Live From Afghanistan: Wisconsin’s Agribusiness Development Team ready for new mission

By Col. Darrel Feucht

Commander, 82nd Agribusiness Development Team

The Wisconsin National Guard’s 82nd Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) — also known as JTF-Badger — have been doing great things right from the start here at Camp Wright in Asadabad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan. We have acclimated in short order and have settled in to our quarters and office space.

The team has been busy since day one. The agriculture section has traveled to several demonstration farms in the valley already and have conducted numerous key leader engagements (KLE). The intent of these KLEs is to meet the Afghan stakeholders and determine what we can do to meet their agricultural goals in each district. The security force (SECFOR) provides security coverage for everyone whenever we go on missions. These Soldiers and Airmen are second to none and have adapted well to this kinetic environment.

As many of you have heard by now, there will be some changes affecting the 82nd ADT. Part of the team will be merging with the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team; the SECFOR will be going to the capital region as part of a security mission; and some Soldiers or Airmen may return home earlier than expected.

I have learned in life, though, that with change comes opportunity. The 82nd ADT will be afforded another opportunity to serve with this new mission. We are trained and ready for this challenge and, with minimal effort, meet the needs of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force that we all serve

We will reap the rewards of having conducted ourselves as the 82nd ADT for a time in Kunar Province. This team has worked hard, contributed to the agricultural efforts here and made lives better for the people in Kunar Province. We can now be proud that we are part of Wisconsin and Afghanistan history — to guide, to grow, to guard.