Newfoundlanders in Kabul, Afghanistan:
Lieutenant-Commander Daniel Power and Captain Cindy Normore

Newfoundlanders can be found in almost every corner of the world and Afghanistan is no exception! Currently deployed in support of Operation ATTENTION in Kabul, Afghanistan, Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Daniel Power and Captain (Capt) Cindy Normore comprise this rotationÂ’s Newfoundland contingent at New Kabul Center. As members of the Armed Forces Academy of Medical Sciences (AFAMS) Advisory Team, LCdr Power and Capt Normore advise on the design, development and conduct of programs of instruction to train and prepare future non-commission members and officers for a career in the Afghan National Army (ANA) medical services.

LCdr Power, originally from North River, N.L., has 23 years of service in the Regular and Reserve Force components of the Canadian Armed Forces. His inspiration for a military career began during high school with Royal Canadian Army Cadets ClarkeÂ’s Beach corps. He attended medical school at Memorial University graduating in 1995. After subsequent completion of family medicine residency, worked in several places across Canada including Cold Lake Alta., Valcartier Que., Fort McMurray, Alta. and Comox B.C. He completed 4 years specialty training in anesthesiology in 2010. He is no stranger to overseas missions having served in Bosnia, Golan Heights and Afghanistan.

This current deployment is his second trip to Afghanistan and stands in contrast to his previous experience of working in trauma anesthesia at the Role 3 Hospital in Kanadahar. The focus of this mission is on post-graduate medical education helping the Afghan National Medical Hospital in Kabul develop their own anesthesia training program. Building something like that has a unique set of challenges in a country which has seen decades of war and instability but has the potential to benefit Afghans for many years to come.

LCdr Power currently resides in Ottawa with his wife Laura and son Jonathan. They are expecting their second child in September 2013.

Capt Normore, raised in Mount Pearl, graduated from Memorial University in 2002 and University of Ottawa in 2004. After spending five years in the field of education and training technology, she joined the Canadian Armed Forces in December 2006 as a Training Development Officer (TDO). As a TDO, Capt Normore specializes in curriculum development and implementation, and advises on innovative approaches to training delivery across all environments in the military. Her current area of responsibility within the AFAMS Advisory Team include mentoring her Afghan colleagues on the development of a sustainable training system, which includes robust, Afghan appropriate, qualifying courses for all medical occupations within the ANA. While there are numerous challenges, Capt Normore maintains that “she’s no fish out of water” when it comes to solving problems and overcoming cultural sensitivities to women in a combat role. She maintains a positive perspective on the impact of her contributions; for her, working in this capacity has been one of the highlights of her career.

LCdr Power and Capt Normore will be completing their tour of duty this spring and summer respectively and are both looking forward to their next trip back to The Rock for a visit with family and friends.

Photo: March 2013 - Lieutenant-Commander D. Power, raised in North River (left), and Captain C. Normore, raised in Mount Pearl (right) currently deployed in Kabul, Afghanistan. This picture was taken on the terrace of the National Medical Hospital, where they perform their advisory duties in support of Operation ATTENTION.

Photo by: Major W. Ip   Submitted By: marco chouinard