Blog Posts tagged with "helping people"

Col. Shawn Fritz adds a EUCOM coin to a ceremonial time capsule placed in the foundation of the new three-bay garage with Lt. Col. Peter Wisti.

On Monday, Judy Garber, U.S. Ambassador to Latvia; members of the U.S. Embassy in Riga and EUCOM; the Latvian Ministry of Interior (State Fire and Rescue Service) and National Guard members; and local government officials broke ground on a EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance project modernizing eight fire and rescue stations in Latvia.

This project is a sterling example of the whole of government approach taken by both of our countries to build essential service capabilities that Latvia can employ not just within its own borders, but to benefit Europe as a whole. As we saw from the recent spate of natural disasters across Europe in the last two years -- wildfires in Russia, flooding in the Balkans, earthquakes in Turkey, extreme winter weather in central and eastern Europe -- there’s certainly a need for robust emergency response services in the region. Effective essential services help contain and mitigate the impact of disasters and thereby contribute to maintaining security and stability in the affected areas -- a EUCOM core mission.

This groundbreaking was part of a multi-year EUCOM HA effort that started in 2010 to renovate Latvia’s national fire and rescue stations and enhance their emergency response capability. Latvia leveraged these renovated stations by reaching out to the European Union for new fire trucks, which, combined with updated emergency facilities, enabling a speedier response to emergencies. As a result of this improved capability, Latvia was able to send firefighters and equipment outside the country to tackle catastrophic forest fires in Russia and severe flooding in Poland and Moldova. Thanks to innovative thinking by EUCOM and Latvian project team members, this project delivered a “bigger bang for the buck”.

Much like NATO’s “Smart Defense” concept, EUCOM’s HA effort with Latvia is “Smart Civic Engagement”--a joint project with one of our smallest NATO allies and one of the poorest countries in the European Union precisely crafted to deliver significant security benefits. We are truly Stronger Together!

Ambassador Lawrence Butler
Civilian Deputy to the Commander
US European Command

“You have words and… swords. We, on the other hand, only have our words.”  This was a poignant point made by Francois Bellon, the Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to both the EU and NATO. J9 invited Monsieur Bellon to visit the command earlier this month, the first senior ICRC visit to EUCOM in nearly two decades.

François Bellon, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation to NATO, EU and the Kingdom of Belgium, addresses military and civilian officials from EUCOM.

Mr. Bellon and his colleague, Mr. Aleardo Ferretti, came to Stuttgart with a world-wide breadth of experience with the Red Cross. Between them they have been posted in Beijing, Moscow, Tblisi, Tel Aviv, Beirut and Washington, DC.  They see the need for open communication with all parties; with strong superpower militaries like that of the US, but also with “the other side”; Taliban, Malian Toureg rebels, Al Shabab in Somalia etc.  They are fiercely impartial, neutral, independent, never armed, and use this stance and their words to achieve their humanitarian objectives.

I liked the analogy that Mr. Bellon used during his presentation; "we are in the same river, but different boats." We tend to look at a crisis, in Syria for example, from our military perspective; the ICRC does so from their humanitarian perspective. Both boats have good intentions: defending the rights of the wounded and detainees, the protection of innocents, and the rights of a populace to select their own leadership. But it is essential that these two important boats be able to communicate with each other. Hence the invitation to the ICRC to visit, so that we can build bridges, know each other before a crisis, and better understand each other’s perspectives.

Mr Bellon indicated that the ICRC are also the protectors of the Geneva Conventions. They are in my mind, a bit like the Knights Templar guarding the Holy Grail in the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Fountain of Youth;" for me, the ICRC is today’s Knights Templar, guarding the nearly 150 year-old  Geneva Conventions and fundamental human rights. They of course do so… without the sword.

Mike Anderson
Acting Director
J9-Interagency Partnering Directorate

Recently, I attended the "2011 Soft Power Symposium" hosted by Pepperdine University and the League for Hope, a non-government organization (NGO) that promotes public-private partnership to foster educational, medical, and commercial opportunities for disadvantaged populations. 

I wasn't familiar with the organizers and expected a conference with some discussion that might be new to me, some that would be standard, and a healthy bout of networking. It turned out to be all of that, but even better. The organizer, Rosalie Wyatt, was action-oriented and so was the discussion!

The purpose of the symposium was to develop agreement on common language and procedures to encourage the private sector to participate in U.S. military and diplomatic efforts. Such shared efforts are of particular interest in the current, increasingly austere, economic environment.  At this meeting, representatives from NGOs, government agencies, five COCOMs (EUCOM, AFRICOM, CENTCOM, NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM), think tanks, and private industry discussed how they have conducted public-private partnerships to date, and the lessons they have learned. They also responded to the conveners' charge to them to consider some concrete measures.

I was joined on the first panel on best-practices by my colleague Lisa Samson, the J9 Director at the U.S. Southern Command; a representative of the U.S. Africa Command; Alan van Egmond, USAID's senior advisor on Afghanistan and Pakistan; and several private sector representatives.

I gave examples of EUCOM's public-private collaborations - our workshop with transportation executives on the Northern Distribution Network and Modern Silk Road; our teamwork with Project Hope to work with counterparts in the Baltics to address Traumatic Brain Injury; our projects involving Business Executives for National Security and our support for USAID's calls for help during the Russian wildfires and Pakistan floods last year.

The emphasis of this short symposium on processes for encouraging and institutionalizing public-private collaboration is well-placed - especially as budgets are being constrained. It would also be useful to include in future discussions methods of measuring the effectiveness of these partnerships. This could further inform how and when the government would seek private partners or collaborators. What do you think? Please share your views with me and my J9 Interagency Directorate colleagues.

Evelyn N. Farkas, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor for Public-Private Partnership
to the Supreme Allied Commander (SACEUR)
and Commander, U.S. European Command

We have all heard the adage “it takes a village to raise a child,” but I recently experienced this first hand when I had the privilege of participating in the Ochakiv School #2 ribbon cutting ceremony in the Ukraine on the first day of school Sept. 1.

This school renovation project was selected by the Ukrainian Embassy, funded through the U.S. European Command Civic Engagement Branch, and executed by Naval Facilities Engineering Command with a local construction company. 

Students celebrate the first day of school in the newly renovated Ochakiv School in the Ukraine.

I knew I was involved in something special when I arrived for the ceremony and more than 200 parents and family members were standing in the school court yard. All of those who were in the military were in their uniforms. I did not realize that in the Ukraine there is a hold-over tradition from the Soviet time period that school across the country will start Sept. 1 and it is expected that parents will come to the first day of school; especially those of the first graders.  This instills the importance of education into the first graders while reinforcing these ideas to the other students. 

Students celebrate the first day of school in the newly renovated Ochakiv School in the Ukraine Sept. 1. The $600K project replaced the roof, windows and siding with energy efficient material; completely renovated the school indoor gym and locker rooms; and renovated the two English language classrooms. This school renovation project was selected by the Ukrainian Embassy, funded through the U.S. European Command Civic Engagement Branch, and executed by Naval Facilities Engineering Command with a local construction company.

The first day of school is treated as a very big deal in the Ukraine. The focal point of the opening day ceremonies is the new first-grade students, but, in this case, we had the added attraction of a renovated school making this a truly memorable first day. The first graders parade into the school court yard dressed in their Sunday best wearing sashes identifying them as starting their first critical sets in the education process. They are all announced by name and take turns delivering short “speeches” about the importance of education. Then the other students perform a regional dance for the new students culminating with each member of the senior class welcoming all the new first graders to school and presenting them with “gifts” to help make their first day memorable. Finally the oldest student in the school leads the “first bell” procession, where the eight youngest first graders accompany him in the ringing of the “first bell” of the school year to announce the school is now open for the year. Then the senior class members form an archway for the first graders to walk through and enter school for the first time.

So on this very special day, the students, new and old, entered a facility that had undergone a major facelift. The $600K project replaced the roof, windows and siding with energy efficient material; completely renovated the school indoor gym and locker rooms; and renovated the two English language classrooms.

What makes this renovation project unique is the partnership between the local community, local government, regional government, and local military unit coming together to make it a combined effort, thus maximizing the impact of everyone's effort. As is evident by the first grade class being more than 40 children (while the average in the city is only 18) because everyone wanted to be at what was now viewed as the “best” school in the city. 

The city government and local military unit (mostly special forces) removed the old roofing material and took away construction waste. The military unit also donated a new computer for the school’s computer lab. The city government worked tirelessly with the regional government to fund and execute paving of the road to the school, playground area, and new sidewalks; additionally, the city government funded renovation of the principal's office and replaced a large number of text books in the school. The regional government funded the $100K for the paving and sidewalks. Additionally, the regional school administration worked daily with the school and contractors during the project to ensure the highest quality. As an added bonus for the first graders the regional governor provided each of them with a signed letter and all the school supplies they needed for the first grade.

Local government and military officials attended the ceremony along with more family members than I have ever seen at a first day of school. Aside from being selected to walk one of the first graders to her first class, my most memorable moment came from a conversation with the deputy regional governor. His statement that the regional governor sees school renovation projects like this one as a model which they will continue. He said they have already selected several other schools and are in the process of working joint projects where the local and regional governments pay the bulk of the costs while incorporating the parents and local residents in the work. 

It was great to see that our efforts are setting the conditions for the educational development of future generations.

COL Leon Parrott
Deputy EUCOM Engineer

Our Office of Defense Cooperation team left rainy and gloomy Sofia for a trip that had us traveling 2000 km in 5 days.  We were scheduled to travel throughout northern Bulgaria to inspect 15 potential Humanitarian Assistance projects. We were a little worried because we will also had a ribbon cutting to one of our larger HA projects: a kindergarten renovation in the town of Montana.

All worries disappeared, though, when we reached our destination a couple of hours later and I saw the children dressed in white, red, and green (the colors of the national flag) traditional folk outfits.  The environment was spectacular -- children holding balloons, the happy faces of their parents, the smiles of the teacher.

This June day turned sunny in Montana as the townspeople celebrated its annual city holiday.  The city center was abuzz with bustling crowds enjoying traditional singing, dancing and games with a carnival-like atmosphere.  It was impressive to see the amount of people flooding Montana’s expansive, tree-lined pedestrian zone.  Montana’s Mayor Zlatko Zhivkov said that 9 other foreign delegations had also come to partake in the festivities.

We were warmly greeted by a very large turnout of young children ages 3 to 6 along with their proud parents and teachers and supportive local citizens and municipal government officials. Many of the children, and even some adults, were dressed in vibrant traditional Bulgarian attire.  Several age groups performed time-honored Bulgarian dances and songs, and one group even recited a rhyme in English.  Those of us presiding over the ceremony were overcome by the children’s wholesome energy and joyousness.

Mayor Zhivkov gave a speech as part of the festivities and mentioned was no better time for the US Government to present this gift to the children of Montana and actively contribute to the excitement of the day.

The ribbon cutting was for the kindergarten “Zdravets”.  The word “zdravets” (здравец) in Bulgarian means geranium and is derived from the root word “zdrave” (здраве) for health.  The kindergarten’s name suggests prosperity, longevity and well-being.

CDR Imblum, the ODC Sofia Chief, and Mayor Zhivkov cut the ribbon and then performed a good luck ritual with a vessel decorated with crane’s bill.

There were more symbolic (and fun) Bulgarian customs after the ceremony, too.  First, representing Bulgaria’s rich tradition of hospitality, we were welcomed as special guests with bites from a freshly baked loaf of bread that we each dipped in salt.  Then a young girl handed Mayor Zhivkov a small copper pot filled with zdravets plants and water.  The Mayor kindly handed the plants to the girl, and then he and I took the pot together and poured it away from the school door entrance leading to the outer gate.  This is a common tradition that Bulgarian parents do for their children when they leave home for an important event, such as an exam or the first day of school.  As you walk over the flowing water, you will be blessed with smooth sailing and good fortune. The children performed songs, poems, and dances, then white, red and green balloons flew up in the sky followed by three white pigeons, symbols of the peace, purity and hope for us and our children.

The US Embassy team and other guests visited the renovations which will provide safer and more joyful environment to 120 children and 30 staff. A Bulgarian firm did an excellent job installing new windows, framing and paneling throughout the kindergarten; and the colorfully painted facades tellingly reflect the bright future of these very talented children.

Witten by: CDR Imblum, Sofia ODC Chief, and Ms. Vesela Terzieva, Sofia HA Program Manager

June 6 is a special day, but probably not for the reasons normally associated with the U.S. military in Europe. I was in Odessa, Ukraine, on the Black Sea coast. The weather was gorgeous, and I was with Ambassador Tefft and his wife, to celebrate the successful completion of facility improvements at Lastoshka Tuberculosis Children's Rehabilition Center.

Arriving sharply at 10 a.m., we were escorted to the ceremonial stage by the Chief Doctor Stepanchuk, the Center's director, and his deputy Mr. Chumachenko, at one of the completed projects -- a +250 square meter playground in the shade -- where the children, staff and media all anxiously awaited our arrival. On the way, the director stopped to allow us the opportunity to admire the children's artwork on display. Brightly colored balloons, ribbons, lace and music created a near carnival atmosphere as we met the community leaders, Vice Mayor Pavlova, Mr. Kalinchuk, and Mr. Kalinian in front of the showpiece project: the outdoor basketball court.

The Lastochka Center was built to help children recuperate and build up their immune system after contracting tuberculosis, a potentially deadly disease. The typical stay here is about 3 months as they work through the regimen of treatment. They are here without their families, but thanks to the wonderful staff they are happy -- they know they are cared for and loved, and you can see it through the smiles on their faces and the spring in their steps.

Photo courtesy US Embassy, Kiev

After the speeches, the children performed dances, skits and songs -- they are all very talented and amazingly self-confident, and put on a wonderful show. And the best part of the day, the Sixth Fleet Band Ambassadors played a mix of rock and pop, while some of the kids broke out onto the basketball court to give a test drive with a dozen basketballs donated to the center. The chairs are quickly piled up to make room on the dance floor as the kids moonwalk to Michael Jackson.

June 6 was a great day, not only for the picture postcard weather on the sun-kissed coast of the Black Sea, but because today we celebrate a partnership between the US Embassy, EUCOM and the Lastochka Children's TB Rehabilitation Center which is all about providing a second chance for children who, without this center, would not have that chance. It's about making the world a better place for the benefit of the kids who represent the future, and a partnership that will last well into that future.

Greg Zielinski,
CAPT, CEC, US Navy

U.S. European Command
J-4 EN Division Chief

A panoramic view of the Sava River (Photo by Bojan Jaksic, Sava River Commission)

If you live near a river in Eastern Europe, you probably spent a horrific summer evacuating or preparing to evacuate due to floods. So, what better way to reach out to our partners than developing a plan to prevent and prepare for flooding, while promoting international cooperation?

I recently attended a plaque dedication ceremony for the Sava River hydraulic flood mapping workshop where representatives from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia attended. The flood modeling efforts were funded by EUCOM and built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with the four nations. As the U.S. Ambassador James Foley said, “This work is invaluable and represents the type of projects that can be made through regional cooperation. It’s my hope that this spirit of cooperation can continue to lead to concrete results and I believe that this flood risk mapping will form the basis for follow-on work between the signatories of the Framing Agreement on the Sava River Basin who have cooperated so well today.”

The executive secretariat of the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC), Dr. Dejan Komatina commented that it will be this regional cooperation that will sustain the (ISRBC) on issues related to navigation, economic development, comprehensive water management and environmental protection.

The mouth of the Sava River (Photo by Vlada Marinkovic, Sava River Commission)

In light of the ISRBC efforts and recent flooding in Central Europe this summer, the timing of the Sava River workshop was impeccable. The Sava is the third longest and the largest discharge of water to the Danube River contributing almost 25 percent and is an important asset to the Danube’s biological and landscape diversity, according to the International Sava River Basin Commission website. The river runs from Slovenia to the Danube in Serbia.

I am proud and honored to know this $100K project will greatly benefit the citizens and future generations of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia. Not only will it provide greatly enhanced flood modeling to help prepare for flood mitigation, but the cooperation necessary to make it successful is also the key element necessary for regional stability and economic development. And EUCOM was an instrumental part of that!

Greg Zielinski,
CAPT, CEC, US Navy
“HA all the way…for the Love!”

U.S. European Command
J-4 EN Division Chief

September 15 is the first day of school in Azerbaijan and I was fortunate enough to attend the opening ceremony for Barda school #2 located about 400 KM west of the capital Baku. It was a great honor to join the Deputy Minister of Education, Cabinet Minister for Internally Displaces Persons & Refugees, Regional Mayor and US Embassy Charge D'Affaires, Adam Sterling, in opening our 16th new or renovated school in Azerbaijan.

School children flowers in hand, excited about their brand new school.

This $670,000 school, built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with a local contractor, is simple by US standards with outdoor latrines, a small boiler and water tank. Each of the classrooms had 3 rows of 2-person desks and a chalk board at the front. But, if you could have seen the joy of the parents, children and local community you'd have thought we'd built them the Taj Mahal.

When this community absorbed some of the 1 million IDPs in Azerbaijan they lost their school. The old dilapidated school is now filled with blanket walled shelters that serve as homes for the IDPs living there. This forced the children to attend school in shifts using small temporary shelters with no windows. So while the simple 13-room school house donated by US Department of Defense might seem basic to the average American, it was a drastic improvement for the children of Barda.

Students perform a dance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony as the U.S. Chargé D’Affaires to Azerbaijan, Mr. Adam Sterling, Deputy Minister of Education, Regional Mayor, local media and myself observe.

And Sept. 15 was all about the children of Barda school #2 and the ability to provide a healthy environment for them to learn. I was, at once, impressed with the turn out of the local and national media, the kids in their sharp uniforms, the parents and teachers all so grateful for making a dream come true. This is more than just building a comfortable learning environment, but about partnering with Azerbaijani people to build a future.

On the wall of the media room, were only two maps: one of Azerbaijan, the other of the United States of America. It is clear to me that our caring gift of a schoolhouse has helped shaped a positive US image for these students, parents and teachers of, at least, this school. The principal was presented a book of images of the USA. She told me, glancing through the photos, that she was inspired by a country that represents freedom, democracy, and equal opportunity for all...and that she would leave the book in her office to inspire others as well. We are making a difference-one schoolhouse at a time.

Me testing out the new basketball hoop donated by the Peace Corps.

Greg Zielinski,
CAPT, CEC, US Navy
“HA all the way…for the Love!”

U.S. European Command
J-4 EN Division Chief

When driving through the Ukraine, you can’t help but notice the incredible amount of resources. In one week’s time, I saw endless fields of rich soil, a nuclear power plant, hydro-electric dam, and ore mines. However, the most impressive resource I came across was the people.

During a recent assessment of EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance projects in the Ukraine I saw first hand all the incredible resourcefulness of our Ukraine Partners. I visited a maternity center, HIV/AIDs Center, schools and a Mining Rescue Unit. The one thing they all had in common was their capacity to take the DoD and other donations and leverage them into much much more. They used their own manpower, challenged the local government to partner or found other community donors to participate.

Local Ukrainian Health Official discussing the U.S./Zhitomir partnership with the press at the Dec. 8 ceremony for an excess property donation for the Zhitomir Maternity Clinic.

It was amazing to know DoD funded an exterior renovation in the Zhitomir Maternity Clinic but our partner had a solid business plan and was able to get the interior updated as well, improving the capacity of our investment to serve the community.

Based on the dedicated and skilled Ukrainians I met, they make the perfect partner for future operations. They are devoted to service, education and making the most of available resources.

Lt. Col. Amy McCall
Project Integration/Civil Military Operations ECJ4-ENG

I recently had a chance to accompany the Latvian Military Chaplain, a local social worker, spouses of the Michigan National Guard Adjutant General, and the Latvian Chief of Defense on a visit to some families in need in the Ogre municipality, which is about 35 kilometers southeast of Riga. The social worker and the Chaplain had prepared gift baskets for the families who were struggling severely under the current economic situation. The baskets, funded by the Michigan National Guard Family Support Group, included everyday food items like milk, bread, eggs and cooking oil.

One of the places that we visited was a municipality - owned community house that is divided into several apartments and assigned to people in need. All of us were shocked by what we saw there – floors were severely rotten and damaged and walls were uneven with holes in them. The rooms were cold and damp because of a defective Soviet-era heating furnace and could not maintain a warm interior temperature in the apartment. Personally, I had been to places like these during other Humanitarian Assistance missions in the eastern part of Latvia, but not a mere 35 km outside of Riga.

The social worker told us the story of the two brothers living in one particular apartment we were visiting. Because of the death of their mother, the 17 year old younger brother had taken over responsibility of caring for his 26 year old brother who has a mental disability. Besides each other, they were completely on their own. The local municipality provided living space and a monthly pension to the older brother in the amount of about 65.00 Latvian Lats (130.00 USD). We talked to both of the men and the younger one told us in English that he planned to study tourism administration when he graduated from high school. After the short conversation, the younger one thanked us for the goods we brought, and probably thought that this visit would not change their lives other than just to add a meal or two. Thanks, however to the EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program and the efforts of some US Navy sailors and Latvian soldiers, we were able to return and bring changes that, using the words of the youngest boy: “he could not have imagined in his wildest dreams!”

Sailors from the USS Ramage (DDG 61) and Latvian soldiers restain the building for members of the community.

On October 23rd, 2009 sailors on a port visit from the U.S. Navy ship the USS Ramage (DDG 61) together with Latvian soldiers joined efforts for a community outreach activity and painted the exterior of the building where the two men lived. The rest of the refurbishment project was contracted to a local Latvian company and within two weeks the two men could not recognize their old apartment. The old Soviet era stove was completely removed and a new wood heating system was installed. The walls were leveled out with plaster board and received new wallpaper. As well, the old floors were replaced and the ceiling was covered and painted. New light fixtures and electrical wiring were installed and old crooked doors were replaced with new ones. Moreover, inspired by the efforts of the US Government, the local municipality finally fulfilled its long-standing promise and built a shed for wood next to the building.

With outstanding efforts and only $10,000, we not only managed to completely renovate about 60 square meters of the building, including 270 square meters of wall, floor and ceiling surface and provide normal living conditions to a family in need, but we also gave hope to the local municipality representatives and social workers who are frustrated in trying to satisfy urgent needs with limited funding. Before the work on the building commenced, the deputy head of the local municipality council addressed the attendees of the outreach event with tears in his eyes, and said “the people of Ogre are grateful to the US Government for the missions it does in Latvia. This is an inspirational mission you [US sailors and Latvian soldiers] are about to take up today and there are no words to express our gratitude.”

This was a small scale project, but it once again reminded me that it does not take much to bring change and make a difference in the lives of other people.

Gunita Migliniece
HA Manager, ODC Latvia

As Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation in Bulgaria, I recently attended two ribbon cutting ceremonies in the towns of Zherevna and Kermen to celebrate the completion of renovations for their health centers funded by the DoD Humanitarian Assistance Office.

LTC Hartmnan and Vesi Terzieva, Governor Kavrakov and LCDR Daystar speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 10.

We are fortunate that Task Force-East is located in-country which allows us to coordinate support from units like the 409th Contracting Support Battalion to make these projects reality. In this case, the 409th contracted with SKE to resource local contractors and renovate the floor, and to provide a new ceiling and new roofing for the health center in Zhereven. At the health center in Kermen, local contractors replaced dilapidated wooded windows and refurbished the downstairs lavatory as well as refinished the interior walls. These two centers provide service to a rural population of 7,000.

LTC Hartman tries the traditional welcome bread as the first guest to enter the newly refurbished health center.

The ribbon cutting ceremonies attracted large crowds including the regional governor of Silven to celebrate completion of the projects with the contractors and U.S. Embassy. Locals provided entertainment which included cultural dancing, singing, and food. These sort of shared events and cross-cultural interaction are what I find particularly rewarding as an ODC Chief - both professionally and personally.

That said, we do try to use these events as much more than a local one. We often try to incorporate the embassy PAO in order to engage with the press in order to hit strategic messages and themes to a far broader audience. In keeping with that goal, on this occasion I did a press interview, and affirmed that the goal of these projects and similar projects is to bring our two nations and two peoples together in ways that benefit both societies. Given the recent concern over the spread of the H1N1 virus, I also emphasized that well functioning health centers are essential as local communities support critical needs of their population. It is an honor to engage with communities like Zhereven and Kermen who help us assimilate our military presence in a responsible and enduring way.

LTC Eric Hartman
Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation in Bulgaria

Riding down the bumpy dirt road with a semi–truck trailing behind, a smile appears on my face. We approach several cows standing in the middle of the road that are in no hurry, of course. I honk the horn twice and they finally begin to amble on their way, except for one. He slowly raises his head, looks directly at me, and I swear I hear him say, “What’s your hurry?” I get the hint, sit back and relax as he wags his tail and slowly moseys along.

This paints a familiar picture of rural life in Armenia. Things are slower, simpler. I quickly forget the hustle and bustle of the capital, Yerevan, and settle into what I love about my job as the Bilateral Affairs Officer for the European Command State Partnership Program; getting to meet the unique, genuine, and hospitable people of this beautiful country, Armenia.

Furniture being offloaded at the Chambarak School in Armenia.

On behalf of the United States Embassy in Yerevan and the European Command Humanitarian Assistance office in Stuttgart, Germany, we were able to supply over $4000 worth of much needed furniture to Chambarak School Number Two. The U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) has provided several such shipments in the past year, adding up to $15,000 worth of material donated to schools and orphanages in rural Armenian and several more are on the way. Many of these projects would not be possible without the many Non-Governmental Organizations and governmental organizations working together, sharing information, and coordinating their efforts to support the development of Armenia.

For instance, Save the Children completed the renovation of the Chambarak School in early 2009. To assist in furnishing the school, Armenian Relief Fund donated desks, and the United States Embassy’s ODC provided additional desks, chairs, and bookcases for the teachers. Although the donations are often small in monetary value, the impact is enormous. We could see the sincere gratitude of the local population from the look in their eyes, their vigorous handshakes, and their heartfelt, “shnorak’alutsyun,” (translation: “thank you”).

Captain Robert Sanders
Bilateral Affairs Office
U.S. Embassy Yerevan, Armenia

On Oct. 22, I had the most rewarding day since being assigned as the Bilateral Affairs Officer to the U.S. Embassy, Vilnius, Lithuania. That day, I was in charge of organizing the delivery of hygiene and medical material donated as part of Project Handclasp, the Navy’s space available program for shipping humanitarian donations.

That morning, myself along with sailors from the USS John L Hall and Ambassador Anne Derse with other staff from the U.S. Embassy spent several hours on the Baltic shore cleaning up the beach as part of a U.S. Navy Community Relations program. After that, we all traveled to Caritas Elderly Care center to where earlier this summer, service members from the USS Mount Whitney and the Lithuanian Navy made desparate repairs on an aging building that was a donated elementary school turned home for the elderly. We had a wonderful visit and donated some more supplies to help them with the care of the residents.

Everyone was in great spirits and it was so wonderful to see the administrators, Father Vilius Viktoravicius and Rasa Senkiene, again. It’s nice to see the reaction from our friends that we’ve made a difference in their lives. We hope that our continued efforts provide peace of mind that this elder community has not been forgotten and they look forward to continued efforts with the U.S. as well as Lithuanian Navy.

Ambassador Anne Derse passes out items as part of Project Handclasp to children at the Rytas Orphanage, Oct. 22. Sailors from the USS John L. Hall refurbished the Orphanage\'s kitchen and bathroom facilities and replaced aging windows throught the whole building.

What a great morning, but the highlight of my day was our final stop at Rytas Orphanage. There are currently 68 children between 4-18 years of age at the orphanage and they are not strangers to the U.S. generosity and friendship. In 2006, we helped refurbish their kitchen and bathroom facilities as well as replaced the aging windows throughout the building.

So, when we arrived their eyes got big and they began clapping with excitement because they knew we came to bring needed supplies. Everyone, including the ship’s commanding officer and Ambassador Derse unloaded boxes of shampoo, soap, mouth wash and other basic healthcare items. The U.S. Embassy added a collection of books to the Handclasp donations which only raised the level of excitement for the children. Then, the Lithuanian children surprised us by singing and dancing for us. It was such a great experience! It’s amazing to me what an impact these contributions and this assistance can make.

Once the celebrations were over and the distinguished visitors left, I stayed behind with five sailors. We had so much fun just hanging out with the children. We taught each other silly dance steps and laughed and giggled for close to two hours. Having the reason to come is one thing, but to actually connect and make dreams become a reality is what I found most rewarding.

U.S. Navy sailors from the USS John L. Hall, myself and children from Rytas Orphanage joke around here Oct. 22 after a Project Handclasp donation was provided to the orphanage.

The HA program allows us to reach out and make a difference and we really did make a difference. After meeting with the orphanage administrator, Regina Milasiene, I found that she too finds our continued visits bring HOPE, not only for the kids but for her and her team. These are the connections we make as citizen soldiers in countries where relationships can make a difference. In Lithuania we can help make dreams become a reality through sustained humanitarian efforts. I will not soon forget this amazing experience!

LtCol Stephen Timmons
Deputy ODC Vilnius

A U.S. Army engineer from the 15th Engineering Battalion and a U.S. Navy Seabee from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion THREE install new windows in the Vela Peeva Elementary School.

Пъдарево or Padarevo, was just a name to me until recently. It was the name of one village of the many where my humanitarian assistance projects take place across EUCOM’s AOR and one that I track on a spreadsheet from the confines of my office in Stuttgart. The opportunities to see these projects are few. On September 17, 2009, however, I got the opportunity to go to Padarevo.
The village of Padarevo lies in south-eastern Bulgaria in the northern part of the Upper Thracian Valley. It has served as a gateway between east and west and been a place of human settlement since prehistoric times. For several millennia, this region has also produced many notable wines.

The EUCOM project in Paderevo consists of renovating the Vela Peeva Kindergarten which is being undertaken in conjunction with the deployment of Task Force East near the training area of Novo Selo. This project is unique because it is a combined effort between the U.S. Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 (NMCB3), U.S. Army engineers from the 15th Engineering Battalion, and Bulgarian military engineers. This HCA project provided a unique opportunity to cross train techniques cross DoD services, work with new materials, and most importantly, working collaboratively together in an international context.

A U.S. Navy Seabee from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion THREE lays tile in the Vela Peeva Elementary school in Padarevo, Bulgaria.

On Sept. 22, 2009, this project will be completed and will benefit about 25 kindergarten age children and their supporting and administrative staff. One can see the obvious benefits in having an improved facility at the earliest educational development of children and the improved working conditions for the adults. It is nice to see the ascetics of freshly painted walls, new flooring, new tile work and fixtures in the bathrooms. But this project also involves replacing doors and windows which will no doubt shield the children and workers from the harsh winter months.

Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to see the beneficiaries of this project. It is always nice to see people proud and content in their new surroundings. But I take comfort in knowing that this winter as children are playing and learning, they will be doing so in a warm and inviting environment, all made possible through the international military partnering of Bulgarian military engineers, U.S. Seabees and U.S. Army Engineers!

Major Eric Tramel
Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Program Manager

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Amy McCall greets children at the school opening in Kucova, Albania.

We traveled to Albania Sept. 14, 2009 to witness the grand opening of the newly renovated Kucove (Ku-cho-va) Elementary School. Along with the U.S. European Command’s Office of Defense Cooperation and U.S. Charge d’Affairs, we made our way to Kucove and after a 2 ½ hour drive arrived to the sight of 200 young students waving U.S. and Albanian flags in the yard of their newly renovated school. As we toured the grounds and met our Albanian hosts we immediately became aware of the deep admiration Albanians feel for the United States. More than admiration- to use their words- “love” for the United States and all Americans.

What we learned during our 2-day visit is that Albania feels indebted to the U.S. To a person, they cite President Wilson’s support for Albania’s independence in 1919 at the conclusion of World War I. His staunch determination in the face of attempts by other countries to divide and annex this seaside and mountainous land and its people has not been forgotten. Albanian’s remain eternally grateful to the U.S. for this momentous decision and its continued support.

We were honored to represent our country and the U.S. European Command at this event. After the speeches and ribbon cutting by the school director, the Mayor of Kucove, and the US Charge d’ Affairs, the children entered the beautiful school with a new roof, playground, plumbing, heating, and fire escapes (one of only three schools in Albania with such safety provisions). The project was nominated by the Office of Defense Cooperation and U.S. Embassy in Tirana, approved and funded by the U.S. European Command, and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers using local Albanian contractors and locally purchased materials.

After gaining an appreciation for the strong ties that bind Americans and Albanians, we believe that this school is a wise investment in the future of our relationship and will serve the educational needs of Kucove’s children for years to come. Generations of families attended the school opening including many who were previous graduates from the elementary school and who now have children attending the school. Both the School Director and the Mayor who were in attendance at the ceremony are graduates of the school.

The real measure of success for the U.S. European Command is our ability to reinforce President Wilson’s message from many years ago and to make Albania’s youngest generation aware of this commitment. US support for Albania’s accession to NATO and projects such as the renovation of this school in Kucove communicate this message. We believe in the strength of Albania as a nation state, a NATO ally and value their partnership as we work to become stronger together.

Mr. Chuck Brady and Lt. Col. Amy McCall
EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program

I have a story to tell of my visits to several U.S. European Command humanitarian assistance projects in the Republic of Serbia.

The projects I visited involved the renovation and rehabilitation of Serbian elementary schools in the municipalities of Lapovo, Trubarevac, Pirot, Blendija, and Prokuplje. These municipalities are all in Southern Serbia near Nis, the third largest city in Serbia, and the largest city in Southern Serbia. Planned and coordinated by the staff of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, the Republic of Serbia’s State Partnership Partner, Ohio, provided construction staff from the Air National Guard’s 200th Red Horse (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers) Squadron from Port Clinton, Ohio, and the Army National Guard’s 1194th Engineering Company from Chillicothe, Ohio, to help execute three of the projects. A detachment of U.S Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion THREE, Port Hueneme, CA, provided construction staff for the school rehabilitation in Blendija.

Nis, an ancient and storied city, is the largest in Southern Serbia and for centuries has been considered one of Europe’s gates to the East and a cultural crossroad between East and West. Nis, situated on the Nisava River, was originally a Celtic settlement that was later colonized by Greek settlers. It was used as a base of operations by the Roman Army during its Balkans campaigns and is not far from where the Romans turned back a Gothic invasion of the Balkans at the Battle of Naissus in 268 AD. In 272 AD, the future Constantine the Great was born in Nis, and in 443 AD, Attila the Hun sacked Nis and massacred all its inhabitants. Skipping several centuries of intriguing history to the modern, the municipal government of Nis was the first to stand against the government of Slobodan Milosevic when Zoran Zivkovic, the head of a coalition of opposition parties was democratically elected as mayor of Nis in 1996. And in May 1999, NATO aircraft attacked Nis airfield with cluster bomb munitions with one of the bombs failing to operate properly and landing in several populated sections of the city killing several civilians.

U.S.-Serbian relations in the 1990s, and earlier this decade, have been difficult but are an important backdrop for understanding the significance of current U.S.-Serbian military cooperation, including humanitarian assistance. The results of humanitarian assistance projects are important, i.e., renovated or refurbished schools; improved health facilities; school supplies for children; and enhanced local emergency response capabilities. However, what may be as important, if not more, is that we are cooperating with the military and government of Serbia at many levels; a clear and positive achievement supporting the continuing improvement of relations between the U.S. and Serbia.

There were four projects in progress when I visited. Yet, these projects had been the subject of over 40 positive local, regional and national written news articles. In Blendija and Prokuplje, on the day I attended a U.S. Embassy organized press event, there were many Serbian newspaper, radio, and TV reporters and camera teams on hand for the event. I found it curious that the uncompleted projects were of this much interest?

It occurred to me on the long drive home that the reporters were there to tell stories of the positive relationships forming between American and Serbian people. The cameras were taking pictures and videos of Americans and Serbians sharing experiences, breaking bread together in the traditional Serbian manner, playing basketball and soccer together, shaking hands, laughing and working together, trying to communicate in each other’s language, swapping unit patches, showing pictures of each other’s families and loved ones. These were the activities shared by people wanting to build positive relationships with one another.

I now have a new set of experiences and images of Serbia and Serbian friendship that are transforming my understanding of Serbia and its people, and which gives me hope for the continued improvement of the U.S.-Serbian relationship.

MAJ G. Lee Sepulvado, U.S. Army Reserve
Assistant Operations Officer, Civil Military Operations
U.S. European Command