Fleming College

Wearing mud-splattered boots and fatigues, seven members of the Canadian Forces (CF) surrounded a drill rig, mechanically hoisting a pipe up before smoothly dropping it into a small but deep hole in the ground. The personnel, at the Frost Campus for a week of training (January 7-11), spent their time learning about well drilling and construction. They will use what they have learned in the Resources Drilling Fundamentals course in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. Taught by Resources Drilling and Blasting Program Coordinator Gord Bailey, the course has been customized to meet the needs of the Canadian Forces.” We’re helping support our troops by providing this training,” said Mr. Bailey. “We’re very proud to be a part of the process.” “We have had excellent training so far and we can thank Fleming College for that,” said Capt. Mark Fugulin. The CF members – five from Moncton, NB and two from Edmonton AB – will be digging new wells to improve water supply and irrigation in and around Kandahar. Some of the open wells and irrigation canals in Kandahar are hundreds of years old. Kandahar is Afghanistan’s second largest city and is located in the country’s southeast near the border with Pakistan. There is little infrastructure still standing after 30 years of war. Rebuilding from the ground up, Canadian troops are contracting out reconstruction efforts to local residents so they can take ownership of community projects, said Capt. Fugulin. During a break in training, Capt. Fugulin spoke with students in Fleming College’s Resources Drilling and Blasting program, sharing with them photos and stories of life in Afghanistan. Capt. Fugulin is a mechanical engineer. He has worked in Sudan, the Arctic and just returned from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. Students were impressed with the efforts of troops in the war-torn country. Aside from the military mission, which garners most of the media spotlight, troops are trying to help the Afghan people in all aspects of life. CF personnel have built shelters for homeless women and their children, built new schools for girls (previously banned from education under the Taliban), helped landmine victims, and supported new agricultural initiatives to eradicate the production of opium. Troops also meet regularly with local elders to find out what infrastructure improvements are priorities in each village – whether it’s new bridges, new schools or new wells. CF members have even taken steps to stimulate the Afghan economy by allowing local markets to reopen, by organizing trade fairs and expos, and meeting with dealers and exporters. Five of the personnel undergoing the training at Frost Campus will head to Afghanistan in February for a six-month tour. The other two will travel there later in the year.