Tom McCuin served two tours as an Army public affairs officer in Afghanistan, and worked closely with local nationals hired by American forces.
“They were not only our language interpreters, they were our cultural interpreters,” he wrote on clearancejobs.com , a site that lists openings for individuals with government security clearances. “Our interpreters were our bridge to the local population. They were locals themselves, who knew the lay of the land. Their service was, in a word, invaluable.”