Afghanistan Field Representative

Organization:

Spirit of America

Location:

Afghanistan (Helmand/Kandahar)

Website:

spiritofamerica.net

Compensation:

Compensation will be based, in large part, on the 2011 Military Pay Scale and related to the candidate's experience

Contact Information:

Matt Valkovic

Phone:

310-230-5476

Email:

julie@spiritofamerica.net

Description:

Spirit of America seeks an exceptional individual with a US military service background (E-6 or higher) to serve as an Afghanistan Field Representative. Our Field Rep will work in close cooperation and coordination with US Marines, Soldiers and US Government civilians and will be responsible for providing rapid humanitarian aid and development assistance for needs identified at the local/village level. This position is part of Spirit of America's Commander Support Program. This is an opportunity to see immediate results from one's work and to directly impact progress on the front lines in Afghanistan. The Field Rep will improve the safety and success of our troops, the well being of the Afghan people and the outcome of the war. The SoA Field Rep must have direct field counterinsurgency experience in Iraq or Afghanistan combined with optimism, patience and a great sense of humor in the face of adversity. The 8-month assignment supporting US Marine and Army units deployed to Regional Commands Southwest, South and East will include 3.5 months in Afghanistan, a 2 week leave, then 3.5 more months in-country, followed by 2 weeks of leave. Multiple Assignments are possible.

Qualification:

SoA's Afghanistan Field Rep will have combat, intelligence, and/or Civil Affairs experience at the Battalion, Company or Platoon level. The Field Rep must also have significant, direct counterinsurgency and/or non-lethal-effects experience at the field level in Afghanistan or Iraq. Experience in, or with, the private sector will be very useful. Program/project management experience for small- to medium-scale projects ($5,000 - $50,000) is also relevant. The Field Rep must instinctively look beyond their own expertise to solve problems, asking “who knows more about this than me” and listening patiently to understand what local Afghans and military personnel know. They must tap into and rely heavily upon local military and civilian know-how. With the help of Spirit of America staff in the US, the Field Rep will look to private-sector expertise in the US to help address local needs. The Field Rep must be good at synthesizing different inputs in determining a course of action. Thus, they must have an outstanding sense of the “art of the possible.” Excellent written and oral communication skills, a strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills are required. The Field Rep's personal qualities are as important as his prior experience. They must be friendly, outgoing, natural relationship builders. The Field Rep needs to have exemplary patience and outstanding listening skills. They must understand that personal initiative, optimism, smiling and a good sense of humor are “secret weapons” that they must in abundance. They must combine a keen intellect with genuine humility and understand that “we” is smarter than “me.” “Know-it-alls” need not apply. Neither should those who like to work at a desk. The Field Rep will have very high personal initiative. They will spend the majority of their time interacting with the troops and the Afghan people. Success is measured partly by the number of boots that the Field Rep wears out. The Field Rep must build and maintain highly positive relations with military host units and servicemen and women at all levels. They must take direction from Battalion Commanders regarding where they can/can't go and which projects are not advisable. They need to be able to communicate easily and credibly with all levels of the military chain of command, civilian personnel and journalists. The Field Rep will not only be a representative of Spirit of America but an Ambassador of the goodwill of the American people. They must operate with the highest levels of integrity and cultural sensitivity. The Field Rep must also have a deep understanding and appreciation of Spirit of America's decentralized, non-bureaucratic approach for rapid local progress in Afghanistan.