What is a PRT (provincial reconstruction team)?
Holt: A PRT is a unit of about 60-100 military personnel. About half of the individuals in the unit are devoted to security, while the other half handles civil affairs. These individuals are reservists, who bring their civilian skills and expertise with them. They may be bankers, engineers or business ownersall kinds of professions. Several U.S. government agencies have people in PRTsthe U.S. Department of State, USAID (the U.S. Agency for International Development) and USDA for example. Other agencies, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, may participate in the future. FAS Worldwide: How many PRTs are there and where are they located? Holt: There are 19 PRTs in various regions of the country. Some of these areas are high risk, while others are lower risk. Risk is determined based on how secure the area is, but its relative because risk is everywhere. The U.S. government, the United Nations and other sources help re-e
