would get lucky enough, and we would do some field visits—meaning go visit hospitals and clinics outside of the compound, outside of Kabul.

Q: What was it like to be a woman working in Afghanistan?

A: Before I’d gone, I’d heard that it was tougher if you were a woman to work in Afghanistan, not just because of the local culture but because of the proportionate number of men to women. But I didn’t find it difficult.

Q: So, give me the pitch. Why should I serve in Afghanistan?

A: Right now there’s really no bigger call to arms than going to Afghanistan. You’re out in the field; you’re in a complex emergency. For somebody that wants to do development, that’s basically a dream come true. So, I would tell anybody to do it.

Q: Do you feel like you made a difference?

A: I don’t really like that phrase, “Do you make a difference?” I don’t think one person makes a difference. I was part of a team, and does that team make a difference? Sure, every single day. But the team isn’t just Americans. There are three Afghans that work on our health team. And to them, I don’t think they would sacrifice their life every single day to walk to the [Embassy] compound if they didn’t think they were making a difference—as a team—as a part of the U.S. government team out there. And that is one thing that you notice when you’re out there is the camaraderie in the mission. Not because one single person is leading this cause. It’s everyone working together, socializing together, really just to—not make a difference—but make it just a better place for people to live.

Q: So should I apply?

A: Heck, yeah, man! Yeah, definitely. ★

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