“My young major had given me a lot to ponder. Somehow, after all our pre-deployment training, hours of cultural
awareness briefings, mission analysis and pre-mission rehearsals, we had missed something vital and important. We’d
been wearing blinders without knowing it. Years of experience in Afghanistan hadn’t exposed it, nor had our doctrine,
lessons learned systems or transitions with outgoing units. Our commanders at all levels were tough and hardnosed and
knew how to fight. But this was a game we had to go back to school on.” (-Director of the Communications Action
Group, as quoted in the November 2014 edition of Army Magazine, p. 68).
Recommendation.
Incorporate gender dynamics awareness training into standard pre-deployment training. Analyze
gender considerations in all programming as part of standard analysis processes to determine factors
and variables in decision-making, so that half of a population will not be missed.
Implications.
If gender considerations are not taken into account when planning and executing programming, vital
information could be missed which may render an entire effort unsuitable. If, however, gender
considerations are taken into account and women are included, lives may be saved.
Event Description.
This lesson is based on the personal experience of U.S. Army COL (Retired) Richard D. Hooker, Jr.,
who wrote an article entitled “We’re in Business!” in the November 2014 edition of Army Magazine
(Vol. 64 Issue 11, p. 68). He was the director for the Communications Action Group for Regional
Command – East in Afghanistan. A copy of his article can be found via EBSCOhost.
Lesson Author: Ms. Katrina Gehman, Lessons Learned Analyst (Ctr), PKSOI
________________________________________________
Editor’s Note: The U.S. communications group described above is not the only group to reach
Afghan women via radio. There are several radio stations led by Afghan women and women’s
organizations throughout Afghanistan, many reaching isolated women in rural areas. Most notably,
local journalist Sediqa Sherzai runs Radio Roshani (“Enlightened Radio”) in Kunduz, a city home to
Afghanistan’s women’s movement but contested by the Taliban. The station encourages women to
assert their rights to participate in their communities, despite the Taliban’s opposition to public roles
for women in Afghan society. Radio Roshani broadcasts interviews with local women and readings
from the Quran to contest violent extremist interpretations of Islam and restrictions on women. Read
more at United States Institute of Peace: “Afghan Women Defend Their Rights Against the Taliban,”
James Rupert, (9 May 2017).
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