Stationed with the U.S. Navy in Afghanistan, Merrill native Michael Jaeger is seeking help from his hometown in assisting needy Afghan residents.
Thousands of Afghan men, women and children are living in refugee camps. They have fled from violence, and run the very real risk of being killed if they leave the camps.
Jaeger, a Senior Chief Petty Officer, has volunteered to take a leadership role with the Volunteer Community Relations (VCR) program based at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The VCR program enhances the U.S. military’s partnership with the people of Afghanistan by providing a way for U.S. and Coalition troops to assist local residents with tangible items that they need to live and by providing an opportunity to meet with local residents. Through the VCR program, Camp Eggers volunteers interact with local nationals at various locations in the Kabul area, including schools, small refugee compounds, medical centers and Internally Displaced Persons (refugee) camps. The Afghan people in these locations are not as fortunate as we, and greatly benefit for our support to improve their quality of life.
In a recent letter to family and friends, Jaeger explained why he’s committed to aiding the Afghan people under his care.
"I have come to realize that the only way to end this fight is through the children," he wrote. "Show them hope, educate and protect them as we would our own. Show them the care we would for our own family. That is the main reason I volunteer to aid the poor. We provide them not only with clothes, food and medical supplies, but a caring hand shake, a hug and smiles. We play with the children, sit with them and listen to them. For a brief moment providing comfort to a way of life that to some is unimaginable."
Jaeger entered the U.S. Navy right after graduating from Merrill High School in 1987. He attained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer in May 2006.
With 22 years of Navy service, he is currently 8 months into a 12-month tour in Afghanistan, where he serves as the Joint Operations Center Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, the Navy Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) for Camp Eggers and the Voluntary Community Relations Force Protection Officer (VCR Force Pro Officer). As the Navy SEL, he is responsible for 243 sailors stationed at Camp Eggers. As the VCR Force Pro Officer, he visits refugee camps and schools in the Kabul area and assists the Chaplain Corps with determining need and ability to assist the needs of the under privileged people of Afghanistan that have been displaced by the ravages of war. He develops a plan that will allow the volunteers from the camp to safely distribute clothes, food and health and comfort items to the people.
The VCR Program started 4-5 years ago under the auspices of the Combined Transition Command-Afghanistan Chaplain’s office.
"During the summer and fall of 2007, after the usual summer personnel rotation, a large number of VCR volunteers wanted to become more involved in the program, which at the time was not very well organized," Jaeger said. "The chaplain, seeing the need for greater organization, encouraged the volunteers to create a more structured, more effective organization and to as much as possible work to ensure that the program could continue in the future. Out of his initiative and God’s incredible blessing, the VCR really grew during 2007-08 and became a more effective volunteer humanitarian assistance program.
"We were frequently asked why we did what we did, whether it made any difference," Jaeger continued. "The VCR was one way that we could assist a few people, working to alleviate a small part of the suffering of literally hundreds of thousands of needy Afghans in the Kabul area. It was a way to permit a few members of the local population to see and associate with American and Coalition forces in a very positive light and for members of the VCR program to be exposed to local Afghans. The words ‘Hearts and Minds’ was often used. Some members of the VCR were motivated by a desire to serve God and the United States by helping with the program, others by a desire to be exposed to local Afghans, and still others by a desire to do something outside of Camp Eggers.
"Whatever the motivation, God’s abundant blessing was seen throughout the year in terms of how the program was used as a method of outreach and safety to participants. Yes, we believe it made and continues to make a difference."
Jaeger is asking his hometown to help make that difference by donating items to the VCR program.
With winter coming in Afghanistan - where the weather in the mountains is just as cold as Wisconsin - items like gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, coats and blankets are critical. Conservative clothing for men, women and children are also needed. Shoes, non-electric toys, school supplies and hygiene items are of great assistance too.
The VCR program is also involved with forwarding items to U.S. service members and civilians located at smaller forward operating bases and other locations that may not have the PX facilities that most of the larger camps have. Donations of personal hygiene items, CD or DVDs, tapes, magazines and other items that service members would enjoy are welcome and most appreciated.
St. Vincent de Paul of Merrill has volunteered to serve as a drop off point for items for the VCR program. When dropping off items, please note that the donation is intended for the VCR Program for Michael Jaeger. Anyone who needs help transporting items for donation can contact Michael’s mother, Connie Jaeger, at 536-1858.
To assist with the cost of shipping the donations to Afghanistan, a fund has been set up at Associated Bank of Merrill.
