Humanitarian Assistance within the United States European Command More Than a Single Success Story

DISAM Journal, Winter, 2000 by Juan G. Ayala

Another growth factor is the HA program's inherent flexibility. Lauded by ambassadors throughout the area of responsibility, HA programs show quick, tangible results that are highly visible for years. In addition, HA-EP and HA-Other are funded with two-year monies, which allows ambassadors ample time to prioritize, plan and execute their projects. Although the approval process for HA programs is justifiably slow, and requests for project nominations are solicited only once a year, projects can still be requested out-of-cycle. This built-in program flexibility allows ambassadors to request projects at any time during the year. If projects are approved, and funding becomes available, ambassadors may immediately receive monies to execute their requests. The out-of cycle request method is extremely popular, since this method allows ambassadors (especially new ambassadors) to set their own HA objectives, allows for reprioritization of projects due to changes in countries' political climates and changing needs, and remedies a problem of high personnel turnover in most embassies. The school in Ivanica, as numerous other projects throughout the area of responsibility was an out-of-cycle request.

Initiatives by EUCOM's HA staff to enhance each country team's understanding of HA policies, request procedures, capabilities and programs have also contributed to the program's growth. Interaction with country teams is continuous and is done by the traditional means of communications, i.e., phone, fax and internet. While these methods of communication will continue due to the size of the region and number of recipient countries, the EUCOM HA staff believes that the occasional physical presence of its members in countries within the area of responsibility is also a form of engagement. The EUCOM HA branch chief, and both the HA-Other and HA-EP program managers, have conducted site visits to countries throughout the area of responsibility including Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique. In addition, ambitious plans for future travel are in the planning stages. These visits have been an invaluable means of mutually enhancing understanding by the EUCOM staffs and the country teams' of each other's unique capabilities and limitations. They also provide a forum for frank, face-to-face discussions with embassy counterparts on unique issues and problems within each country. More importantly, however, they enhance the credibility of EUCOM's HA staff officers with their country team counterparts. Their decisions, based on first-hand experience rather than knowledge gained from behind a desk, will undoubtedly enhance the accomplishment of the CINC's and each ambassador's objectives.

All three HA programs provide strategic engagement at the grass roots level. Uniformed Americans, whether they are entire units, survey or training teams, or a single contracting officer, interact with some of the neediest and most vulnerable citizens of the countries in which they operate. These citizens are often the catalysts for change in developing democracies. Long-lasting, tangible projects and the presence of these Americans can only bode well for future military, political and economic relations with these countries.