When I left New Zealand I decided that I would be open minded about the impending operation in Afghanistan.

The flight into Bamyan province was exhilarating and the snowy mountainous scene was picturesque. The walk into Kiwi Base from the plane was one I, and many others, will never forget as we met the smiling faces of our command team. I also noticed the enjoyment displayed by the outgoing kiwi team, many no doubt excited to be going home to their families. 

Kiwi Base is wonderfully set out, has all the necessities, and the meals prepared by the chefs are amazing. Although it’s no five star hotel, it is for now our home away from home. 

Only a week after arriving in Bamyan, I was preparing to patrol to Panjab. As a patrol medic my duties include providing medical care and health education to my patrol members, environmental health advice for our forward patrol base, as well as driving and chef duties. I was extremely busy during the first few weeks until I established a good routine. The drive to Panjab took about seven hours with a stop over in Yawkalang -  the roads are dangerous and not for the faint hearted.

'Scott Base' was the name of our forward patrol base as itis a good description of where we stayed; Panjab is at a higher altitude than Kiwi Base so was extremely cold.  To give you an idea how cold it was in Panjab, the chiller we kept our rations in was warmer than the outside, the minimum temperature I can recall was -28 degrees. 

One of my most memorable experiences of Panjab was when we secured a landing zone for an American helicopter to enable a parachute drop of humanitarian aid for the locals.  We then ensured the goods were evenly distributed to the local population. 

The smiles from the Afghan children and their families was truly rewarding, especially when warm blankets, food and clothing were given out. I knew that given the temperature, these gifts would make an immediate impact on their lives and they were all grateful for the effort we had put in to assist them.

Another aspect of my role in Panjab was assessing the local hospitals in Panjab and Waras, to see what extra medical equipment or education they required to function as a hospital. Some of the items requested had to wait for additional funding but an immediate impact was made when one of our patrol members fixed a minor problem on their ambulance. 

In December we travelled back to Bamyan due to the extreme weather conditions and I now share the roles and responsibilities of the Senior Medic/Environmental Health Technician at Kiwi Base, and medic for the Quick Reaction Team. As a member of the patrol I was excited especially the first time I got to drive a hummer and familiarize myself with the different weapon systems. The patrols are generally security presence patrols around the Gandak, Duabi area.  The local Afghan people were friendly and the meals they prepared for us were delicious.

Christmas Day I spent at Kiwi Base sharing a warming Christmas feast while we watched Christmas messages and photos from our families on a DvD put together by the deployment services team back in New Zealand.  We unwrapped the gifts our families had sent us and the Christmas packages from the RSA. I am truly grateful for the gifts as it made christmas day extra special.

To sum up my time here in Afghanistan, I feel privileged to be a member of the group as all personnel I have seen and met have displayed the four  core values of the Defence Force of courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity. 

Every day I have learned something new and the experience has been invaluable. I also have excellent support from my wonderful family back in New Zealand. 

A Maori whakatauki that I believe, which pertains to our contribution to the people of Afghanistan is ‘Ahakoa iti he pounamu’ which translates to ‘although our contribution is small, it is of greenstone’.

Naku noa na
By Leading Medic Tia Paitai, RNZN

Related Information
Read more about other medic's experiences or find out more about becoming a medic:

> Become a medic

> Life as an Able Medic by Haley Sparrow

> A white christmas in Afghanistan