environmental problems.

Equally appalling, many

important Government rec-

ords, such as those associated

with land ownership, have

been lost or destroyed; and

utilities such as electrical

power are insufficient to satis-

fy the needs of the population,

especially in rural areas.

The social, economic, and

political landscape is further

complicated by intense ethnic,

tribal, and family loyalties

that are much stronger than

those to government.

Today 40% of Afghanistan's

food supply is imported from

other countries. We believe

that this acute lack of food

security has a destabilizing

effect on the population and

that by facilitating improve-

ments in agricultural produc-

tivity and market efficiency,

we can help legitimize the

new government while

providing employment oppor-

tunities for Afghans who

might otherwise be financially

motivated to join or support

the insurgency.

As Gen. McChrystal says in

his November 2009 training

guidance, we cannot win this

war simply by killing insur-

gents; we must win over the

people of Afghanistan.

With approximately 65% of

the population of Nangarhar

engaged in agriculture or agri-

B efore discussing the agri

-business development

mission in Afghanistan, it is

important to understand how

the country's fledgling gov-

ernment is organized and

what other stakeholders influ-

ence the agricultural and mar-

ket forces there.

Afghanistan is roughly the

size of Texas and is divided

into 34 Provinces. The Mis-

souri Agri-business Develop-

ment Team is responsible for

assisting the counterinsurgen-

cy effort in the Nangarhar

Province; approximately the

size of Connecticut, which is

located on the east side of the

country on the Pakistan bor-

der. For many years,

Nangarhar has been consid-

ered the "breadbasket of Af-

ghanistan."

Nangarhar consists of 22

Districts, each of which has or

will have its own District

Center, District sub-governor,

and District Agriculture Ex-

tension Agent. The AEAs do

not work for the District sub-

governor, but rather, for the

province's Director of Agri-

culture, Irrigation, and Live-

stock (DAIL).

Nangarhar University, lo-

cated in Jalalabad, specializes

in agriculture and medicine.

However, it appears that there

is little coordination between

the university and the DAIL

and his AEAs; and potentially

the university could play a

larger role in agricultural de-

velopment than it does at this

time.

The situation in Afghanistan

is complex and dynamic and

the country is burdened by a

host of factors that inhibit

progress. These include an

ongoing insurgency, an infra-

structure devastated by 30

years of warfare, and a rela-

tively new government be-

lieved to be corrupt by much

of the population. Additional-

ly, many of the former linkag-

es between formal and infor-

mal government and non-

government institutions -

those that made up "the hu-

man network" - appear to

have been severed during the

Soviet occupation and further

extinguished during the reign

of the Taliban.

The country has also seen

intensive deforestation over

the last three decades which

has caused a multitude of

Nangarhar was once known as

the “bread basket of Afghani-

stan”; today 40% of the food

supply is imported.

Commander ’ s Corner I n i t i a l m i s s i o n a s s e s s m e n t

The Muleskinner Report Mo Agri-business Development Team IV

J u n e 2 5 , 2 0 1 0 V o l u m e 4 , I s s u e 1

D r iv ing the

Team

Commander

Col. Fortune

Executive Officer

Lt. Col. Charles

Senior Enlisted

Senior Master Sgt.

Blankenship

I ns ide th i s

i s sue :

Contiguous

Mobilization Works

3

Boots on the ground 4

Sowing seeds of

success

5

The Muleskinner

Team Section

6

Meet the

Commander

6

Meet the Team

7

Gunners on target

on the range

8

Crack that whip 9

Resources and

contact information

10

Init ia l assessment continued from page 1

P a g e 2 V o l u m e 4 , I s s u e 1

culture-related activities, we believe

that agri-business development is the

key to winning the hearts and minds

of the Nangarhar people.

The question facing MO ADT IV is

how to maximize our impact with the

limited time and other resources we

have at our disposal. While past MO

ADTs have undertaken various "brick

and mortar" projects and have em-

ployed many Afghan laborers in the

process, the overall impact of these

projects on agricultural productivity

in Nangarhar as a whole has been

limited.

Our challenge as ADT IV (we are

the fourth iteration of the MO ADT)

is to find ways to leverage the gov-

ernment and other institutions to mul-

tiply our efforts, increase our reach,

employ as many local Afghans as

possible, further legitimize the gov-

ernment, and simultaneously put pro-

cesses, procedures, and controls in

place to ensure our efforts are carried

on once the MO ADT mission is

complete.

We see a number of courses of ac-

tion, several of which have already

been initiated by ADT III, that can

help us achieve this.

First, we can provide training and re-

sources that will empower the AEAs to

better serve the farmers in their districts.

For instance, we can follow in the foot-

steps of ADT III and contract Afghan

labor to build education centers and soil

laboratories for the AEAs so they can, in

turn, conduct classroom training for

local farmers while helping those farm-

ers improve their soil quality.

Second, we can continue to assist

Nangarhar University in improving its

agricultural research capabilities, the

output of which can be shared with the

DAIL and his AEAs to improve their

effectiveness.

Third, we can further empower the

University and the DAIL by demonstrat-

ing how our strategic partners (Lincoln

University, the University of Missouri,

the Missouri Department of Agriculture,

and the Missouri Farm Bureau) can pro-

vide them world-class "reach back"

products - data, training, mentoring, or

other information products - upon re-

quest.

We will also consider other methods

such as working with the DAIL to im-

prove his use of the media - especially

radio- to train farmers and allow them to

experience, first hand, what their govern-

ment can do for them.

Looking to the long term, we might

also try to build an organization similar

to the Future Farmers of America or

establish an intern program that will

bring Afghans to the U.S. for training.

Whatever the case, MO ADT IV sees

itself as a catalyst to building and devel-

oping a human network in Afghanistan

that will continue to function effectively

long after we have left.

“...we believe that

agricultural development

is the key to winning the

hearts and minds of the

Nangarhar people.”

The ADT IV Intent is to train and empower the AEAs; hire local laborers; work with the DAIL to provide

outreach programs and communicate with the villages; and emplace processes, procedures and controls to

ensure gains in agricultural productivity can be sustained once the ADT mission is complete.

P a g e 3

C ontiguous

mobilization

worked for the

Missouri

National Guard’s Agri-

business Development

Team IV because it was the

most effective and efficient

model for achieving the

highest level of pre-

mobilization training

proficiency in the shortest

amount of time.

The phrase contiguous

mobilization describes a

training model where units

conduct pre-mobilization

training immediately prior

to mobilization. Under the

contiguous mobilization

model, ADT IV assembled

and trained together as a

cohesive team for

approximately one month,

then mobilized and moved

on to conduct post-

mobilization training.

ADT IV assembled at

Camp Clark Training Site

in Nevada, Missouri in

May. Over the next thirty

days, the team completed

crew-served weapons

qualification, individual

weapons qualification,

combat lifesaver training,

language training,

mandatory individual

training, mandatory leader

training, Army Warrior

Tasks, battle drills and a

wide variety of additional

training.

These tasks were trained

to Army standards and

validated by qualified

instructors.

Contiguous mobilization

offered a number of

significant advantages over

other start-and-stop

mobilization training

models that have significant

breaks in training before

mobilizing. Under

contiguous mobilization the

unit came together and

trained as a go-to-war team.

While this is important for

all units, it is especially

critical for ad hoc units,

such as ADTs.

Contiguous mobilization

gives these units time to

bond and form as teams.

Soldiers and Airmen

continuously build upon

prior training, with no skill

decay from long breaks in

training. Also, troops have

time to become accustomed

to their team, squad and

platoon assignments.

Families also benefit from

this arrangement since their

Soldier is in the state,

allowing Families to gain a

sense of the challenges of

mobilization while there is

still time to adjust.

Employers retain their

Citizen Soldiers until the

last possible moment, with

no intermittent periods of

missed work.

In addition to these

obvious training

advantages, contiguous

mobilization offers a

number of substantial

benefits for service

members and families.

For example, troops on

continuous orders for more

than thirty days receive

Basic Allowance for

Housing and Basic

Allowance for Subsistence

which Soldier under

different pre-mob training

models do not receive.

Additionally, Soldiers and

Airmen are eligible for

TriCare benefits and they

receive one additional

month of GI Bill benefits.

According to Article I,

Section 8 of the United

States Constitution which

reserves to the states the,

“authority of training the

Militia”, Governors and

Adjutant Generals have the

constitutional authority to

utilize the training

configuration they deem

best suited for their

Soldiers, Airmen and

Families.

Despite these compelling

arguments the contiguous

mobilization model has

critics.

In January 2007, the

Secretary of Defense

announced the twelve

month mobilization policy

for Reserve Component

Soldiers. Under this policy,

Army National Guard

Soldiers mobilize for no

more than 365 days, plus

allowable leave time.

Some senior leaders

believe contiguous

mobilization compromises

the spirit of that directive by

having Soldiers on orders

for a cumulative 13 months.

However, when put into

perspective, these concerns

are unfounded.

The Soldiers and Airmen

assigned to ADT IV have

received the best possible

pre-mobilization training in

the most effective, efficient

configuration that benefited

the unit, the Soldier, their

families and their

employers.

Why Contiguous Mobilization Works By Lt. Col. North Charles

T h e M u l e s k i n n e r R e p o r t

Article I, Section 8 of

the United States

Constitution reserves to

the states the

“authority of training

the militia”

B o o t s o n t h e g r o u n d

P a g e 4 V o l u m e 4 , I s s u e 1

T he Senior Leadership of ADT

IV traveled to Afghanistan in

May to conduct a pre-

deployment site survey in Nangarhar

Province where they will soon relieve

ADT III and take over the ADT mis-

sion at Forward Operating Base Fin-

ley-Shields.

Col. Michael Fortune, commander,

Lt. Col. North Charles, executive

officer, and Senior Master Sgt. Jerry

Blankenship, senior enlisted advisor,

spent a week touring their future

home.

The PDSS was planned to ensure a

smooth transition between the incom-

ing team, ADT IV, and the outgoing

team, ADT III, as well as to identify

any training requirements and chang-

es that may be necessary before the

new unit arrives in country.

In order to facilitate the hand-off, it

was crucial for the units’ leadership to

meet face-to-face with key Afghan

leaders and current coalition forces

leaders to establish continuity of com-

mand and to gain a true sense for

what will be required once deployed.

Still recovering from the long flight,

the trio spent their first day greeting

the Soldiers and Airmen of ADT III,

and the leadership of the 1st Special

Troops Battalion and the Provincial

Reconstruction Team. The ADT, STB,

and PRT - all of which reside at FOB

Finley-Shields - form what is called

“Team Nangarhar.”

The next few days were filled with

convoy trips around the province rang-

ing from a short one mile trip to an eight

hour mission. During one trip, the PDSS

team met with approximately 60 Agri-

culture Extension Agents that traveled

from all over Nangarhar to meet the new

command team at Sheshambag Re-

search Farm.

The longest mission to Torkum Gate

at the Pakistan border, took eight-hours.

The trip enabled ADT IV to observe the

produce traffic crossing the border both

to and from Pakistan. Most of the raw

agricultural products from Afghanistan

flow into Pakistan but in many instances

the produce is “taxed” locally. This

causes many to seek unofficial places to

cross the border and encourages a black-

market to flourish. Upon arrival in Pa-

kistan, a large percentage of the goods

are processed and shipped back to Af-

ghanistan to be sold at prices up to sev-

en times their original value. Part of the

ADT mission is to work with the Af-

ghanistan government to develop ways

to keep their local produce, and profits,

within their own borders.

During the next few days, several

project sites were visited as follow-up to

see how well the villages had main-

tained the projects and to evaluate their

usage and impact, including the condi-

tion and operation of five solar wells

constructed by previous ADTs.

Additionally, the leadership team was

briefed by the United States Agency for

International Development and U.S.

Department of Agriculture representa-

tives that operate in their area. Part of

the USAID and USDA task is to carry

on the long-term mission of sustaining

the projects and continuing to build up-

on the relationships put in place by the

ADTs. These two organizations re-

source multiple projects in Nangarhar

and communication is vital to ensure

no unnecessary duplication of pro-

jects occurs and that ADT projects

are mutually supportive of the desired

end-state.

Despite the hectic schedule, the

PDSS team still made time to visit

one-on-one with each section of ADT

III. Their input provided ADT IV a

“boots on the ground” perspective of

daily operations and they germinated

new ideas for the leaders to nurture

upon their return to training in Mis-

souri.

The final mission of ADT IV lead-

ership was an aerial reconnaissance

survey over the entire Nangarhar

Province. Maps are still inaccurate

and lack the detail leaders would like

to have, so the helicopter mission

allowed ADT IV the best visual dis-

play of the geographic differences in

the Nangarhar Province short of lead-

ing a mule through the mountains.

When it was all said and done, the

trip took 15-days, including travel.

While the trip to and from was ardu-

ous and lengthy, the ADT senior lead-

ership felt the PDSS was instrumental

to the successful turn-over and con-

duct of the ADT mission in

Nangarhar Province. The information

gleaned allowed them time to analyze

their training plans and adjust.

Train as you fight!

locals and ADT III team mem-

bers at a solar well project

site visited by Leaders

“Their input provided a “boots on

the ground” perspective of daily

operations and they germinated

new ideas for the leaders to

nurture upon their return to

training...”

By Senior Master Sergeant Jerry Blankenship

Sowing the seeds of success

P a g e 5 V o l u m e 4 , I s s u e 1

T he fourth rotation of Mis-

souri National Guard’s

Agri-business Development

Team, Subject Matter Expert

Section began training with its

Strategic Partners months before

their scheduled deployment to

Nangarhar Province, Afghani-

stan.

Members of the SME section

were personally selected for

their agricultural related back-

ground. In turn they enhance

their combined knowledge by

joining forces with multiple

organizations referred to as

Strategic Partners.

These organizations have vol-

unteered be part of a network of

information available for the

SMEs the Afghanistan govern-

ment, and Nangarhar Universi-

ty, providing expertise not read-

ily available to the Afghan agri-

cultural community.

In addition to training with

their Strategic Partners, the

SME section conducted training

with other individuals and or-

ganizations. The training pre-

pared the ADT to assist the

Nangarhar Director of Agricul-

ture, Irrigation, and Livestock,

along with his Agricultural

Extension Agents, to improve

the business practices, animal

husbandry, and farming practic-

es of farmers in Nangarhar.

Afghan citizens are less likely

to join insurgency groups if they

feel their government

provides necessary

services allowing

them to prosper and

be safe.

Multiple meetings

with the Strategic

Partners in March

and April laid the groundwork

for the extensive training pro-

vided to the SME section.

Initial training began with a

four day seminar conducted by

Strategic Partners. The repre-

sentatives each detailed the ca-

pabilities they could provide to

the team. Training also includ-

ed a visit to the Lincoln Univer-

sity campus and research farm

with various faculty members

explaining the types of expertise

available to the team.

Following the seminar, team

members participated in addi-

tional training throughout Mis-

souri. For example, some

SMEs traveled to the Horticul-

ture Agroforestry Research Cen-

ter in New Franklin to study

water management techniques

for agroforestry, which is the

use of trees to produce food,

fuel, and fiber. Another day,

team members traveled to the

Lincoln University Research

Farm to study husbandry of

small ruminants, which are ani-

mals with multiple stomachs

such as sheep and goats.

SME members continued their

agricultural studies after they

arrived at Camp Clark for pre-

mobilization training.

Pat Miller and Wayne Prewitt,

Vernon County Agriculture

Extension Agents, provided the

SME section with professional

lessons learned.

“The key to success as an Ag-

riculture Extension Agent is

utilizing good people skills,”

said Ms. Pat Miller.

Additionally, SME members

visited the Vernon County Re-

corder’s Office to learn the pro-

cess of recording, organizing,

and storing property deeds.

Soldiers and Airmen were

enlightened by a visit with Sam-

uel Troyer and his family on

their Old Order Mennonite farm

in Richards, to study non-

mechanized farming techniques

lacking internal combustion

equipment. They saw firsthand

what a small farm operation can

accomplish without electricity

using horsepower and ingenuity.

Also, the Association of Mis-

souri Electrical Cooperatives

provided training about rural

electrification and cooperatives.

The reach back capability

provided by the Strategic Part-

ners is an important aspect to

the ADT mission in Nangarhar.

The shared knowledge will pos-

itively impact mission accom-

plishment and assist in building

trust of the Afghan citizens in

their government.

Sgt. Rios (front)

and 2nd Lt.

McCall (rear)

observe tanks

used in aqua-

culture farming

research

“The key to

success as an

Agriculture

Extension Agent

is utilizing good

people skills”

The Subject Matter Expert Team of ADT IV visited the

Lincoln University Research Farm in April as part of training.

Members of SME team visit

country records office to

learn about property deeds.

By Capt. Joey Schmitz

Afghanistan."

Once in theater, his goal is

to extend the reach of the

ADT by empowering the

Agriculture Extension Agents

in each of the 22 districts of

Nangarhar Province to train

local farmers to increase their

productivity.

Fortune said that this “will

help legitimize the Afghan

government in the eyes of the

farmers and will dissuade

those farmers from supporting

the insurgency.” He also said

that "our mission is not just to

help them with their

agriculture; we must also

teach the Afghans a process

by which they can continue to

improve it on their own."

C ol. Mike Fortune took

command of Missouri's

fourth Afghanistan-bound

Agri-business Development

Team March 24.

Prior to that, Fortune served

as the Materiel Programs

Division Chief at Army

National Guard Headquarters

in Arlington, VA where he

managed the distribution of

new equipment to Army

National Guard units across

the country.

He is a graduate of the

Army's Senior Service

College Fellowship Program

at the University of Texas,

and holds an undergraduate

degree from the University of

Missouri - Rolla and Master's

degree from the University of

Missouri - Columbia.

Fortune is an aviator and

earlier in his career,

commanded what was then

Company B, 1/135th Attack

Helicopter Battalion in

Warrensburg. He is originally

from St. Louis.

With the ADT's pre-

mobilization training now

complete, Fortune commented

that he was very happy with

the unit's current level of

proficiency.

"The trainers at Camp Clark

simulated conditions in

theater to the extent possible

and we focused on physical

fitness training," Fortune said.

"If we continue this trend

during post-mobilization at

Camp Atterbury, ADT IV will

be well prepared for its

mission upon arrival in

Meet the Commander

I ns i de th i s

s e c t i o n :

Meet the Team 7

Larsen promoted 7

Gunners on target

at range

8

Crack that whip 9

Pictures from the

field

10

Back at the home-

stead

11

The Muleskinner Team Mo Agri-business Development Team IV

J u n e 2 5 , 2 0 1 0 V o l u m e 4 , I s s u e 1

The

Muleskinner

Team section

highlights the

Soldiers and

Airmen of ADT

IV at Nangarhar

You don’t have

to have to be

able to under-

stand the daily

farm report to

read and learn

about the expe-

riences of ADT

IV unit members

Tidbits of in-

formation will be

scattered

throughout the

back pages

Col. Michael Fortune (right)

stands ready to accept com-

mand of ATD IV from Brig.

Gen. Danner, TAG, as Sen-

ior Master Sgt. Jerry Blank-

enship (left) the unit senior

enlisted advisor, prepares to

pass the state guidon during

the acceptance of command

ceremony held at Ike Skelton

Training Site in April.

P a g e 7

Lt. Col. Raymond Legg

watches a demonstra-

tion on the effectiveness

of hydrophonic farming

methods at the Lincoln

University Research

Farm April 14.

Larsen Promoted

Meet the Muleskinner Team:

Soldiers and Airmen with ADT IV

Lt. Col. Raymond L.

Legg is the legal

and governmental affairs

advisor for ADT IV.

He is tasked with

coordinating with various

federal agencies in

Afghanistan to include the

USAID and the State

D e p a r t m e n t . H e

anticipates that one of his

roles will include assisting

the Afghan government

with land ownership issues

in conjunction with U.S.

S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t

programs.

During a previous

deployment to the Horn of

Africa, Legg served as

Deputy Staff Judge

Advocate for a counter-

terrorism task force and

worked on legal issues

related to counter-

terrorism and counter-

insurgency.

He said, “What the

ADTs are doing is really

on the cutting edge of the

development of counter-

insurgency doctrine."

Legg began his military

career 33 years ago when

he enlisted in the U.S.

Navy at 17 as a hospital

corpsman. Following four

years of active duty

including three yeas at sea

he was discharged, and

began h i s co l l ege

education at the University

of Missouri-Columbia.

He joined the Army

Reserves in 1982 and in

1988 transferred to the

Missouri National Guard

as a flight medic.

In 1993 Legg was

commissioned as a first

lieutenant in the Judge

Advocate Generals Corps.

Legg works as a

supervising attorney for

the Public Defender’s

Office in Moberly. Legg

said his employer has been

very supportive of his

military duties.

Legg’s wife of 27 years,

Tracey, is the Director of

External Affairs for the

University of Missouri-

Columbia, College of

Veterinary Medicine,

which also happens to be a

Strategic Partner for the

ADT.

Their oldest son, Private

1st Class Derek Legg, is a

diesel mechanic in the

MOARNG and a junior at

Westminster College in

Fulton.

His youngest son is a

sophomore at University

of Missouri-Columbia and

is a member of the cross

country and track teams.

Legg said he is proud to

say that both of his sons

are Eagle Scouts.

the unit.

Larsen is an infantry-

man assigned to the

ADT as a hydrologist.

He has served 13 years

in the military, the last

five with the Missouri

National Guard.

Sgt . John Kenneth

Larsen Jr. was

promoted to sergeant in

June at Camp Clark.

Col. Fortune attached

his new rank and Mas-

ter Sgt. Bradley read

the NCO creed in front

This is his second

deployment to

Nangarhar with the

Missouri ADT. Larsen

is assigned to B com-

pany, 138th Inf. Regt.

and lives in Nevada.

T h e M u l e s k i n n e r T e a m

“What the ADTs are doing

is really on the cutting

edge of the development of

counter-insurgency

doctrine”

Lt. Col. Legg,

legal advisor

P a g e 8

“The gunners

endured a long, hot,

and wet trip...in spite

of these

conditions...everyone

qualified on the

three weapon

systems.”

Force Protection mem-

bers wait at the Mark 19

range at Fort Riley, Ks.

Gunners on target at range

I mmediately after

reporting for duty to

Camp Clark in May, a

group of Soldiers and

Airmen assigned to the

Agri-business Devel-

opment Team Force

Protection platoon

traveled to Fort Riley

for crew-served weap-

ons training and quali-

fications.

The group, accompa-

nied by two medics,

left Camp Clark at ap-

proximately 8 a.m. and

arrived six hours later

at Fort Riley.

Once there they

splintered into smaller

groups and tackled the

Electronic Skills Train-

er 2000, a virtual gun-

nery range designed to

familiarize soldiers

with weapons before

using them on a live-

fire exercise. After

hours of training, the

entire group simulated

firing the M2 .50 cali-

ber machinegun, M-

240B machine

gun and the

Mark 19 auto-

matic grenade

launcher.

Early the next

morning the

Force Protections Sol-

diers were on the

range, zeroing their

weapons and preparing

for the day ahead.

Once everything was

ready the weapons

where moved a short

distance and set into

fixed positions. The

beginning of the quali-

fications was marked

with the steady roar of

heavy weapons and the

arrival of Col. Michael

Fortune and Senior

Master Sgt. Jerry

Blankenship. The two

leaders assisted their

Security Forces in the

spotting and adjust-

ments of rounds and,

towards the end of the

day, even fired the

weapons themselves.

Once everyone quali-

fied on both the M2

and M240B on both

day and night fire

courses; picked up the

spent brass, links, and

sandbags; stowed the

massive weapons; and

returned to the bar-

racks, it was well past

midnight. Only a few

hours later they woke

again and made the trip

to the Mark19 Range,

engaging targets with

the same accuracy as

the day before.

By early afternoon

everyone qualified

with the Mark19 and

earned a well deserved

break. They returned to

the barracks for several

hours of rest and weap-

ons cleaning. But

soon, they were back

on the range and the

soft rumble of both ex-

plosions and thunder

could be heard over the

pouring rain that had

materialized out of no-

where.

Four hours later eve-

ryone was qualified

and back at the bar-

racks. Just before 3

a.m. all the weapons

were finally cleaned

and the lights were out.

Yet sleep was fleeting

and a few hours later

they where up again

and returning to Camp

Clark.

The gunners endured

a long, hot, and wet

trip. In spite of these

conditions and various

other obstacles set in

their paths, everyone

qualified on the three

weapon systems which

will be critical to the

security of the ADT IV

team members during

their deployment to

Nangarhar.

Force Protec-

tion members

set up for

the .50 cal

range at Fort

Riley, Ks.

T h e M u l e s k i n n e r T e a m

By Master Sgt. Bob Weber

CRACK THAT WHIP

P a g e 9 V o l u m e 4 , I s s u e 1

T he legacy of the mule team

driver is woven into the

fabric of American military

history and dates back to the

American Revolution.

The gender-neutral mule, the

offspring of a male donkey

(jack) and a female horse

(mare), is better suited to

hauling because it eats less and

is more sure-footed over rough

terrain than a horse. The drivers,

originally known as muleteers,

were used by the military to

haul supplies.

Muleteers’ special skills were

highly valued by the military. It

was said that “any damn fool

can drive a horse ... a good mule

can outwork any horse but

you’ve got to learn to talk to

them to get them to work”

In Camp Fire Stories, A

series of Civil War sketches of

the Union Army in the

Southwest, Edward Anderson,

Colonel, 12th Indiana Volunteer

Cavalry writes a colorful

account of these men called

“Muleteers”

“... one had to stop and look at

and listen to a muleteer during

the war; and especially if his

team was stalled, or if a section of

artillery was stopping up his

way...He had language! I have

never heard it equaled except by

a mate of a Mississippi River

steamboat under the old regime”

“The movement of an army was

always an exciting scene...the

shrieking mules whose heels

seemed the highest and busiest

parts of them, answered for the

rushing, howling spectres; all this

was helped in its hellish wildness

by the cracking of the black-snake

whips.”

“A team usually was of six

mules, with the driver sitting on

the nigh pole mule, and guiding

his team by a „jerk rein‟, which

led on through rings in the

harness of the middle pair to the

leading nigh mule, form whose bit

to that of the off-leader was a

slight wooden pole; so that, if the

nigh mule turned to right or left,

his mate felt the movement telling

on his bit. The direction was

given by one, or two, jerks, or a

pull on the rein, to which the

mules were drilled. Then, when

the „black-snake‟ (with which the

driver could flick a fly from the

ear of the leader) came into

requisition, it was supplemented

by an address that was

ingeniously pointed.”

The skillful cracking of that

whip led to the coining of the

name “muleskinner”. The use

of this name grew out of the

West and was first published in

1870.

An exert from a website on

Western American history states

that “An experienced muleskinner

knew the personality of every one

of his mules… During the 1800s

the mule was in constant demand

for civilian and military

freighting... Of all the mules, the

ones from Missouri were the most

prized and this reputation

continues even today.”

Missouri mules were also an

important resource for the U.S.

and British military after the

Civil War. In the 1890’s the

firm of Guyton and Harrington

located in Lathrop supplied

115,000 Missouri mules for The

Boer War.

The Missouri Civil War

Museum webpage chronicles

that when the Spanish-American

War broke out in 1898 Jefferson

Barracks in St. Louis was nearly

vacant and the Army turned the

post into a Mule Depot.

In 1899 the post was

officially designated the

National Mule Headquarters for

the Army, and included the

National Training Center for the

Army Muleteers.

When World War I broke out

the British government again

went to muleskinners Guyton

and Harrington for an enormous

contract making Missouri the

“Mule Capital of the World”.

The British created special

units of muleteers like the Zion

Muleteers, comprised of Jewish

soldiers, that later formed the

core of the modern Israeli army.

In World War II muleskinners

still served around the world,

although they were used less

often.

During the Soviet occupation

of Afghanistan, the CIA along

with Afghan fighters used large

numbers of mules to carry

weapons and supplies over the

mountains to supply the

Mujahedeen.

Mules have been used by the

U.S. Army Special Forces in

Afghanistan since 2001.

Additionally, the U.S. Marine

Corps utilizes mules at their

Mountain Warfare Training

Center in the Sierra Nevada

Mountains.

ADT IV bears the nickname

Muleskinner to honor the legacy

of those that helped to shape

and grow the world in which we

live, and

brings that

spirit of

growth and

change to

Nangarhar

Province.

Muleskinner with whip in hand stands

by his wagon (Photo courtesy of NPS)

“...all this was

helped in its

hellish wildness

by the cracking

of the black-

snake whips”

In WWII Mars Task

Force used mules exten-

sively during the Burma

Campaign Mule skin-

ners from 2nd BN, 475th

Inf. Regt. lead mules

through the swift river

that impeded their pro-

gress to Bhamo, Burma,

November 17, 1944.

Photo courtesy of www.Olive-Drab.com

P a g e 1 0 V o l u m e 4 , I s s u e 1

Memorial Day included a special for-

mation to raise and lower the flag to

half-mast at sunrise.

The HEAT is on! And yes, Spec. Berry-

man is upside down, doing roll-over

drills.

Soldiers and Airmen trained hard every day; usually conducting

physical fitness training before moving out for the day’s scheduled

training. They picked up new skills and refreshed on the old ones.

1st Lt. Berendzen emplaces a claymore

mine.

Pictures from the field

Camp Clark offers challenges Premobilization Training

Spec.. Blackburn prepares to throw a

simulated grenade.

Sgt. 1st Class Squires, Spec. Soles and

Spec. Gore practice their technique in a

Combat Life Saver course.

ATDT IV and Mr. Safi,

Defense Language Insti-

tute, after three days of

culture and language

training in Pashto.

Members of the Agriculture Team

and ADT leadership gather around a

grafting demonstration held as part

of an introduction from one of their

strategic partners, Lincoln Universi-

ty, in April.

The crew-served gunners qualified on

three weapon systems at Fort Riley,

Kan. In May. Staff Sgt. Taggart calls out

adjustment to the gunner at the range.

Rank, Name

MO ADT IV

Camp Atterbury, IN 46124

Mail should not be sent earlier than

Jun 29 and not later than Jul 23

The Muleskinner is an unofficial publication authorized

by AR 360-1. It is published monthly by the Missouri

Agribusiness Development Team IV to provide im-

portant information related to their deployment for

the Soldiers and Airmen, their Families, units and com-

mands, the Army, DOD and the public.

Views and opinions expressed in the Muleskinner are

not necessarily those of the Department of the Army

or DOD.

If you would like to receive this publication to your

email or have questions or comments concerning

ADT IV please contact: marie.orlando@us.army.mil

Public Affairs Officer

Capt. Marie Orlando

ADT IV

Give us a holler!

Missouri

ADT IV

Newly Hatched!

● Nelson Alexander Evans was born to

Sgt. Nelson Bunch and his wife Rebek-

ah on May 6 weighing 8lbs 8oz and

measuring 20.5 inches long. His big

sister Sophia is 23 months old.

Seasoned Couples

● Look for future dates of anniversaries

Yahoo for You!

● SGT Larsen received a promotion to

sergeant!

● Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating

in JUNE!

Call me...call me...

Where do you go?

Who do you call?

Back at the homestead • Family Readiness Group Leader Paula Ann Maloney

417.250.1703 or 417.683.3711

• ArmyOne Source 800.342.9647

• Family Program Office 800.299.9603

• Family Assistance Center 877.236.4168

• Deployed Pay Issues 877.276.4729

• Employer Support of Guard and Reserve 573.638.9500 ext. 7730

• 131st Fighter Wing Coord. 314.527.6362

• 139th Fighter Air Lift Wing Coord. 816.236.3511

• Military Family Life Consultants

- Child/Youth (Amy Bledsoe) 573.418.3588

- Adult (Phil Pringle) 573.418.3588

• Chaplain Gilmore 573.638.9618