Multinational forces complete aid course

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez | United States Marines who specialize in civil affairs instruct service members during the Joint Humanitarian Operations Course, September 14, 2016 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The course consisted of several presentations which included a brief overview of the U.S. government’s involvement in humanitarian aid and a presentation on the Department of Defense’s involvement. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez)  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

09.14.2016

Story by Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez 

U.S. Army Central   

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Area Support Group-Kuwait hosted a Joint Humanitarian Operations Course for U.S. Army Central Soldiers and their multinational counterparts within U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility September 12-14 at Camp Arifjan.
The course’s schedule was adjusted so the typically busy service members could attend. It consisted of several presentations which included a brief overview of the U.S. government’s involvement in humanitarian aid and, subsequently, a presentation on the Department of Defense’s involvement, to name a few.
“There are three criteria for the federal government to provide humanitarian aid,” said Sarah McElroy, a U.S. Agency for International Development liaison from the office of foreign disaster assistance. “The affected country must request or accept assistance, the disaster is beyond the ability of the affected country to control, and the easiest of the three criteria required to provide aid is when response is in the United States’ best interest.”
McElroy said that foreign aid is always in the United States’ best interest for fostering national security by simultaneously strengthening unstable countries and combating terrorism.
“We teach the JHOC worldwide over 100 times a year,” said McElroy. “It’s important for coalition forces to understand how the [federal government] operates in humanitarian aid.”
She said in its earliest years, the coordination between federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, during humanitarian assistance missions was not synced.
“Nowadays, because we have a better presence at every combatant command, we have much better coordination and collaboration,” McElroy said. “Our planning efforts are now on the same page.”
The course hosted service members from NATO allies, including Germany and Italy. These personnel are then able to take the information and relay it to their USAID counterparts and other government organizations.
“If involved with a foreign country, it’s best to know their practices,” said Maj. Thurman Dickerson, a civil affairs officer at USARCENT. “When we provide aid to different countries, there is almost always more than one country providing aid.”
The course provides service members from all countries, the tools they need to understand how the U.S. works in aid missions, according to Dickerson, a Princeton, West Virginia native.
The JHOC showed the different capabilities the federal government has to assist other countries. It demonstrated how USAID, the government’s main humanitarian assistance organizer often works with nongovernmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations to function.
From planning for hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters, to executing the mission when disaster strikes, USAID is better prepared now to provide assistance to other nations, said McElroy.
“If we’re in a position to help and we don’t, it just doesn’t look good,” said Dickerson. “We help because we’re in a position to.”

• Date Taken: 09.14.2016
• Date Posted: 09.21.2016 11:23
• Story ID: 210155
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW