Well here I am, almost done turning over my job (the rest of the PRT is still not even here yet, probably stuck in Bagram just like we were).
My job involves a lot of redundancy. There are no fewer than four "trackers", excel spreadsheets which must be updated because someone likes to look at them. In addition, there is an online (with slow connection speeds of course) data repository into which we must upload all of our documents concerning any project. We must have paper copies as well, naturally. And the signed paper copies must be scanned in and uploaded to previously mentioned repository. Paper copies must be kept for at least 3 years. Storage facility?? I think not.
Now on to missions. If the Brigade even approves a mission to go QA/QC (quality assurance/control) check a worksite (they think this place is like dangerous or something), the B.S. continues once we get back. QA visit forms must be filled out (actually a very useful tool). Results must be emailed to the contractor (makes sense). Then we have to upload the forms to previously mentioned repository. Any pictures we took on the visit? That's right, respository. Now, what does the colonel who commands Brigade (who won't let us go out to scarry places) want? Storyboards.
Let me tell you about a storyboard. A storyboard is an intricate Powerpoint slide (only one) that gives a snapshot of whatever you want the big man to see, showing as much information on one slide as possible, shown to the big man for 17 seconds before he says "Next!" to his lackey at the keyboard. Time spent looking at said storyboard: 17 seconds. Time spent creating storyboard? At least 30 minutes. One storyboard per mission, right? No, one per QA visit, one per conversation with Mullah/Shura/District Governor/Random Elder Dude.
End result? I will be completely amazed if I get any actual reconstruction work done dispite all the BS paperwork (although the repository is an excellent tool, if used correctly which we don't). Probability I will blow off storyboards until yelled at at least twice? High.
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Dear Dude on the Wall,
ReplyDelete"The more things change, the more they stay the same." I understand about the reports, having done 11 months and 23 days of reports in Vietnam. You should also be able to get some real work done--just don't sleep. Just finished a wonderful book about Vietnam: Mark Moyer, Triumph Forsaken: the Vietnam War, 1954-1965. We were winning for almost a decade. Then the U.S. Ambassador, a Republican political hack named Henry Cabot Lodge, arranged for a coup and then the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, against the wishes of Kennedy. Then chicken-hawk Johnson and, with McNamara, took over and ran against the advice of the generals, taking baby steps in escalating the American involvement. All sad, but instructive. Get a good commanding general, let him go, run at full tilt and do counterinsurgency. Give it your best, dude. And remember, to paraphrase Jesus, "the assholes, like the poor, will always be with us." But winning soldiers win, in spite of them.
I have to say that I was on the other side of this as CJ9 staff asking for this stuff. You always have someone to answer to when the question is asked about what we are doing with CERP funds. Lots of congressional, VIP, media, NGO, IGO and interested command staff attention on CERP funds and what we are accomplishing with them. Always have to justify the projects. Some of it goes back to earlier misuse of CERP funds and some is just to justify our existence up the chain from battalion, brigade, region, ISAF, US, including UN, USAID etc. Metrics - gotta love metrics and have lots of them, but what can you really truly accurately measure in your short time there? Yeah, lots of data calls and CIM sucks over there. Hope it gets better.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, keep you head down and say hi to the ADT for me. Hope things are working out for the PRT and ADT on the ground there and that you guys are coordinating. I'd love to hear about it - ADTs were my project when I was over there. Kim