“In Afghanistan Professional Polymaths Are Needed”

Similarly to doctors, psychologists serve only three months in the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. What is the reason for that?

It is common knowledge that the Afghanistan mission entails the biggest psychic load for he troops of the Hungarian Defence Forces. In spite of that, there was not a permanent position for a psychologist in the contingent until the fourth troop rotation. We received a lot of feedback in the control screening tests following the first mission, suggesting that an expert should be sent to Afghanistan. This could be realized with the fourth rotation. The first psychologist of the contingent was Major József Hornyik, a very experienced man in both his profession and in the operational area, who filled this position for six months back then. Before that, he had served in the Hungarian transport battalion in Iraq. Unfortunately, the death of the two Hungarian soldiers happened during this tour of duty, therefore life itself also proved that in order to process the tragedies, there is a need for a psychologist. The chief psychologist of the Hungarian Defence Forces, Colonel Dr. Richárd Tarnóczi replaced Major Hornyik, and he also served six months in the operational area. But since the arrival of the third troop rotation, we have been rotating the professionals quarterly. The reason for this is that there are relatively few psychologists in the Hungarian Defence Forces, and there is a lot to do. There is also a demand that psychologists should gain operational experience. And this can be solved with more frequent rotation only. At the moment our aim is that the psychologists working in the Military Medical Centre should gain experience in missions, because it is them who meet the troops in the first place, during the competency tests, the preparation before the mission, and reintegration after their return. The long term objective is to send the same team psychologist with the troops, who works with the them in Hungary.

How did you get to the Central Asian country?

There was a central plan which tried to take into consideration the requests of every psycologist colleague. Of course, I could not be left out either. In my case the only question was when to go. I chose the period between the middle of September and end of December myself, because after the preparation I wanted to complete my mission as soon as possible, moreover, it is already not too hot but it is still before the real winter in Afghanistan.

By the way was it your first mission?

Yes, it was, I jumped into the middle. Until now I had only indirect experiences about the missions, for in the past years I talked with thousands of people who returned from abroad. In addition to that, I had the opportunity to visit the KFOR in Kosovo and the MFO in the Sinai Peninsula for one or two weeks. Although I would say that these visits could only give impressions rather than mission experiences.

Since when have you been working as a psychologist?

Since 1998, when I graduated from the University of Debrecen. But I have been working in the Hungarian People’s Army, later Hungarian Defence Forces, since 1973, first as a public servant, then as of 1998, as a soldier, in human resources. I have always been very interested in the job of psychologists, so when I was given an opportunity to learn, I gladly applied to the university. I was lucky, for I was admitted.

How did it feel to step on Afghanistani soil?

I know it sounds a commonplace but I still have to say that the three and a half months spent in Afghanistan was one of the most determining experiences in my life. Mostly because the country, compared to ours, is a totally different world. I was immediately fascinated by the huge mountains, vast plains and infinite distances, and this magic still lasts. I enjoyed every second spent in this foreign culture, in this entirely different world. Even our arrival was memorable. Our plane landed in the Mazar-e Sharif airport, from where we were transported to Pol-e Khumri, the post of the Hungarian PRT. I make no secret of the fact that on our way to the camp, I was quite worried when I saw the abandoned things and the ’suspicious’ people in turbans standing by the road. I thought about what I had learned in the training and I saw a source of danger in everything. Fortunately, this overanxiety later disappeared.

Does it mean that you could leave the camp?

I was very lucky because the commander of the contingent, Colonel László Szabó was very cooperative and supported my work in everything. For example my duty was not only to look after and monitor the psychic condition of the troops in the camp, but I also had to see the environment the troops were working in. That is their tasks outside the camp. In other words: in order to do my job, I have to see them while they carry out their tasks. So whenever I regarded it necessary from a professional point of view to accompany a convoy leaving to carry out a task, with the permission of the commander I could leave the camp.

If you had to mention only one experience, what would it be?

It would be very difficult to mention one specific experience, since I had different impressions every time. For example it was very strange to see extent of poverty and destitution in the villages, which is almost incomprehensible for the European mind. And the opposite of that, wealth, at some of the leaders. But it was also fantastic to experience driving on the untravelled roads they have there. Until then it was difficult for me to imagine how a driver could manage in such road conditions, and the psychic load it means for the troops. At my desk I could not imagine what a machine gunner sitting all day on the top of the Humvee is exposed to – in the blazing sun, pouring rain, or even heavy snowfall – and what a huge physical and mental effort this is. In order to understand it, I had to see and experience this. But if you insist, then I would mention the visit paid to General Jalal. I think I do not have to explain what a great honour it is for a woman to receive an invitation for dinner in an Islamic country.

Wasn’t it difficult to get used to the helmet and the bulletproof vest?

It was, by all means! It was the worst when we were bumping in the Humvee for hours, it is almost impossible to sit without feeling the pressure of the splinter-proof vest or a part of the equipment somewhere. It is not an easy maneuver either to get off the vehicle with so many equipments. It is especially tiring for the infantrymen to carry so much weight because they cover the team for several hours. And I haven’t spoken about those who were standing for the most part. And we must not forget that it is a bit more difficult for a woman with this kind of equipment on her body when nature calls…

Let’s talk a bit about your impressions inside the camp.

It was there that I first realized how different it is than my job in Budapest, because as a head of department in the Competency Testing Institute I spend most of my time in an office, and the tasks we carry out are relatively monotonous. Even though I always meet different people and I meet a lot of them, the task is similar in every case. In Pol-e Khumri, everything is totally different, life and work as well. In the camp, we start at eight in the morning and work until six in the afternoon. It was also strange that they rest on Friday, which means we were working on Saturdays and Sundays as well. Moreover, it didn’t take me an hour and a half to get to my office – I woke up, tidied myself up, and walked to my office which was only twenty meters from our quarters. As a housewife, it was very interesting for me – and I have to admit it didn’t feel bad – when you just sat down, and breakfast, lunch, or dinner was ready, without you having to prepare it. Or when I just put my laundry down in certain place and they washed it for me.

By the way meals. What was the food like? Could you get used to the new flavours?

When I was there the company catering for the entire military operation in Afghanistan employed Indian chefs. Naturally, they tried to make the soldiers of various nations acquainted with and love their cuisine. With moderate success… We Hungarians fought a lot in order to get the same flavours we were used to at home. We told the cooks several times that they don’t have to put so much curry in the stew, and what is more, we wouldn’t mind if they just left it out entirely. Fortunately, by the time I arrived they already gave up seasoning the stew with cinnamon as well… After I came home, a Montenegrin chef took over the position, who is often praised by those who are still there. But in general, I had no problem with the food – I had to be careful not to put on too much weight. But it was a serious challenge for almost everyone.

Let’s continue with professional issues – what is the duty of the psychologist of the contingent in the Hungarian camp in Afghanistan?

The main responsibility of the psychologist is the maintenance of the psychological readiness and healthy mental hygiene of the personnel. It means that troops should be capable of carrying out their tasks professionally, and they should return in sound physical and psychic condition after the mission. In order to achieve this, the psycic condition of the personnel must be monitored continuously, and if necessary, an immediate invervention has to be made. In addition to that, if there is a demand, the skills and capabilities necessary for attaining the objective set for a mission have to be developed. I was also responsible for continuously informing the commander about the problems that arose and the morals of the personnel.

I believe this means you were busy all day.

24-hour service is typical in the job of the psychologist – mainly on a mission. In other words, there are no ’consultation hours’. A psychologist must adapt to the activities of the soldiers, you have to sit down to talk with them when they have the time for that. Of course, it is not a problem that we are not so formal, because the discussions don’t have an official ’taste’.

Was there any serious problem during the period you were the member of the mission?

Unfortunately, four soldiers lost their fathers while I was with them in Afghanistan. It is especially difficult to process this from such a distance. People often blame themselves if this happens, because they were not standing by the deceased in the last moments. Moreover, they have to make a difficult decision: should they go home for the funeral, or choose another form of saying goodbye. Of course, there were a few problems with relationships as well. It is typical that these problems are magnified there. Owing to the special nature of the task, the soldiers are subject to various stress loads. When they leave the camp, an increased sense of danger and great physical load are typical, but when they are off duty, it is exactly the lack of a compulsory activity and the monotony that may cause that the soldier starts to ’speculate’, and seek problems in his or her partner in areas where there is probably no problem at all. Well, this is when they usually contact the psychologist. Fortunately, by now people are much less prejudiced against the healers of the soul than before, we are more accepted, but you can still feel that they keep a certain distance. I tried to break the ice by trying to spend as much time with my comrades as possible. We were in the same training before the mission, so they already knew me and saw that I also mastered the necessary military skills and practiced the drills. In Afghanistan, I was always seeking the opportunity to be with them as much as I could, to be a part of the team, and be more than just ’a psychologist who is sitting in the office’. Direct contact is very important in the work of a psychologist, even if it is often difficult to achieve. But this is the only way a confidential relationship can be established, which is essential, so that they will not hesitate to turn to me. Fortunately, I have achieved what I wanted, they were not afraid of me and came to see me if they had a problem.

The media reported the attacks against the contingent. Was it difficult for the participants to process these events?

How can these events be processed? I am sure you know the psychologists’ old joke: ’Do you want to talk about it?’ Well, there is a reason for this question, since it has been proven scientifically: if someone has the opportunity to word and express his feelings, it already means a lot in the course of processing a trauma. Moreover, if there are other people who were involved in this traumatic experience and someone realizes that these other people feel the same as the individual, than it will make his own reactions more easy to understand and accept. After the psychological preparation the soldiers already had a theoretical knowledge of combat stress, so when it appeared, it did not hinder them from behaving normally in a certain situation. Fortunately the soldiers who were involved in the aforesaid incidents are experienced, emotionally stable, well-trained troops, so the events did not fundamentally influence their psychic condition. Of course I don’t want to give the impression that these problems could not be solved without the help of the psychologist. The role of the expert is to accelerate this process and if necessary, moderate it, and minimalize the probability of post-traumatic psychic damage.

Several reports mentioned that the biggest enemy of the troops serving in Afghanistan is battlefield stress. Does it cause any problem for the Hungarians?

It is general knowledge that various stresses effect people in a different way. The same thing that causes serious stress for one soldier is perhaps only exciting for another, therefore it is often difficult to define the psychic condition of the personnel in one word. But it is typical that stresses are accumulating, so sooner or later they can reach a level in everyone that already requires intervention. Therefore continuous stress relief is a must. One method for example is if the commander pays attention – fortunately in our case, it wasn’t a problem –, the help of the other soldiers, ensuring the possibility of keeping contact with the family, and the way free time is spent. Recognition, the fact that the soldiers are aware that they are participating in a very important task for which they receive moral and financial appreciation, is an important protection factor. Fortunately it is not a problem in Hungary because those who return from the mission – and I have personally experienced this – are considered heroes of a kind.

In spite of that I believe there are soldiers who cannot get used to it, they have a breakdown and come home.

While I was there, no such thing happened. The fact that the current personnel are ’hanging on’ is really good news because compared to previous missions, the ratio of those who serve abroad for the first time is higher now. And let’s be honest: Afghanistan is quite a ’deep water’ for newcomers. But perhaps this is why the members of the current contingent are more motivated than the average – they would like to prove something. If a soldier feels that he/she cannot endure the service any longer, then they should contact the commander, for it is in the interest of the commander to have mentally sound personnel.

Was there any fear in you during the months you spent there?

Naturally, there was a healthy anxiety in me, just like in everybody else. Hungarian troops are quite recognized, but once they leave the camp there is always a chance of a possible attack, even if this chance is not too big, fortunately. But I was more concerned about our chances for a possible road accident, because the road conditions are so bad that those who live in Hungary cannot imagine, or to be more precise, there are no roads – we reached our destinations driving along riverbeds. It was also an adventure to drive on the serpentine roads leading across the mountains – a high rock face on one side, and a deep chasm on the other side. It was especially interesting if there was another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Fortunately our drivers are very skilled so there were no accidents.

Did the three and a half months go by fast?

Very fast. In the beginning it was the integration, and after that it made time go faster that I was given the opportunity to leave the camp several times. Back home I had planned more programs for myself – surveys, research – but eventually I could not implement them due to my activities related to the daily and ad hoc tasks.

What has the Afghanistan mission given you as a professional?

I have learned a lot and I think I have become more credible even for myself, as a result of having served in Afghanistan. Besides that it also meant a lot that I had the chance to gain extensive professional experience in other fields as well, for we in the Competency Testing Institute at home are active only in a definite, relatively narrow field of psychology, but in Afghanistan, professional polymaths are needed, in other words, one has to be competent in everything. Moreover, a military training is a must, this is how someone becomes a military psychologist.

What did you tell your successor when you left?

My successor is a young psychologist, 1st Lieutenant Eszter Tóth, who joined us in the Institute two years ago. One piece of advice I told her was that she should be present everywhere but should not stick around for long anywhere. Besides that I also told her that in case she ’gets stuck’ in something she mustn’t hesitate but ask for professional help. Because it feels very good to know that the colleagues at home are supporting us from the background.

Would you go back?

Yes, I would, definitely. Although it would be very difficult to leave my family again. For me, just like for every other soldier leaving for a mission, this was the most difficult part. I believe I can say – and now I dare to say it even more confidently, because I have experienced it – that a mission is more difficult for the family that stays at home, than the soldier who goes abroad.

Was it difficult for your family to tolerate your absence?

I have a son who lives with his girlfriend rather than his parents. Which means that my husband was left alone in our house. In my opinion he managed better than we had thought in the beginning. In this respect I was a bit afraid because there was a ’classical division of labour’ in our family, in other words, I ran the household and my husband was responsible for the other chores in and around the house. Well, this time it has changed, for instance he had to learn to cook. Before I left it was a serious problem for him to prepare a semolina pudding, but when I came back he received me with stuffed cabbage, and it was delicious. I believe it is a huge progress…