The other day a young man named Ali sent me an email in response to a mailing that I sent out to Afghan Americans. Here is what he wrote:

“Even if you paid all the money in the world, I’d never ever sell out like that. Please stop emailing me this junk mail Mr. Mihaly.”

I wrote back:

Ali,

I respect your request and have taken your email off my mailing list, but I’m sad and disappointed that you call this selling out. I don’t see it that way at all.

Why then did you come to America? By doing that didn’t you also sell out?

Good luck to you in all that you do.

Insullah

His response came rather quickly:

My mother is from Iran, my father from Afghanistan. He moved to Iran for school before the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. Long story short, somehow they ended up in Germany. I was born there, and we eventually moved to the US because my entire family had migrated here. I am indeed a proud American and I also hold my American values and morals highly. I have never been in trouble nor have I ever been delinquent. In other words I am a law abiding citizen. The reason I call it selling out is simply because of the methods our government has used against innocent people (all over the world, not just Afghanistan). We the Americans are there for our own benefit, not the benefit of the people. I am not an idiot sir. I grew up here my entire life since the age of 1. Fremont, the bay area, California is all I know, and it is against my religion to commit treason; therefore, no I am not selling out. I also worked 3 years at the US dept. of VA. Those poor men that come back messed up out I their minds don’t even get treated fairly. What makes you think I will? First and foremost I am a Muslim, second I am a human being and I love all other humans, 3rd I am an Afghan/Iranian/ American.

I thought about what he said and I wrote the following:

Ali,

I sincerely appreciate your response to my email. Now let me share a little bit about me.

I was born in Hungary and I escaped from the Russians when they invaded Hungary in 1956. My family and I along with hundreds of Hungarians walked during the night from Budapest, Hungary to Vienna, Austria which is 138 miles. We did this in 4 days. We ended up in a refugee camp in Austria and after a month or so we were sent to the United States. I was in a refugee camp there also for a few days until we got settled in Vermont.

In Hungary my father was a successful musician but in the USA his 1^st job was as a janitor at Dartmouth College. We eventually moved down to New Jersey to be near New York where my father wanted to continue his career in music.

As I was growing up my parents sent me to a private Hungarian school in New York State than back to a Hungarian school in Germany…so I wouldn’t forget my language which was Hungarian. Believe me growing up like that wasn’t easy.

In 1968 I wanted to join the US Marines because there were race riots all over the US during that time and I was tired of fighting every day when I went to school. The Marines would not take me because I was born in a communist country and there was a war going on.

Eventually I joined the US Army and was sent to Vietnam. I was a high school dropout but because of the GI Bill, when I got out of the army I was able to go back to college and I earned two degrees. In 1980 I moved to California and lived in Santa Monica for 5 years and then 10 years in San Diego. While in San Diego, someone sent me an email and I got a job as a linguist luckily because I spoke Hungarian. I was sent to Hungary to support the Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia.

I signed a contract for one year but after 9 months I became the assistant manager and eventually the manager and ran the entire operation. As a linguist manager I traveled and worked with linguists from many countries and cultures in Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Macedonia and Kosovo.

During my time in Europe my son was born in Hungary. I took a break and didn’t work for two years. Eventually I got bored and went back to work and spent almost two years in Iraq managing linguist. I was really good at it.

And now I work for ATLAS… and hire linguists to work in Afghanistan. My  boss and friend who I worked for in Iraq is an honest hard working man who takes care of his people and who treats our linguists with dignity and respect which each and every one of them deserves. The reason that we work together is because we have the same philosophy and that is the reason that both of us has been successful over the years.

We treat people the way we want them to treat us, in other words we practice the Golden rule. Not all companies treat people the same way, in fact most of them don’t care about their people, they only care about the money.

That Ali makes us very different, unique and hard to find. In my experiences I have learned that the most difficult thing to find in this world is someone that you can trust.

After traveling the world and having seen with my own eyes what good Americans have done in these places, I am very proud to be an American, and if I had to live my life all over again, I have no regrets and I would do everything the same way. My experiences have opened my eyes to how the world really is and how fortunate we are to live in America.

I also believe in God and just because you are a Muslim does not make you better or worse than me. In the US everyone has the right to practice their own religion and believe in their own God. Unfortunately the majority of the world is not like that. During the time I spent in Iraq I made many Muslim friends that I am still in contact with to this day, and today I have many Afghan friends in the United States, Canada and Afghanistan and most of them are Muslims.

I’m sure that I’m a little older than you and I can count on almost my two hands the number of people that I can trust. If you subtract from that your family (and in many cases even they can’t be trusted) there isn’t that much left. I’m talking about real friends and people who have your best interest at heart.

During the past 15 years working with linguists has changed my life both financially as well as spiritually. I have learned a great deal about other cultures and if one is not out there it’s very hard to do that. There are good people everywhere in the world as well as bad. Watching a video or watching television is not the same as being there.

Unfortunately money corrupts and money is what makes the world go around. You have to except that fact because that is reality.

To get to my final point and not bore you any longer, you mentioned selling out. I have not sold out nor do the people that work for me and are sent to Afghanistan, their country of origin. Yes, many go there because of the money but most of them also brings with them the knowledge of their culture and their intention of helping their people in their homeland.

The language skills that they have and share with the Americans is an invaluable tool and asset that helps the soldiers communicate with the general population. Most of the soldiers are young men and boys between the age of 19 and 25, and if they can’t communicate with the people there then just because of a misunderstanding people can get killed.

The media does not share the entire story of the things that are going on there, because there is a lot of good being done, but that does not sell to well. There are schools being built as well as roads and hospitals. Americans are a peace loving people and they give more money to charity and causes than the entire rest of the world combined.

Unfortunately innocent people do die, but the young soldiers that are sent to Afghanistan are not all killers and murderers. They also have family and children that they care about and they are just doing a difficult job that someone has to do.

It is the politicians that are at fault, and every politician in every country is crooked and corrupt. There are no exceptions to that rule. And that corruption is all about money. Yes, there are many bad people in Washington and their intentions are not honorable, but that does not mean that everyone is bad and has sold out. Believe me; the US military is not like the Russians. I know because I have seen both sides.

To end my little story, I just want to tell you that many Afghan Americans who have gone to work as linguists went to Afghanistan for a year and ended up staying for 3, 4 or even 5 years. During that time they made some good money that they would not have been able to make otherwise, and they have gotten their lives back on track in the United States. Many still have families in Afghanistan that they are able to help, thanks to this opportunity that was given to them.

After working as a linguist they were able to come back to America and buy a house and pay off their bills or send their children to college, and at the same time they were able to help their people in Afghanistan because their language skills helped bring two cultures together and made communicate easier.

Having gotten to know Afghans and Afghan cuisine I myself have published an Afghan restaurant guide because I really love Afghan food.

No Ali, I did not sell out and neither are the linguists that go to Afghanistan. They are doing a job that if they don’t do, someone else will, so it might as well be them.

As the war winds down and Americans leave Afghanistan in a few years and when that happens, the Pashto and Dari language skills that are in high demand today will no longer exist. Many opportunities for Afghans will go away here in America, and unfortunately not much will change in Afghanistan because of the corruption. The only way to solve the problems in your country is through education and if the Afghan people can’t be educated at home at least many Afghan Americans can get that education here.

I never said that you were an idiot, in fact just the opposite. By responding to my email shows your intelligence and concern, but I just wanted you to understand that I am not selling out nor was my email intended to ask you to sell out.  I also do not believe in treason and as a veteran I still have flashbacks to my time in Vietnam but now I also have flashbacks from Iraq and Kosovo as well as Bosnia.

Life is what you make of it and how you look at things, but to get the true and honest picture you have to look at both sides and make decision based on your experiences and not by what someone else has said. Just remember that life is not fair nor is it easy.

I sincerely thank you for getting back to me and I apologize for my long response but I take pride in the work that I do and how I treat the people that I work with and that includes Afghans who happen to be Muslim.

Having been a linguist has opened my eyes to many things in this world that I was not aware of before and I have become a far better person to my family, my country but mostly to myself because of it.

As I mentioned before, I have taken your email off my mailing list and I will not bother you ever again.

I wish you much success in life and I hope that all your dreams come true!

Insullah!

Steve Mihaly

What is the point of this back and forth communication between the two of us?

The truth of the matter is that I love what I do, and since I’ve done many things in my life which also includes having been a linguist, with my knowledge and experience I am able to help those that will be linguists in the future and help them to be better at what they do.

By being honest with them and caring about them they will do the best that they can do and they will become better people for it. Language skills are an important tool and asset especially for the military and I want to make sure that the people that I help send overseas are prepared for what’s ahead for them, and if in their hearts they know that there is someone back home that will take care of their needs or their family’s needs if and when necessary then I feel good and know that I did my job.

Bottom line, I take pride in what I do and if you work for me I want you to do the same. I sincerely believe in the “Golden Rule” and if everyone treated people the way they wanted to be treated, this world would be a better place.

Be safe out there!

Steve Mihaly

PS If you know anyone that speaks Pashto and Dari and is interested in working as a linguist in Afghanistan have them call me at:

888-282-0873 ext. 703

Coming in the New Year will be a whole series of videos that will explain in detail the linguist business as well as the process that one has to go through to get hired. We will also have a special series just for Afghan Canadians.

PASHTO & DARI

If you speak Pashto and Dari, this Job Opportunity in Afghanistan is a “Once in a Lifetime Opportunity” for  US citizen, green card holder and Canadian citizen.

When the war is over in Afghanistan and the Americans and NATO pulls out, the value for Pashto and Dari speakers will go down substantially, and this job opportunity will no longer exist.

CANADIANS

NOW HIRING CANADIAN citizens and permanent residents that have lived in Canada for a minimum of three years. If you are Canadian who speaks Pashto and Dari and are interested in working in Afghanistan as a linguist send an email to militarylingusist@gmail.com or call 614-309-9621.

QUALIFY

If you are interested in knowing what it takes to get hired then take action now because time is of the essence and there is a process that one has to go through to get hired. The first thing that you must do is pass the Language Test. Then we need you to send us lots of documents and fill out many more documents just to qualify to be hired. Still interested…then send the email or call 614-309-9621.

NOW HIRING

Atlas Advisors is looking for Afghan Americans that are US citizens or have a green card and speak Pashtu/Dari

As Americans start reducing the troops in Afghanistan fewer jobs will be available there in the future.

As a linguist in Afghanistan the salary starts at $185,000 annually for a green card holder and for a U.S citizen the salary starts at $210,000 to $235,000.

If you or someone you know has thought about doing this…time is running out and this opportunity will end in the very near future.

• If you can speak Pashtu or know someone that does, please call me.
• Do you have what it takes to be a military linguist?
• Are you interested in making an excellent salary and getting great company benefits?
• Health Insurance, Life Insurance and Retirement Plan are included and if you are married, your family will be covered while you are in Afghanistan.
• Are you interested in helping Afghans and Afghanistan?
• Do you want to work for a company that will take care of you?
• If you answered yes to the any of the questions above…Call Me Today!

Steve Mihaly

614-309-9621

Steve.mihaly@atlasadvisors.us

War is not a pleasant thing to experience, but even during a war people need help and guidance. One important attribute that linguists offer the U.S. military is the ability to communicate with the local population.

It is not the easiest job but it has its satisfying moments and it can change your life.

Take Interpreter Sabour Raouf for example. He was given the opportunity to serve both his countries and he did it as a professional and he made a difference.

I personally want to thank Sabour Raouf for his service and support to the U.S. military and the people of Afghanistan.

There is a new Veteran Owned Company, Atlas Advisors that provides global professional services and employs linguists to support military operation for the Department of Defense, Homeland Security and select government organizations.

The staff at Atlas Advisors has experience working with linguists since 1995 and is known for taking care of their linguists better than any of their competitors. Atlas Advisors also offers a $10,000 referral fee that is the highest in the industry.

They are actively seeking Pashto/Dari linguists to support the U.S. Military in Afghanistan.

Qualifications:

• U.S. Citizen fluent in speaking Pashto, Dari, and English
• Willing to obtain a Security Clearance
• Willing to travel overseas to Afghanistan

Job Description:

• Provide operational contract language support to U.S. Army operations in Afghanistan
• Provide general language support for military operations and interpret during interviews, meetings, and conferences
• Interpret and translate written and spoken communications
• Transcribe and analyze communications
• Scan, research, and analyze foreign language documents for key information
• Translate foreign language documents
• Identify and extract information components meeting military information requirements
• Provide input to report

Salary:

• Between $175,000.00 and $225,000.00 annually depending on the level of security clearance
• Food & lodging included
• Benefits package
• Vacation

Referral Incentive Program:

• This position is eligible for a $10,000 referral fee as governed by the appropriate Atlas Advisors policy

About Atlas Advisors:

• Atlas Advisors is a global professional services company that provides support services and communications products to the Federal Government, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security

Atlas Advisors, LLC

info@atlasadvisors.us

Recruiting

(888)282-0873 ext. 703

The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001 as the US Armed Forces launched Operation Enduring Freedom along with the British Armed Forces and Afghan United Front (Northern Alliance) in response to the September 11 attacks with the stated goal of dismantling Al-Qaeda and ending its use of Afghanistan as a base for terrorist operations. The United States also promised to remove the Taliban regime from power and create a viable democratic state.

Bin Laden has been the world’s most wanted man since the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people.

A nearly decade-long manhunt for the mastermind of the worst terrorist attacks on U.S. soil ended north of Pakistan’s capital Monday May 2nd, 2011 as American commandos killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a pre-dawn firefight.

This is a win for the United States as well as for everyone in the world who is against terrorism.

Although Bin Laden is dead, the war in Afghanistan will go on and Afghan interpreters are needed to support the U.S. Military in their mission.

Qualifications to be a linguist (Terp):

• Must be a US citizen.
• Must be able to qualify for a security clearance.
• Must be willing to be deployed for a minimum of one year.
• And most importantly must be a trustworthy individual who supports the mission.

Benefits:

• Exceptionally good salary
• Company insurance and benefits package

Do YOU have what it takes to be a linguist to support the US mission in Afghanistan?

If you are interested in becoming a part of the solution in Afghanistan contact us via email at: militarylinguists@gmail.com or contact@militarylinguists.com and send us your phone number.

We will contact you promptly and answer any questions that you might have.

What are the qualifications that are required in order to be a “Terp” to support military operations?

Obviously you must be able to speak the required language.  It will more than likely also be required that you be able to read and write in the required language. Before an individual is hired for any “Terp” position he/she will be given a preliminary language test on the telephone or in person. Future tests may be required down the road.

Before an individual is deployable he/she will have to go through an extensive medical evaluation. If the candidate is over the age of 45, he/she may be required to take additional tests such as a stress test.  It is also recommended that if you have any dental problems, take care of them before you are deployed because you might be sent to a location in the world where you will not have any medical or dental services available to you until you return home either for a vacation or permanently.

Once the medical evaluation is done you will be questioned about your background. The company that hires you will want to know everything about you starting with your family and your relatives as well as your travels outside the United States as well as lots of other detailed information.

The standard procedure is to have all candidates complete an SF86. Everyone is required to complete this form and more than likely after the form has been completed correctly the candidate will be personally interviewed about some of the information that was put onto the SF86.

The purpose of the SF86 is to find out if you are trustworthy. If you are not, you will not be hired.

Once you have passed the physical exam and the screening process with the information that you provided on the SF86 you are now available to be hired. At this time the company that you will be working for will brief you on their company policies and procedures, payroll, benefits as well as everything else that they will require of you as an employee.

Be aware that this is not a career but a job that fills a government requirement. Once the requirement goes away so does the job. If you decide to pursue a job as a “Terp” I wish you much luck and success.

If you have any additional questions that I did not answer here feel free to contact me trough email and I will get back with you with the accurate answer.

If you have any questions about completing the SF86, again send me an email with your name and telephone number and I will assist you in the process.

OK, so you were a “Terp” and you spent some time, possibly a few years overseas supporting military missions in Iraq, Afghanistan or perhaps somewhere else, and you are ready to come home. What are some of the things that need to be taken into consideration?

First of all one of the most important things to think about is health insurance. If you are married it is even more important, especially if you have children. Health insurance is an expensive as well as complicated issue now days. Make sure you look into costs and coverage for your family.

You need to look over your finances and figure out your future expenses without that nice big check that you are used to getting every two weeks. It is time for a reality check.

If you are interested in continuing as a “Terp” once you get back to the USA, than it is highly recommended that you get the highest level security clearance that you can get. A Top Secret/SCI is imperative if you want to be competitive in the marketplace.

The last thing that I will mention is buying a house. If you are planning on buying a house make sure that you buy it while you are on your last leave or while you are still overseas.

It has come to my attention that many “Terps” come home after quitting their jobs and realize when it is too late that they don’t qualify for a loan. They have a few hundred thousand dollars in the bank but that does not matter. The lender still will not give a loan to a person who has no job and no income.

Financing has changed over the years as well as America’s economic situation. There was a time when a person could put down 25% for a new house and get a loan very easily. Those days are gone. Investigate this before you quit being a “Terp” because you might be in for a rude awakening.

Save your family and yourself some grief and make plans before you return home.

I get emails on a regular basis asking me what kind of job the “Terp” will be assigned to and where will he be stationed.

The honest answer to that is, “I don’t know.”

Once a “Terp” is hired he/she is put into the system and must go through the processing. Once the “Terp” has passed the required physical examination and met the security requirements the “Terp” is now ready for deployment.

So the big question is, “Where will he or she end up?”

If the deployment is to Afghanistan or Iraq, the “Terp” will fly to the designated country and at that time depending on his/her clearance level, he/she will be assigned to a Site Manager who will than assign you to your new unit.

Expect to be living in extreme conditions, in other words a tent or a room with numerous soldiers or other “Terps.” This does not mean that this is what will happen to you, but be prepared for this and then you won’t be disappointed.

Most CAT III’s end up working at headquarters or with higher ranking officers conducting meetings with high ranking officials and/or translating classified documents. There is no guarantee of this but this is the usual scenario.

If you are a CAT I you should expect to go outside the wire and if you are a CAT II you should also expect the same. What that means is that you will go on missions with the soldiers.

Now with that all said and done, you might end up on a nice secure base with a movie theatre and your own private room and even have a TV and a refrigerator in the room. There are no guarantees but the possibility does exist.

Once the company that hired you assigns you to a unit, the military is the one that decides where you will be assigned and what your job function will be. This is the reason that “Terps” get paid such high salaries. In essence you become a member of the military until your contract expires. That is why it is highly recommended that you bond with the soldiers in your unit because they will be your friends and family as long as you are working with them.

The way you have to look at this is “hope for the best and get ready for the worst.” This way you will psychologically be prepared for what is ahead of you and you will be mentally strong and prepared to deal with the daily situations.

From my personal experiences in Iraq, things are and will be a lot better than you might have hoped for, but you must always be prepared for the unexpected.

Just remember what the mission is and why you accepted to do this. There is danger involved but there is also camaraderie and friendship as well as a feeling of accomplishment. If you spend a year or two in Iraq or Afghanistan I guarantee that it will change your life for the better.

Now on the other hand, if you are applying for a specific job that has a certain requirement, than you might already know where you will be going before the deployment. Again, this is for specific jobs only with specific requirements and job functions in mind.