Photo By Sgt. Von Marie Donato | Soldiers from Company D, 80th Civil Affairs Battalion, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade, as...... read more read more
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CHIHUAHUAN DESERT – After Russian forces notionally invaded Lithuania, the president of Lithuania declared a national state of emergency. Civilians moved to other parts of the country because of the loss of key infrastructure and essential services. With the potential for civil unrest, looting and sporadic criminal activity, the Lithuanian government expressed its willingness to accept U.S. assistance.
Soldiers from 80th Civil Affairs Battalion, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade, participated in Operation Eagle Star, a field training exercise simulating foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Civil affairs supports disaster-stricken countries by providing localized security, facilitating the distribution and restoration of basic human services, providing medical support, and conducting critical engineering operations to mitigate human suffering and enable long-term recovery. OES took place Aug. 10 through Friday at various training sites, including the Doña Ana Range Complex and White Sands Missile Range, both in New Mexico.
The 80th CA Battalion, located here, is one of five battalions under the 85th CA Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas.
The mission during OES was for civil affairs Soldiers to conduct training in executing key leader engagements, administer assessments to damaged infrastructures, manage displaced civilian operations, develop media engagement protocol, conduct a humanitarian aid drop and coordinate relief efforts between the host nation combined joint forces and the international community.
“When we deploy we brief people at different levels, including the U.S. ambassador,” said Capt. Patricia E. Tuggle, team lead and civil affairs officer, 80th CA Battalion. “It was important for us to practice briefing someone who doesn’t speak our military language and how to communicate our capabilities to them.”
“Providing a key leader engagement brief is where the Soldiers practice their ability to communicate with the U.S. ambassador to discuss their understanding of the mission, the role they play, capabilities and potential limitations, as well as guidance on what they are authorized to do,” said Maj. Kristoffer T. Mills, commander, Company D, 80th CA Battalion.
“In civil affairs you have interaction with several high-level officials, so it’s important that they learn how to establish those key relationships.”
During disaster relief operations, civil affairs Soldiers engage in high-level coordination efforts with the nations’ joint task forces, in addition to agencies within the international community.
“Understanding how to link the military with state departments and the United States Agency for International Development, and how to incorporate and coordinate with the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to respond to crisis, is a critical aspect of civil affairs. That is a large component of this exercise,” Mills said. “These agencies aid in providing food, water, health care, welfare for children, among a variety of other missions. Conducting briefs with the IGOs and NGOs allow the civil affairs teams to identify the short comings in the response of the crisis,” Mills said.
“Another big purpose of coordinating with IGOs and NGOs is to ensure that double-efforts are not occurring,” said 1st Sgt. Carlos A. Beltran, senior enlisted advisor, Company D, 80th CA Battalion. “We want to make sure that the resources provided are being balanced out and all needed assets are being met.”
Assessing infrastructures damaged by conflict and turmoil is needed for the circulation of goods and restoring civil services. Without assessments, it becomes increasingly difficult to lay out the foundation of the recovery process.
“When an infrastructure is destroyed it prohibits the host nation from providing basic services to civilians, and the complications from a disaster get worse. The affected population may be lacking proper electricity, sewage, water or medical care,” Mills said. “The Soldiers will be required to assess routes and bridges in order to observe and report damage to critical infrastructures. This is an essential skill to develop ... (and) are key to moving materials and personnel in order to respond to the crisis.”
While conducting reconnaissance operations in areas of crisis, civil affairs Soldiers encounter “internally displaced persons,” local civilians who have lost their homes and businesses due to turmoil. Training for moments such as this prepares the Soldiers for the sensitivities and the aftermath of areas in post-conflict and how to engage the victims.
“The Soldiers will be required to interact with the IDPs and identify how many adults, children and animals are located in a specific area and what their needs are, such as water and medical care,” Mills said. “Once their reports are gathered, they will then send the collected data to the NGOs and IGOs, the U.S. ambassador (of the affected country), and the host nation partners to combine the manpower and expertise to provide aid to the IDPs.”
“Getting out boots on the ground and assessing the disaster affected areas gave us a better idea of what the displaced civilians need versus assuming what their needs are,” Tuggle said.
“When you walk into a post-disaster situation you want to observe all the atmospherics,” said Staff Sgt. Dean A. Weber, civil affairs specialist, 80th CA Battalion. “You need to talk to the people that you will ultimately be helping and get to know their needs and wants to alleviate their suffering.”
While providing humanitarian assistance, it is almost inevitable to have engagements with the media. Soldiers are required to know what the standard operating procedures are so they are prepared for questions concerning sensitive post-conflict situations, and simulated in the exercise.
“The Soldiers experienced a media ambush during a bridge assessment that tested how they interact with the press. Once you leave the safety and confines of your base camp you are subject to the observation and scrutiny of the media,” Mills said. “Every media outlet has a message they want to convey, so it’s important for our civil affairs teams to have the skills necessary to engage with the media appropriately.”
Ultimately, Operation Eagle Star allowed the civil affairs Soldiers to hone their craft and prepare for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
“At the team level it allowed us to get out there and see how we all work together, discuss security measures and all the things that affect our mission,” Tuggle said.
“Within our job you can never practice enough. You always need to get better,” Weber said. “It is vital to polish your skills and tighten your ‘shot group.’”
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2015 18:11 |
| Story ID: | 174346 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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