Air Force captain participates in 'An Echo of Good Deeds'

Photo By Matt Lyman | Capt. Jodi Verkleir, 36th Medical Support Squadron Readiness Flight commander discusses the earthquake scenario with Capt. Imam Suhada, Tentara Nasional Indonesia medical planner, during exercise Gema Bhakti in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 16, 2015. Verkleir joined 44 U.S. PACOM participants during the 10-day bilateral, joint exercise designed to promote positive military relations, increase cultural awareness and enhance training and understanding of each other’s capabilities.  

JAKARTA, INDONESIA

09.18.2015

Story by Capt. Joel Banjo-Johnson 

36th Wing

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Gema Bhakti, or Echo of Good Deeds, is illustrated daily through this 10-day, bilateral joint exercise between U.S. service members and the Tentara Nasional Indonesia, working through a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario (HA/DR).

The operational-level staff exercise focuses on four lanes of efforts within the context of HA/DR: Multinational Coordination Center (MNCC), Rules of Engagement (ROE), Humanitarian Operations and Civil-Military Coordination (CMCoord) and Urban Search and Rescue. Each lane centers on the same objective: Progress through and coordinate how the U.S. and Indonesia would respond to assist another country in a natural disaster, in this instance, an earthquake.

For Capt. Jodi Verkleir, 36th Medical Support Squadron Readiness Flight commander and medical planner participant, the experience she is gaining is invaluable.

"I'm grateful to receive this opportunity to interact with not only our sister services but our gracious hosts from the TNI," said Verkleir. "We are able to utilize each other's experiences and expertise to plan and work through the scenario."

Verkleir began her discussions in the MNCC lane where she engaged in dialogue with TNI partners on the roles and responsibilities of the MNCC during a humanitarian relief effort.

"As the medical planner, it would be important to coordinate medical relief efforts with military units as well as other civilian organizations to avoid duplication of efforts," said Verkleir. "The same goes for other planning functions as the primary objective would be to ensure humanitarian relief is received to those in need."

A MNCC facilitates coordination and cooperation of foreign military forces with the affected nation to support HA/DR missions.

Following MNCC, Verkleir explored the ROE lane where she collaborated and practiced the skills necessary to identify, analyze, and address the legal planning considerations inherent to HA/DR missions.

"Knowing ROE in HA/DR missions is not just for the lawyers," said Verkleir. "It's important to understand the legalities with every mission conducted."

Verkleir will proceed to CMCoord in the following days ahead where she will learn about the significance of dialogue, interaction and coordination between civilian and military agencies in a humanitarian situation. The final lane, Urban Search and Rescue will focus on the importance of prioritizing requirements during rescue operations.

• Date Taken: 09.18.2015
• Date Posted: 09.18.2015 05:31
• Story ID: 176476
• Location: JAKARTA, ID