FORT HOOD, Texas – The earthquake that hit Japan in March 2011 and the subsequent U.S. rescue efforts that followed were a chilling lesson in humanitarian aid management. With so many different organizations involved, how do all of the agencies stay synchronized?

Soldiers from the 81st Civil Affairs Battalion, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade, learned how their own unit fits into the “bigger humanitarian aid picture” by hosting a Joint Humanitarian Operations Course at the Battle Simulation Center on base from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.

The course was taught by members of the United States Agency for International Development. The USAID is one of the leading agencies that helps organize U.S. response to disasters around the world. The organization acts as a synchronization point between various government, military, and civilian departments by concentrating relief efforts and maximizing logistic capabilities.

“We are acting as liaisons that advise on humanitarian issues based on what the civilian side of the U.S. government is doing, what non-governmental organizations are doing, and how they best work together,” said Thomas M. Frey, a civil military adviser with the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. “This training is important for civil affairs soldiers because they are the personnel tasked with providing the face of the U.S. military to the foreign national civilian community.”

The Joint Humanitarian Operations Course is targeted specifically for military personnel. Members of the 36th Engineer Brigade, and the Texas National Guard were also in attendance.