Doctor in Afghanistan – Field Journal of an Ordinary Military Physician on Overseas Operations

A human adventure of a family man, a physician in uniform.
Graveyard of empires, Afghanistan was for more than a decade a difficult and singular theatre of operations where French military personnel admirably carried out their duty far from home. This conflict has given rise to numerous works, and for the first time a French military physician shares his view of the terrain.
Deployed in Afghanistan from October 2010 to April 2011, Chief Medical Officer Etienne Philippon describes in his journal with spontaneity and plain speaking the daily reality of his mission. Written on the spot and as events unfolded, this account offers a precise perspective on events in a style combining tact, discretion, humour and frankness. He confides what he feels and invites us to share the intimacy of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) of an Afghan battalion deployed in Surobi and Kapisa. He explains straightforwardly the meaning of his medical support work and the training of an Afghan medical section, the particular role of the Military Health Service in all places and all circumstances alongside the fighting troops, and describes in detail and with humanity how he experiences his mission day to day. He reveals the strengths and weaknesses of this new army and, through it, describes Afghan society. This book tells the story of these men sent far from home to advise and support on the ground this young Afghan National Army in the cause of greater stability.
Dr Etienne Philippon recounts without evasion his mission and his baptism of fire, including his personal discovery of the meaning of the words "brothers in arms". He recounts his daily life as a soldier and shares his operational experience in this country, as well as his reflections, his doubts, his hardships and his satisfactions.
The author's royalties from this book are donated to the Association Terre Fraternité.