Service members learn USAID strategies, capabilities

Photo By Staff Sgt. Youtoy Martin | Jennifer Phillips, a humanitarian assistance adviser with U.S. Agency for International Development, instructs a Joint Humanitarian Operations Course at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Dec. 9. USAID is the United States Government agency responsible for administering and providing civilian foreign aid. The agency works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Youtoy Martin, 19th Public Affairs Detachment, USARCENT Public Affairs)  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

12.19.2015

Story by Sgt. Youtoy Martin 

U.S. Army Central   

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait —Service members had the opportunity to learn more about the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance during a four-day Joint Humanitarian Operations Course here, Dec. 7-10.

Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East create a demand for humanitarian relief. U.S. Army Central is taking steps to support regional stability and this event is just one way they are preparing service members to take on that challenge.

“OFDA is the lead U.S. federal agency that responds to foreign disasters and humanitarian assistance,” said Jennifer Phillips, humanitarian assistance advisor to U.S. Southern and Northern Command, USAID, OFDA. “Within the office there is a military liaison team, which partners with military combatant commands and units as needed when we are requesting Department of Defense assistance in foreign disaster operations and humanitarian assistance missions.”

Phillips, a native of Starkville, Mississippi, credits her passion for humanitarian work to past experience working with USAID when deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan while serving on active duty in the Air Force.

“Part of why we teach this course is to be able to train the military on our process, procedures, and strategies,” said Phillips.

This allows them to better understand the planning and best practices to provide support when asked, she added.

Maj. Joel Helgerson, a plans officer with USARCENT, attended the course because it relates to his current assignment and what he expects to do next in the military.

“I’m going to a joint position next,” said Helgerson, a native of Elkader, Iowa. “I wanted to have a background in humanitarian assistance and the threats that may come from natural disasters. This training gives me a better understanding of USAID and some of the other non-governmental agencies and what they do.”

Units need to maintain a good relationship with USAID and OFDA to know what areas they are operating in. If service members are conducting tactical operations, they need to know where they are at in the battle space, said Helgerson.

“I’m really enjoying the course,” said Capt. Fredrick Alf, another plans officer with USARCENT. “It’s giving me a lot of insight on the different humanitarian responses from OFDA. Having the opportunity to see what they have done in Syria and Iraq, their ability to respond and support internally displaced persons, supports USARCENT’s end state.”

“Anytime you learn more about capabilities of other sections of the U.S. government makes us better planners,” said Alf, a native of Williamsburg, Virginia. “One of the worst things is not knowing we have a capability that could save a civilian life, or one that could save a Soldiers life, if we don’t know about it, we can’t use it.”

• Date Taken: 12.19.2015
• Date Posted: 12.19.2015 05:33
• Story ID: 184991
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW
• Hometown: ELKADER, IA, US
• Hometown: STARKVILLE, MS, US
• Hometown: WILLIAMSBURG, VA, US