For years, journalists have focused on the fighting in Afghanistan, on the combat troops that are the so-called tip of the spear. But who packs up the spear when it's no longer needed and sends it home? It turns out it's a Wisconsin National Guard unit.
The 829th Engineer Co., along with other military units, is closing down bases and sending home expensive material used to fight in Afghanistan for 13 years. Humvees, artillery, beds, flagpoles, computers, ammunition, refrigerators, desks--all the things used by American troops in Afghanistan will be accounted for by giving it away to Afghan forces, destroying it so it doesn't fall in to the hands of terror groups, or sending it home.
-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Meg Jones
Erica Steinke, a member the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co., gets dressed in the low light of her bunk in the early morning. Steinke's job in the engineering unit keeps her at work from early morning to late afternoon on construction sites at Camp John Pratt and Camp Marmal in Mazar-i-Sharif, often in temperatures of over 100 degrees fahrenheit. Steinke is part of a group of engineers working to dismantle bases as U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan end.
Taylor Wahlberg, a member the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co., brushes her teeth outside of her tent in the early morning. Wahlberg and her bunkmates explain that it is easier to brush their teeth outside at this hour, as the bathrooms are always full. Wahlberg is part of a group of engineers working to dismantle bases as U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan end.
Staff Sergeant Tom Hindman goes over a morning checklist with members of the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co., who are headed to work dismantling a maintenance tent for helicopters. As American troops leave Afghanistan, bases are condensing and engineering crews such as the 829th are called in to break down the structures built in war time.
The Packers: Specialist Nate Hitchcock, age 22, on a quick break at the job site at Camp Pratt. Image by Meghan Dhaliwal/The Pulitzer Center.
Members the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co.,survey their worksite in the early morning.
A tool kit sits in the shade of the break space while soldiers work to break down the tent next door.
The Packers: Private First Class Ashley Grassman, 24 on break at the job site. Image by Meghan Dhaliwal/The Pulitzer Center.
Members of the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co. work on dismantling a maintenance tent for helicopters. As American troops leave Afghanistan, bases are condensing and engineering crews such as the 829th are called in to break down the structures built in war time.
This task for the 829th is an unusual one--the vertical engineering company of electricians, plumbers, carpenters and heavy equipment operators are used to building, not tearing down.
August 13, 2014 - Staff Sergeant Tom Hinman of Hazel Green, Wisconsin served twice in Iraq and once in Kuwait. He is now in Afghanistan with the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co. Image by Meghan Dhaliwal/The Pulitzer Center
Nate Hitchcock, a member of the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co., wipes the sweat from his eyes while standing atop a pile of beams that formerly held up the tent skin of a maintenance tent for military helicopters.
Each soldier drinks 12 to 20 half-liter bottles of water and sports drinks each work shift to battle the effects of the scorching heat, with temperatures in Mazar-i-Sharif reaching well over 100 degrees fahrenheit in the summer months.
August 12, 2014 - Specialist Jasen Pomroy of Baldwin, Wisconsin served in Iraq from 2010-11. He is now in Afghanistan with the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co. Image by Meghan Dhaliwal/The Pulitzer Center
Shasta Bazar, an Afghan contract worker at Forward Operating Base Fenty in Jalabad, Afghanistan works on digging a ditch to lay electrical wiring for contractor housing on the base. The contractors work alongside the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineering Company. While most of the bases in Afghanistan are shrinking in the face of the drawdown, Fenty is building more contractor housing and building up areas of the base for Afghan National Army use.
A soldier sits atop a cooler inside an empty tent at a work site at Camp Pratt--all enduring factors of Pratt are being moved to Camp Marmal as the deadline to get American boots out of country draws ever close.
The Packers: Specialist Taylor Wahlberg, 21, on at the start of a break at the job site. Image by Meghan Dhaliwal/The Pulitzer Center.
The skeleton of what once was an aviation maintenance tent--former housing for Blackhawks, Chinooks and Apaches among other military rotary wing aviation vehicles.
Members of the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co. ride home after a long day of work dismantling a maintenance tent for military helicopters. The work is tedious and temperatures make it exhausting, especially because soldiers must remain in full uniform.
Kjirsten Gray, a member the Wisconsin National Guard 829th Engineer Co., at cigar night with her company at Forward Operating Base Fenty in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Gray is part of a group of engineers working to build up contractor housing at FOB Fenty as U.S. military combat operations in Afghanistan end.