Lt Col Jesse Arnstein USAF was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2014. Jesse has been sending correspondence and photos to us – which you will find below the “Jersey Strong” article. He gives a true insight of what it’s like for him being deployed – his life, duties, feelings and the Afghan people. Jess is due to come home in October.  We look forward his safe return.

Jersey Strong

Lt. Col. Jesse Arnstein, right, and Tech. Sgt. Chris Donohue at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan. Both Airmen are deployed from the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing. (Courtesy photo)

by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht
177th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

6/11/2014 – KABUL, AFGHANISTAN —
7,000 miles from New Jersey, two 177th Fighter Wing Airmen unexpectedly became neighbors at a forward operating base (FOB) on the outskirts of Kabul while serving on separate missions.

Lt. Col. Jesse Arnstein, assigned to the 177th Logistics Readiness Squadron, is deployed as the Public Affairs Director for the task force that oversees U.S. detainee operations. Tech. Sgt. Chris Donohue, from the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron, is deployed as a combat advisor and Joint Terminal Attack Controller for the joint U.S./Albanian mission.

Arnstein’s duties include responding to inquiries from major news outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press, as well as coordinating on updates to senior U.S. government officials.

“The mission is tremendously rewarding,” said Arnstein. “It [the mission] has the potential to be very high-profile; from answering congressional inquiries, to preparing responses to questions from the most well-known western media outlets, to dealing with other national governments.”

“It’s also exhilarating to regularly interact with foreign soldiers and civilians,” said Arnstein.

Arnstein was amazed to come across a fellow “Jersey Devil” at his FOB.

“I did a double-take as I spotted the New Jersey State flag outside a cabin on the FOB,” said Arnstein. “I went inside to investigate, and to my amazement I saw a familiar face – Tech. Sgt. Chris Donohue.”

Donohue, already a seasoned veteran from his time in the Marine Corps and the New Jersey Army National Guard is an advisor for the Afghan National Army’s (ANA) 1st Mobile Strike Force (MSF). The MSF is a quick reaction force designed to preemptively attack, disrupt, and destroy enemy operations.

“We have a very busy schedule, but it is rewarding to see the ANA take the lead as we begin to transfer into Operation Resolute Support,” said Donohue.

Operation Resolute Support is the post-2014 NATO training and advisory mission, which will see the ANA self-sufficient and relying less on coalition forces.

Arnstein reflected on the deployment, and how the people back home have made him Jersey Strong.

“Communications have been difficult, but the expressions of concern, gratitude and support from family and friends are humbling and so very meaningful,” said Arnstein. “The mission here is fascinating, and I’m working with some of the finest people I have ever known.”

LETTERS and PHOTOS FROM JESSE ARE LISTED BELOW

Letter 1 / Letter 2 / Letter 3 / Letter 4 / Letter 5 / Letter 6

Lt Col Jesse Arnstein – Photos -click on image to view all photos 

Letter 1 – from Lt Col Jesse Arnstein USAF

Next month we honor the 70^th Anniversary of D-Day, and the beginning of the Allies defeating the Nazis.  It’s poignant for all Americans, as Nazi dreams of expansion included conquering the United States of America and many have European family roots.

It is a particularly powerful day for me personally.  My grandmother is a first generation American (She’s in great health, and sends me letters every week).   Several times she’s told me of her 1938 summer stay in Poland, and frolicking with young cousins there who taught her Polish.  Within two years, nearly all of them were murdered in the Holocaust.  She cries at the memory of them, and their innocence.  I keep a photo of these cousins in my home office, to remind me what could have been, but for America….. read more

Letter 2 –  from Lt Col Jesse Arnstein USAF

Wartime illustrates the worst of human nature- violence, hatred, evil, death. Dealing with terrorists captured on the battlefield initially tempted me to be cynical and jaded. But the more time I spend here, the more I see that wartime inspires remarkable unselfishness, magnanimity, and generosity in others.

For example, we are inundated with care packages from anonymous US citizens. My own friends and family have shown tremendous support for Jill, Aaron, and Sarah. They have also been tremendously concerned for my own welfare and have given me encouragement that inspires me to endure. The outpouring of gratitude is humbling and so very appreciated…..read more

Letter 3 – from Lt Col Jesse Arnstein USAF

Following my past observations of a more serious nature, this passage describes the typical lifestyle at my deployed location, Post X (I can’t use the true name due to security concerns).

Living Under Uncle Sam’s Roof – I’m re-living my childhood here at Post X. Yes, being a service member at Post X is very similar to an adolescent’s lifestyle. Military members are sometimes called “G.I.’s,” short for “Government Issue” because all their possessions were stamped with those words. G.I. an apt description as the military provides everything to us just as a parent would…. read more

Letter 4 – from Lt Col Jesse Arnstein USAF

Women in Afghanistan – One way the military society differs from the general American society is that there are far less women.  Women make up about 15% of the personnel at my deployed location.   Lack of interaction with women is much more noticeable on deployment than stateside since you’re in a military environment 24/7.  Back home I interact with plenty of women off-duty and my best friend and closest confidant is a woman (Jill, of course).

We all wear the same uniform, and there’s not much difference in mens’ and womens’ duty performance.  We live in separate buildings, but that’s about the only difference in daily activity.  I have confidence that women soldiers will get the job done just as professionally and competently as a man would.

But there are some subtle differences I’ve noted, which usually involve personality.  Women generally have a bit of tenderness, which is comforting in an austere environment.  This softness is especially welcomed since we live in a former junkyard (still retains many of these characteristics), and are surrounded by dust, men, trucks, and guns.  I miss the calming signs of nature, and occasionally steal away to an edge of the compound where there are a few trees, birds, and lovely weeds.  I was excited to even see a mosquito!  Speaking with women in a social setting can provide a comforting feeling similar to the aura in this corner of the base…. read more

Letter 5 – from Lt Col Jesse Arnstein USAF

There are those who stand behind the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are indispensable.  Without these people the military wheels would grind to a halt in short time.  They share the sacrifices of those in uniform, but are rarely recognized.  These are the heroes behind the soldiers:  The spouses and children in military families.

Operation Enduring Freedom affects more than just those in uniform.  The sacrifices family members endure is inconceivable to most Americans.  How many people would take a job that required them to periodically leave their families for 2 to 12 months?   How would you react if your spouse took that job?  Just imagine for a moment that you had to explain to your spouse that you were leaving them for six months or more to be in a war zone.  Or picture yourself on the receiving end of such news.  Most people cringe at the thought of having to tell their spouse they will be gone a few nights.

And then there’s the children.  How do you explain to a nine year old that Daddy will gone through the summer and be back when you’re well into the next grade?  There will be no wave jumping in the ocean, no catching fireflies, and family vacations this summer.  And how does a 12 year old boy cope with not having a father around to take him to baseball games, help him with homework, and play catch?….read more

Letter 6 – from Lt Col Jesse Arnstein

Oh, the people you’ll meet…..Dr. Seuss’s book titled “Oh, the places you’ll go” tells about the forthcoming adventures people have while traveling the road of life.  Here’s a diverse assortment of people I’ve met and the lessons they have taught me:

Double Glee:  There are many unusual sights in a deployed setting.  And if you look close enough, one can often see something special.   Last month my unit relocated to a large airfield because Camp Phoenix (the previous location) was closing down.  There was extra office furniture, most of which got sent somewhere else for future use.  But some office desks were falling apart, so we destroyed them.  I had the great pleasure of seeing an office desk tossed off the second floor balcony and smash onto the ground.  Tossing my desk off the balcony is something I’ve often wanted to do.  For anyone who has ever had work frustration, this is a great stress outlet!

There happened to be almonds in a desk draw, and upon impact the almonds were cast amongst a 15 foot diameter.  Some of the almonds remained in the draw, and some launched onto the surrounding gravel.  A diminutive, elderly Afghan woman who cleans the building picked up every individual almond, both those in the draw and those in between the gravel rocks, and placed them in her pocket….read more