1st TSC Civil Affairs works to maintain good relations

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Anishka Calder | Lt. Col. Orest M. Logusz, the staff section officer in charge of civil military affairs in the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Civil Affairs Office, shares a laugh with Sgt. Maj. Mohammad Al-Qallaf of the Kuwaiti border police at the Khabari Crossing, Kuwait, Jan. 1. Logusz, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is responsible for fostering good relations between the U.S. Military and the Kuwaitis.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

12.29.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Anishka Calder 

1st Theater Sustainment Command

By Staff Sgt. Anishka J. Calder
1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Public Affairs Office

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Foreign military presence in a country is sometimes a hard reality for citizens of the host country to handle. Issues may arise that will cause conflict between the two entities, but the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Civil Affairs Office mission is to ensure that a smooth relationship exists between local nationals and U.S. military personnel deployed in Kuwait.

The civil affairs office is responsible for acting as a liaison and building relationships with any civilian agency, governmental or non-governmental, that has an impact on the unit's mission, said Maj. Jack McLaughlin, the deputy staff section officer responsible for civil military affairs in the 1st TSC.

"We spend a lot of time going downtown, building relationships with the Kuwaitis and trying to maintain those relationships and then using those relationships to help the 1st TSC accomplish its mission," said McLaughlin, 40, whose family is from Bryan, Texas.

"For instance, if we went to the border crossing to build relationships with the Kuwaiti customs or the border police, and then we have a problem later with something coming through the border, we go up there and talk to these individuals," McLaughlin added. "A lot of times, based on the personal relationships we have with these guys, they will go above and beyond for us and try to help us out."

Army civil affairs units have four functional teams responsible for 16 different functional specialties. The teams are government, public facilities, economics and commerce, and special function. Since the 1st TSC Civil Affairs Office is only a staff section, its activities are focused mainly on the special functions of cultural relations and civil information, said Sgt. 1st Class Chadwick A. Brooks, 39, a civil affairs specialist from the 1st TSC, and a native of New Orleans.

"We are a combat multiplier for commanders," said Lt. Col. Orest M. Logusz, the staff section officer in charge of civil military affairs in the 1st TSC, and a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Right now we are coordinating with our surgeon general to establish a base with local hospitals so that in the future when more Americans and their families live in this part of the world, they will be able to use these facilities. So we go out and speak to local doctors to find out the best facilities and how they will meet our needs."

The five-man team, consisting of four military personnel and a civilian interpreter, faces many challenges when interacting with host nation civilian or government agencies. Extra caution is taken to ensure that the military does not leave a negative impact on the United States or the host nation.

"The biggest obstacle that we meet in dealing with the Arab culture is that we have a different perspective on institutions," said McLaughlin. "Americans believe in institutions such as armies, bureaucracies and offices, whereas with the Kuwaitis, it's not the relations between the institutions.

"If you know the individual and you can tap into him, it is much more effective than just working on an agency-to-agency basis," he added. "That's just Arab culture in general, but it can be frustrating to us because we tend to take more of an organizational, institutional approach to things, versus the personal type."

Despite the challenges that the Soldiers face when interacting with the locals and trying to resolve issues, they still testify that they have the best job in the military and enjoy what they do.

"I love the culture," said McLaughlin. "I find it fascinating and it's kind of a challenge trying to navigate the different obstacles the intercultural piece puts into play. I like the language and I have a lot of fun speaking Arabic. It's really rewarding when I actually say something and they understand me."

"Our job involves winning the hearts and minds of the people," said Brooks. "We do whatever we can to show the U.S. in a positive light. We try to solve problems and smooth things over for the benefit of those involved."

McLaughlin summed up the importance of civil affairs in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and in maintaining good relations with United States allies.

"The bottom line is we're trying to accomplish a mission," said McLaughlin. "We're trying to set the conditions on the battlefield that allows the 1st TSC to do its operations. If we lose the support of the Kuwaiti people and government, then we will not be able to conduct operations in Iraq and Afghanistan."

• Date Taken: 12.29.2007
• Date Posted: 01.03.2008 11:47
• Story ID: 15157
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW