Petraeus Scandal: Paula Broadwell in Classified Document Probe

[dixiegrrrrl]

33. Slate has the answer at to how they met:

Paula Broadwell, the woman with whom he had this affair, writes in her fawning biography of Petraeus that they first met when she was in graduate school at Harvard and he came to give a talk about counterinsurgency strategy. She approached him afterward and expressed interest in the subject; they exchanged cards. Soon, she decided to write a Ph.D. dissertation on his leadership style and, when he took command in Afghanistan, asked if she could come observe him in action. He agreed.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/11/david_petraeus_s_affair_with_paula_broadwell_why_did_an_accomplished_and.html

I am trying to figure out how a civilian can end up in Afghanistan with the head General, go on long morning runs, have bed and board in the General's barracks or housing or whatever.
Thought Afghanistan was considered a war zone....