Sheraz risked his life translating in Afghanistan. His family paid the price | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Cultural Advisor/Translator: A role involving linguistic translation and providing critical cultural context to military forces to prevent misunderstandings.
• Coalition Forces: The multi-national military alliance operating in Afghanistan, including US and Australian troops.
• Situational Awareness: The ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening in a combat environment.
• IED (Improvised Explosive Device): A homemade bomb used by insurgent forces, which caused the death of the subject's brother.
• Anzac Day Recognition: The acknowledgment by the Returned and Services League (RSL) of Australia of the vital contributions and risks taken by local interpreters.

1. Background and Early Life in Afghanistan

Shiraz Armadi’s life is defined by a stark contrast between his current peaceful existence as a roof plumber in Melbourne and his traumatic upbringing in Afghanistan. His childhood was marked by the omnipresence of violence, including public executions at football stadiums and the constant threat of airstrikes in cities like Kabul, Jalalabad, Herat, and Kandahar. Following the toppling of the Taliban, Armadi sought to improve his family's situation by learning English, which eventually led him to work as a translator for coalition forces.

2. The Role and Risks of Translators

Armadi and his brother, Ferdos, served as translators and cultural advisors. While he told his parents he was working safely inside a base, he was actually embedded with US Special Forces on dangerous patrols.

• Cultural Mediation: Armadi highlighted the necessity of his role in preventing civilian backlash. He noted that US soldiers often lacked the cultural knowledge to distinguish between a mosque and a private home, or to understand the significance of prayer rugs and books. His intervention prevented soldiers from entering sacred spaces with boots or dogs, which would have immediately incited local hostility.
• Targeted Threats: Translators faced a "double-edged" danger: they were targets for insurgents in the field and were viewed as "infidels" by their own communities, often facing more hatred than the coalition soldiers themselves.

3. Personal Loss and Transition to Australian Forces

The cost of his service was high:

• Casualties: Armadi witnessed the loss of US and Afghan National Army personnel. Three of the US soldiers he served with were later killed in action.
• Family Tragedy: In 2016, Armadi was the target of an ambush that injured his father-in-law. In 2017, his brother Ferdos was killed by an IED.
• Shift to Australian Forces: Armadi eventually transitioned to working with Australian forces in Kabul. He expressed a stronger sense of rapport with the Australians, noting that the missions and the nature of the collaboration felt more supportive than his previous experiences with US forces.

4. Strategic Importance and Resettlement

Australian soldier Gus McFarlan emphasized that Armadi provided more than just language skills; he provided "situational awareness" and the ability to "read the room." This was critical for the safety of the Kabul Garrison Command Headquarters, which had previously suffered from Taliban infiltration.

• Advocacy: Recognizing the immense risk Armadi took, McFarlan became a strong advocate for his resettlement.
• Resettlement: In 2019, Armadi and his family were granted visas to Australia.

5. Post-Withdrawal Impact and Synthesis

Following the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the danger to Armadi’s family intensified. His family home in Kabul was attacked with explosives, injuring his father and nephew. While his parents and younger brother have since joined him in Australia, the psychological toll of the war remains.

Conclusion and Takeaways: Armadi’s story illustrates the often-overlooked role of local translators as essential components of military success and civilian protection. His journey from a war-torn childhood to a peaceful life in Melbourne is maintained through a conscious psychological shift: whenever memories of trauma surface, he redirects his focus to his current safety, his children’s education, and the peace he now enjoys. His experience serves as a testament to the resilience of those who served alongside coalition forces and the ongoing necessity of supporting these individuals after their service concludes.