Captain shares story of recent humanitarian-focused Afghanistan deployment Published May 13, 2011 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE, Okla. -- It was an enormous risk, but if successful the volunteer effort could directly benefit thousands of Afghan children. It would also strengthen relations between the Afghan National Army and local citizens. The team weighed the pros and cons, thought outside the box and, stepped outside the wire. During a six-month deployment to Afghanistan, Capt. Traci Bowman and a team of 10 Airmen and Soldiers gave donated clothes, candy and household goods to ANA soldiers for distribution to the local community. Over several months, they enabled six to 10 barrels, with 55-gallon drums, of supplies be delivered to each of six villages outside of forward operating bases. "We're not over there as occupiers; that's not our role. We're not trying to take over their country and make it a 52nd state," said the captain, who served as a combat advisor to an Afghan colonel, a group commander within the ANA Logistics Command. "We're there as guests, trying to give them an opportunity to create a stable and credible government. It wasn't about us; it was about them." Captain Bowman, deputy director of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Aerospace Sustainment Directorate's B-1 Production Support Branch, credits two enlisted Airmen -- Master Sgt. Robert Johnson of Fort Bliss, Texas; and Tech. Sgt. Chad Vaughn, of Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. -- with brainstorming and implementing the humanitarian nation-building project. "As a group, we were all sold on the fact of trying to make Afghanistan a better and stronger country, not only by training ANA, but also showing the local populace we were not just a big military machine," said Sergeant Vaughn. "We were truly there to assist the people." Captain Bowman said when Sergeant Johnson told her his idea she said she jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it, citing the impact the project with have on Afghan children as her primary cause for participating. "When those children are older, they have two ways to go. They can either love us and support us for helping their country and be the kind of citizens Afghanistan needs or, they can feel anger and hatred toward us and be the exact people that are trying to kill us," the captain said. "The only we're going to win this, is if those children have that sense of pride and want to grow up to be Afghan soldiers, and they don't get that if I give them the candy." The team set out to make a difference. But, it was no easy feat. For each mission they scheduled, days of logistical planning preceded. "We never just went out; we took it very seriously," the captain said. "I'm also a 'loggie' and a mom, so I looked at it as my family going on this trip in a 37,000-pound truck and I need to get them there and home safe and secure. We planned a lot longer than the mission actually took." Sergeant Johnson said Captain Bowman was a huge part of why the mission was successful. "Captain Bowman was an integral part of mission planning and covered all aspects of the execution phase in depth," he said. "Her keen planning skills were a lynch pin to the overall mission." Sergeant Vaughn agreed. "She was able to use her charm and logistician background to enable our team to get any type of equipment from ammunition and radios to paint," he said. "Captain Bowman was not afraid to speak up and correct something if it was wrong." Since her return home, the captain has captivated Tinker audiences with her story. But, Karen Hagar, the captain's supervisor, said she is not surprised by Captain Bowman's involvement. "I think it was an excellent opportunity to build cohesiveness in a country that is so divided," said Karen Hagar, OC-ALC B-1 Production Support chief and the captain's supervisor. "Captain Bowman has a great rapport with people and motivates them with her outstanding can-do attitude. She has been dedicated to make things better for the Afghans."