The Oral Histories Project on Stability Operations collects the full text of interviews with individuals involved in stability operations, to draw lessons learned and address the challenges of post-conflict intervention.

The experiences of Americans who served in Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan provide important lessons for current and future peace and stability operations. Provincial Reconstruction Teams are small, joint, civil-military organizations whose mission is to promote good governance, improved security and reconstruction. In November 2005, there were 22 PRTs in Afghanistan: nine were directed by the U.S. and countries belonging to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force directed the other 13.

American PRTs are commanded by a U.S. Army Lt. Colonel and are composed of representatives of the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Agriculture. They also include an U.S. Army infantry platoon, an Army Civil Affairs Team, a Military Police Team, and military medical, de-mining, and intelligence units. Their primary objective is to extend the authority of the Afghan government by supporting provincial officials, providing development assistance, and establishing a security presence.

The Afghanistan Experience Project collected lessons learned by Provincial Reconstruction Teams by interviewing 52 government officials, military officers, and representatives of international and non-governmental organizations who had served in Afghanistan. Interviews were conducted by the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training under a contract with the Institute of Peace.

U.S. Government Officials | Military Officers | International Organizations & NGOs | Related Resources

U.S. Government Officials

• Interview #1: Interviewed 03/22/05 (172KB PDF)
• Interview #2: Interviewed 12/10/04 (280KB PDF)
• Interview #3: Interviewed 10/19/04 (384KB PDF)
• Interview #4: Interviewed 04/04/05 (116KB PDF)
• Interview #6: Interviewed 04/19/05 (120KB PDF)
• Interview #7: Interviewed 04/26/05 (116KB PDF)
• Interview #8: Interviewed 03/04/05 (112KB PDF)
• Interview #9: Interviewed 04/29/05 (80KB PDF)
• Interview #12: Interviewed 05/03/05 (168KB PDF)
• Interview #13: Interviewed 05/10/05 (20KB PDF)
• Interview #14: Interviewed 10/19/04 (152KB PDF)
• Interview #16: Interviewed 12/05/04 (132KB PDF)
• Interview #17: Interviewed 05/2005 (143KB PDF)
• Interview #18: Interviewed 06/01/05 (248KB PDF)
• Interview #19: Interviewed 05/05/05 (148KB PDF)
• Interview #20: Interviewed 06/07/05 (104KB PDF)
• Interview #22: Interviewed 05/19/05 (96KB PDF)
• Interview #23: Interviewed 07/07/05 (260KB PDF)
• Interview #24: Interviewed 07/07/05 (168KB PDF)
• Interview #26: Interviewed 05/19/05 (104KB PDF)
• Interview #27: Interviewed 06/24/05 (140KB PDF)
• Interview #29: Interviewed 06/21/05 (176KB PDF)
• Interview #30: Interviewed 06/09/05 (64KB PDF)
• Interview #31: Interviewed 06/08/05 (144KB PDF)
• Interview #32: Interviewed 07/20/05 (84KB PDF)
• Interview #35: Interviewed 04/15/05 (212KB PDF)
• Interview #36: Interviewed 07/29/05 (220KB PDF)
• Interview #38: Interviewed 07/19/05 (112KB PDF)
• Interview #39: Interviewed 07/31/05 (148KB PDF)
• Interview #41: Interviewed 08/02/05 (96KB PDF)
• Interview #44: Interviewed 09/21/05 (108KB PDF)
• Interview #46: Interviewed 08/31/05 (120KB PDF)
• Interview #47: Interviewed 08/31/05 (128KB PDF)
• Interview #48: Interviewed 09/19/05 (96KB PDF)
• Interview #49: Interviewed 09/30/05 (104KB PDF)
• Interview #52: Interviewed 09/27/05 (100KB PDF)

Military Officers

• Interview #5: Interviewed 04/13/05 (140KB PDF)
• Interview #10: Interviewed 05/26/05 (56KB PDF)
• Interview #11: Interviewed 04/11/05 (136KB PDF)
• Interview #15: Interviewed 05/04/05 (100KB PDF)
• Interview #21: Interviewed 04/27/05 (128KB PDF)
• Interview #33: Interviewed 07/13/05 (124KB PDF)
• Interview #37: Interviewed 07/22/05 (88KB PDF)
• Interview #40: Interviewed 08/18/05 (120KB PDF)
• Interview #42: Interviewed 07/19/05 (184KB PDF)
• Interview #43: Interviewed 08/11/05 (100KB PDF)
• Interview #45: Interviewed 09/20/05 (200KB PDF)
• Interview #51: Interviewed 08/24/05 (100KB PDF)

International Organizations and NGOs

• Interview #25: Interviewed 06/15/05 (104KB PDF)
• Interview #28: Interviewed 06/20/05 (228KB PDF)
• Interview #34: Interviewed 07/17/05 (104KB PDF)
• Interview #50: Interviewed 09/27/05 (92KB PDF)

Related Resources

• The U.S. Experience with Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan: Lessons Identified
  Special Report, October 2005
• Provincial Reconstruction Teams: Military Relations with International and Nongovernmental Organizations in Afghanistan
  Special Report, August 2005