A recent message indicated that 2009 had the highest number of suicides for any given year in the Army. I’d like to know what you think are the causes of this sad reality. Tell me what you think!... Read more here

US medical troops working throughout Iraq and Afghanistan teach new, more modern skills for health care, as well as providing basic humanitarian aid to the local population.

A medical symposium at Babil Maternity Hospital in Iraq’s Babil province in July highlighted the differences between Iraqi and American nurses, including education, practical skills and critical-thinking skills “The American nurses are here to help the Iraqi nurses by being a role model for the nursing profession,” said Army Capt. Sharon Owen, brigade nurse for Company C, 172nd Support Battalion, a Cincinnati native. “Things have to change in Iraq. By educating and giving the nurses here some of the knowledge we have, we can start empowering the nursing profession.”... Read more here

Father Giuseppe Moretti heads a Catholic congregation in a most unusual location. Father Moretti, age 71, is the only Roman Catholic priest in Afghanistan. His congregation meets in a small white building inside the Italian Embassy in Kabul.

According to the Vatican, there are just 250 Catholics in Afghanistan. Father Moretti said about 150 people regularly attend Mass inside the embassy. All are members of the international community. He recalled that Gen. Dan McNeil, former commander of U.S. forces and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, was among the regular Mass attendees.... Read more here

A new school for girls recently opened in Panjshir Province in Afghanistan. ADM Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a best-selling author, and Afghan officials all were on hand for the opening.

Also present at the opening of the Peshgur School for Girls, was Lima, a 16-year-old girl from another school, who translated the Chairman’s remarks from English into Dari for the large crowd of local children, village elders and provincial leaders.... Read more here

Relationships make the world go ’round. Husband and wife, parent and child, friend to friend…we exist in relationship with other people. And as any couple knows, relationships take work to succeed.

Troops in Afghanistan are at work building relationships too–handing out candy to children, helping build schools, irrigation systems and roads. Building relationships with people with few resources or jobs and little contact with people from outside their tiny mountain communities.

But with patience and time, slowly, relationships are building. Let us keep these relationship building troops in our prayers as they work to help the children and families of Afghanistan.... Read more here