Quote Originally Posted by max161 View Post
Yannick:
With all due respect, I do not think we should have students going to work on PRTs. This is not like training with industry or doing internships in rural areas. It is not the peace corps. These PRTs are in a combat environment in harm's way every day. If I were a commander of a PRT I would not want a student joining the team. While I have no doubt that you would be hard worker and would do your best to contribute, PRTs need experienced professionals to accomplish the mission. The environment is not one where we can have the luxury of teaching and mentoring an intern.
Sorry for the harsh words as I know your intentions are good and I truly applaud your desire and hope that after you finish school you join the foreign service or the military. But this is my personal opinion.

Dave
Perhaps another route is to go the John Nagl route: become a serving military officer. There would certainly be a delay in returns on the investment, but you could work yourself into some good COIN work, and at the same time not be "the college kid" who showed up to get some ideas for a PhD disertation.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that where the PRTs fall short personnel-wise is the lack of Subject Matter Experts (agronomists, economists, micro-lenders, civil engineers, electrical/water/sewage experts, etc.) Unless you have a specific skill set that's in demand, I would bet that the PRT wouldn't want you.

So I guess the options are to get skilled, or become a professional military man.

I definitely applaud your volunteerism. We need more of that these days.