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    421st Medical Company. Supports Cultural Interoperability with Lithuanian Military

    421st Medical Battalion supports cultural interoperability with Lithuanian military

    Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | Sgt. 1st Class SarahJoy Patrck and 1st Lt. Michael Pikul, 557th Medical Company (Area...... read more read more

    PALANGA, LITHUANIA

    08.04.2015

    Courtesy Story

    30th Medical Brigade

    By 1st Lt. Michael C. Pikul
    557th Medical Company (Area Support)

    PALANGA, Lithuania – The 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional) deployed a team of two to Lithuania in support of the Cultural Understanding Language Proficiency, or CULP, and the Cadet English Language Training Team, or CELTT, programs from May 27 to July 2, 2015.

    The CELTT program was created with the purpose of sending cadets overseas to assist in teaching English to foreign military counterparts. The 421st MMB Soldiers, 1st Lt. Michael Pikul and Sgt. 1st Class SarahJoy Patrick were team leaders in charge of a CULP Team that consisted of six cadets and one director of instruction. The CULP team’s specific mission was to provide lesson plans that would initiate English speaking conversations between the cadets, the Lithuanian navy, and Lithuanian Land Forces military police.

    The training started with focusing on assessing the Lithuanian students’ oral skills. Once the Lithuanian students were assessed they were split into two teams; one team as the beginner group and the other team as the advanced group. The arrangement assisted the cadet instructors in the development of lesson plans associated to that skill level. Lessons selected included the American Civil War; customs, courtesies, and traditions; drill and ceremony; and any other topic the students were interested in learning.

    “I learned very quickly when we rotated between skill groups that I needed to adjust the way I taught my subject so I wouldn’t lose anyone and still keep them engaged,” said Cadet Max Campoli, a history major at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

    Lessons learned by Campoli assisted the other cadet instructors to shape their presentations to better assist the skill group, some of which created two separate presentations.

    According to Pikul, the Lithuanian navy surprised the team by coordinating a day to have the CULP team join them for a tour of their naval port in Klaipeda.

    “Upon entering the naval port our CULP Team was greeted by our Lithuanian navy students,” said Pikul. “Our Lithuanian counterparts had smiles from ear to ear as this was their time to show us their different ships, living situations, and daily duties and responsibilities. This was an exciting day that our team will never forget.”

    All program participants agreed, the military partnership among the United States and Lithuania was strengthened as a result of this mission. Both nations better understand each other’s cultures and military structure. Engagement opportunities such as these continue to demonstrate the nations’ shared commitment to NATO while achieving U.S. Army Europe security cooperation goals, Lithuanian Ministry of Defense’s interests, and U.S. Embassy objectives.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.04.2015
    Date Posted: 08.04.2015 06:08
    Story ID: 172050
    Location: PALANGA, LT

    Web Views: 59
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN