The Foreign Service Journal, March 2022

52 MARCH 2022 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL I was assigned to the Department of State team at Doña Ana village at Fort Bliss in New Mexico. This location is described as the most austere of the eight military installations where Afghan guests reside. By many accounts, it is indeed quite austere. My first week there revealed, however, just how impressive the operation is. The U.S. Army stood up the “village” in a matter of three or four days. A range of essential services are provided to our Afghan guests including nutritious and plentiful meals throughout the day; good quality medical care, including mental health services; educational opportunities for both children and adults (of the eight bases, Doña Ana has the only established informal school); a play area for kids; a dedicated Women’s Tent; sporting events; and more. During my one-month stint with Team Fort Bliss, I was fortu- nate to work on a diverse range of priorities, well beyond my role as a medical and community health liaison. I collaborated with interagency colleagues and partner organizations to address the more immediate needs and concerns of our guests, actively advocated for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services, produced informational materials, helped empower Afghan women and girls, taught financial liter- ary classes, organized conversational English classes for adult learners and supported ongoing case management. On one occasion, I met a guest whose spouse was strug- gling with multiple health conditions, including hearing loss. Her hearing aid had been lost in the chaos of the airlift from Kabul. They had been referred to the local hospital in El Paso, Texas, and had seen an audiologist. Since insurance didn’t cover the cost of a hearing device, however, nothing could be done to help her. I decided to source a hearing amplifier froma local retailer, hoping it could help in some way. Withinminutes of putting on the device, the woman began shedding tears of joy.This was the first time inmonths that she could clearly hear her 5-year-old son. I, too, was ecstatic that something seemingly small would be someaning- ful to her. In fact, nearly everyone on the State team spent their own money for the benefit of others.The desire to help was contagious. I was awestruck and humbled by the unwavering resilience of the Afghans with whom I interacted.Their collective optimism was a forcemultiplier. I witnessed the extraordinary commitment, dedication and passion of my fellow colleagues fromacross the U.S. government, who worked diligently and tirelessly each day to serve those in need and never lost sight of our primarymission and goals. Strong teamwork shaped our common vision, and the welfare of our Afghan guests was at the forefront of our daily actions. I am very grateful to USAID, and in particular the USAID/Zambia mis- sion, for affording me this remarkable, unrivaled experience and the opportunity to serve. Minal Amin is a career USAID Foreign Service health officer currently serving as the HIV and tuberculosis division chief at USAID/Zambia. She has been a USAID FSO for nearly six years and previously served in Nigeria. She served as a medical and community health liaison for Operation Allies Welcome at Fort Bliss in New Mexico. A session on résumé writing and employment opportunities is conducted in the Women’s Tent at Fort Bliss. MINALAMIN