Achieving security cooperation objectives through the United States European Command Humanitarian and Civic Assistance program - Security Assistance Community

DISAM Journal, Wntr, 2003 by Mario V. Major Garcia, Jr.

In 1997 the United States European Command (USEUCOM) consolidated three formerly disjointed Department of Defense (DoD) Humanitarian Assistance programs: Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA), Humanitarian Assistance-Other (HA-O), and the Humanitarian Assistance Program-Excess Property (HAP-EP). These programs were established in the USEUCOM J4 and formed the Humanitarian Assistance (HA) Branch for the purpose of synchronizing activities and creating synergy among the programs.

Since the formation of the HA Branch the USEUCOM HA Programs have grown significantly in size and popularity with U.S. Ambassadors within the area of responsibility. The USEUCOM HCA program is one of the premiere UCOM security cooperation tools. The program implementation is strategically focused to meet the five DoD objectives:

* Shape the security environment and foster goodwill furthering U.S. national interests;

* Gain access and influence;

* Bolster the ability of developing countries to prepare and respond to disasters;

* Train U.S. Forces; and

* Demonstrate how a professional military operates with civil military cooperation.

What is an HCA?

During the concept development and planning phase warfighters and security assistance officers (SAOs) alike are unaware exactly of what HCA is. In the beginning HCA activities are conducted in conjunction with a planned exercise or operation. The HCA should never be considered the primary focus of the exercise, but rather as an add on to what is already planned.

The authority to conduct HCA activities is outlined in Title 10 USC Section 401. The HCA program provides U.S. forces unique training opportunities to enhance military occupational skills in remote austere environments. These activities not only improve the operational readiness of U.S. forces, but serve as a multipurpose security cooperation tool that achieves strategic and operational level objectives. HCA's allow U.S. forces to engage and conduct interoperability training with a variety of host nation agencies ranging from ministries, armed forces, and of course the ultimate beneficiaries, the civilian population.

In USEUCOM, typically HCA's include medical civic action plans (e.g. medical, dental, optometry, and veterinary), rudimentary construction to include non-revenue producing infrastructure projects such as sanitation/surface transport systems, and well drilling.

Humanitarian and civic assistance funding is programmed annually through the U.S. Army using 442 (Support To Other Nations) dollars. In the past three years the demand for HCA activities by components and exercise planners has tripled the USEUCOM program.

Europe (NAVEUR) conducted a WATC in Togo and Ghana providing critical medical care to thousands of people in the local population.

From a strategic perspective, the program serves as an excellent tool for security assistance officers to achieve the UCOM's theater security cooperation and country team objectives. Specifically, the HCA Program provides SAOs access and influence to locations and government officials that they would normally not interact with. The activity allows the SAOs to strengthen strategic partnerships thereby enhancing regional security cooperation goals. Furthermore, successful implementation of the program supports U.S. national interests and our objectives.

HCA Nominations

The submission of HCA nominations begins approximately 18 months prior to execution. Exercise planner's work with the HCA program manager to identify specific activities and locations. In USEUCOM many of the construction related HCA activities are conducted in concert with engineer related construction projects. Coordination with the host nation and local officials is critical during the early planning stages of construction and medical projects. Prior to the submission of a project all the details should be ironed out. For example, medical projects require written approval from Ministries of Health for vaccinations, surgical procedures, and treatments. Since all HCA construction is rudimentary in nature, the host nation should approve the scope of work to ensure it does not conflict with building standards or restrictions.

The HCA Program Manager using the Humanitarian Assistance Program-Internet (HAP-I) website submits HCA nominations. The HAP-I is an unclassified interactive web-based system used for project nominations of all Title 10 HA Programs. The nominations are developed based on the concept of operations established by either planners from the component commands or executing U.S. military unit. As a minimum a nomination must contain specifics on the activity such as: location, name of exercise/operation, scope of work, training benefit to U.S. forces, number of participating forces, and cost. Once the nomination is inputted into the HAP-I system, an interagency review of the nomination is conducted. The interagency review historically has averaged 6-8 months before a project receives final approval from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). An exception to bypass the DoD HCA approval process is possible under the DeMinimus Clause in the USC. The DeMinimus Clause allows the HCA program manager to approve exec ution of projects under $10,000 without interagency review.