SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-OCTOBER 2006

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001514 SIPDIS SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-OCTOBER 2006 ¶1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: ODC conducted an End-Use Monitoring (EUM) inspection of Harris radios provided to ARM MOD in Southern Armenia with 92 percent accountability results. Expeditionary Medical Services (EMEDS) facility is being prepared for shipment to Armenia. FMF AM-B-BAA, A-1: Peacekeeping battalion equipment, Letter of Agreement was signed and returned by ARM MOD on 24 Oct 06. The third English language lab is scheduled for installation in the Armenian Aviation Institute on 7-13 Nov 06. ¶2. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ¶A. ODC Armenia, with the assistance from the US Embassy-Yerevan Political-Military officer, the EUCOM J-5 desk officer, and the US Defense Attach, conducted a serial number inventory of Harris radios provided to the Armenian (ARM) Army, through Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant money, which were located in the ARM military bases located in the southern towns of Meghri, Kapan, Goris, Sisian, Vayk, and Ararat. Of the 320 total possible radios to be inspected, 297 were actually verified by the inspectors. Though 100 percent accountability was not achieved, 92 percent of the targeted radios were verified to be under the full control and utilization of the ARM Army, and given inspection trends experienced by the EUCOM inspectors, they are confident that the ARM Army likely has 100 percent accountability and full control of all Harris radios provided to the ARM Army units, identified above, by the US in FMF case AM-B-UAA in CY 2003-04. Some of the inspected radios had been used regularly, as demonstrated by wear and tear, while other radios were still new in the boxes. This is attributed to the ARM units' accurate concerns that broken models will not be replaced by the US FMF program due to a change of US policy, hence, some Harris radios are stored as spares for future use. ¶B. ODC Armenia received information from the USAF that the EMEDS field hospital will be shipped to Armenia before the end of Oct 06. The equipment will be shipped from Dover, DE, to the ARM MOD in Yerevan. Training is being coordinated to occur soon after the equipment's arrival to ensure the ARM personnel are properly instructed in the facilities set-up and use. ¶C. Existing FMF equipment cases: ¶1. The amendment to the FMF case AM-B-BAA: 12th Battalion Peacekeeping equipment was signed by the ARM MOD on 24 Oct 06 and returned via the ODC to DSCA and USASAC. The case will further enhance the NATO interoperability of the 12th PK Bn with the provision of US uniforms and field equipment for each soldier of the battalion. ¶2. Equipment ordered for the 12th Peacekeeping Battalion in theQmall FMF FY06 case is still arriving. The FMF case AM-B-BAA, consisting of Kevlar helmets, body armor, tents, sleeping bags, binoculars backpacks, and GPS is still trickling in. Tents are the next items expected to arrive, with body armor for the 500 peacekeepers having already arrived in late Sep 06. ¶D. IMET: The third English Language lab for the Armenian MOD, which arrived in FY05, will be installed by a US technical assistance team in the Armenian Aviation Institute 7-13 Nov 06. This activity is in line with the plan developed by the ARM MOD and the ODC to have the Aviation Institute assume the responsibility for maintaining the centralized standards and curriculum for all English language study programs in the ARM Armed Forces. To further support this move, the ODC will work to upgrade these two labs to Level IV (video and computer upgrades) in FY07, and ensure that the two English language instructor/manger IMET slots in FY06-07 are assigned to this location. A DLI assessor will also arrive in Armenia in CY07 to evaluate the Aviation Institute's EL program and will leave behind detailed recommendations for improvements to make this new centralized control over ELT more effective and to constructively tie it to IMET professional military training in the U.S., so that ARM students spend less time in the U.S. studying English, and more time attending U.S. military schools. ¶E. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). Two soldiers from the Mobilization Section of the Ministry of Defense attended a two-day Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) JCTP(FAM)event in Salina, Kansas. During the four day event, they were able to observe the process used by the Kansas Army National Guard to process soldiers preparing to deploy for OIF. The focus was on medical and personnel requirements. The soldiers also received briefings on the mobilization process from initial call-up to arrival in country. A follow-up TCT event is planned for Feb 07. Three members of the Armenian MoD Engineer Section will travel to Kansas in Nov 06 to take part in Facilities Construction and Management (FAM). The event is follow-on to a JCTP and an SPP event held in FY 06. The intent is to familiarize the MoD with the process The Kansas National Guard uses to plan, bid, complete and maintain its facilities. ¶F. State Partnership Program (SPP). A Crisis First Responder (TCT) event was held in Oct. Two nurses from the Kansas Air National Guard and one civilian nurse from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, traveled to Armenia to provide CPR and first aid courses to the Armenian Rescue Service, the Vanadzor School District, and the US Embassy and QSI School. A total of 145 people attended. Only one additional SPP event has received funding for FY ¶07. Crisis Communications (TCT) is scheduled for 4th Qtr. It will provide the Armenian Rescue Service with lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and how civilian and military organizations can better communicate during disasters. ¶G. Humanitarian Assistance (HA). ODC ARM is working to develop a number of $150K proposals to submit to EUCOM J4-HA for funding in FY07. These proposals are being coordinated with HA agencies of the U.S. Embassy such as USAID, as well as local NGOs. Additionally the ODC is working to coordinate one EDA delivery to an orphanage, one inoculation event, and one eye-glass event in FY07. LTC Moyer, the BAO, will have the lead for these HA projects within the ODC. ¶H. International Military Education and Training (IMET): English Language testing and number of IMET students in US. ¶1. Training Snapshot Students at DLI: 10 Students at Specialty Training: 8 ¶2. English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing Students tested: 4 Average Score: 53 Highest Score: 70 Lowest Score: 38 ¶I. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF). ¶1. Nothing significant. ¶3. PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS ¶A. GAINS: None. ¶B. LOSSES: None. ¶C. ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None. ¶D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: a. Chief: LTC Peterson 22-26 Nov 07 b. Budget Analyst: Avetik Movsisyan, 6-20 Nov 07 ¶E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS: 29 Oct-4 Nov: LTC Peterson to Ramstein for TSC Conference. ¶F. RATING SCHEME CHANGES: None. ¶G. EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS: None. ¶5. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: ¶A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES: None ¶B. AWARD SUSPENSES: None. ¶C. PERSONNEL ACTIONS: None. ¶6. ODC CHIEF'S COMMENTS: ¶A. None ¶7. POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson. 37410-49-46-65 37410-46-47-36(fax) petersond@state.gov GODFREY