SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-JANUARY 2007

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000132 SIPDIS SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-JANUARY 2007 ¶1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Expeditionary Medical Services (EMEDS) contingency hospital training conducted in Armenia on 31 Jan - 4 Feb ¶07. WIF funded personnel reform seminar coordinations on track. FMF AM-B-BAA Peacekeeping battalion equipment delivery not yet completed. NCO program development meeting with UK DATT conducted. CNT coordination meeting conducted in Yerevan with relevant US Embassy sections ¶2. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ¶A. Expeditionary Medical Services (EMEDS) field hospital facility arrived in Armenia on 3 Jan 07 onboard a USAF C-17 flight from Dover AFB. The $1.2M dollar facility was moved to a warehouse at the MOD Military Hospital in Yerevan. On 28 Jan US EMEDS trainers from San Antonio, TX arrived to conduct initial EMEDS training with Armenian (ARM) 43 personnel tasked to staff the facility. The EMEDS was inventoried (shortages will be forwarded through SAF-IA for speedy shipment of shortages to Armenia) and training conducted. An out-brief with U.S. trainers is being used by the ODC and Office of the Secretary of the Air force-International Affairs (SAF-IA) to develop a way-ahead for continued US EMEDS support and capability development through training and additional equipment in FY07-08. A need for a dedicated loading and transport capability for EMEDS has already been identified. EMEDS provides Armenia with a deployable medical capability for use in Coalition/NATO operations, or for national crisis response situations. The EMEDS will be Armenian's key operational unit for future RESCUER exercises in Armenia or the region. ¶B. The Warsaw Initiative Funded (WIF) seminar on Personnel System Reform (Defense Reform I),that will be run by the Marshall Center, is on track for execution from 5-7 Feb in Yerevan. This will be the first in a series of Defense Reform seminars in 2007. This seminar supports the Armenian IPAP goals associated with civilianization of the MOD and personnel system reform. Seminar members from the Marshall Center and NATO participants arrived in Yerevan on 3 and 4 Feb. Attendees to the seminar include the Deputy Minister of Defense and key officers from the MOD. Armenian parliament members and MFA personnel associated with IPAP reform will also attend. ¶C. ODC Yerevan Chief traveled to Tbilisi to meet with the UK DATT on 19 Jan 07. In the meeting, specifics were shared with both countries' work with NCO program development regarding the ARM 12th Peacekeeping Bn. This is the unit in which the ARM MOD has requested that western-style NCO Corps be established. In the meeting, US and UK support was deconflicted and a way-ahead established. The UK through its Vyskov Training Center in the Czech Republic has provided training teams for Armenia that conduct numerous train the trainer events, and that trained key personnel in Vyskov. Through these events numerous ARM NCOs from the 12th PK BN have been trained. These qualified trainers will be ideal candidates to support a potential US NCO course that would be established through FMF in FY08. In Sep 07 the UK will also provide a one-week course for the 12th Bn SGM. This event can greatly complement the FMF 12th Bn Staff MTT if execution is properly coordinated. The ODC will send three 12th Bn NCOs through the Warrior Leader Course in FY07. These candidates will likely be NCOs that have been provided some training from the UK, so that the NCO ethos can be further reinforced through these joint efforts. The UK DATT and the ODC Yerevan Chief, are now in regular contact to further coordinate and deconflict their complementary NCO programs for Armenia. ¶D. The Counter-Narcotics and Terrorism (CNT) representative from U.S. European Command Joint Inter-Agency Coordination Group (EUCOM-JIACG): Ivonne Morrison, traveled to Armenia to conduct a coordination meeting with the relevant embassy offices associated with CNT on 23 Jan 07. Future coordinations with the INL representative are likely. Possible opportunities may present themselves with the EXBS program. ODC Yerevan will continue to assist coordinations where applicable in this area. ¶E. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF): ¶1. The Letter of Agreement for the FMF case amendment to AM-B-UAA: Radios, that is being finalized at CECOM has yet to arrive. Anticipated arrival date was 11 Jan 07. USASAC is working closely with CECOM to send out the LOR soon, as radios are planned to be used in Sep 07 MTT with the 12th Peacekeeping Bn staff. This C2 MTT will be dependant upon this equipment ¶2. Equipment ordered for the 12th Peacekeeping Battalion in the small FMF AM-B-BAA case established in FY06 is scheduled to arrive 9 Feb 07 This shipment includes Kevlar helmets, sleeping bags, and binoculars. ¶3. ODC received and forwarded LORs for a Blanket Training Case and Blanket Personnel Equipment case for DRMO on 2 Feb 07. These cases have been forwarded through DSCA, USASAC and USA. ¶F. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). Two JCTP events were conducted in January. The first event was Field Medical Peace Support Operations. The Armenian 12th PK BN is adding a medic platoon to its force structure. This event focused on how medics are trained and equipped. It also provided information on the structure of a medic platoon. The second event, Recruiting and Retention focused on best practices used by US Army and US Air Force recruiters and retention managers. Both events were conducted by soldiers from the Kansas Army National Guard. Four JCTP events are scheduled for February. They are: Medical Organization and Services (FAM),Public Support of the Military (FAM),Reserve Forces Mobilization(TCT),and Field Medical Peace Support Operations. ¶G. State Partnership Program (SPP). No SPP events were conducted in January. Coordination continued between Kansas and the Armenian Rescue Service (ARS) on developing follow on events to the Crisis First Responder event held in October. Funding has been received to conduct Crisis Communications TCT. The event is currently scheduled for 4th Quarter. Three events focusing on the cooperation between the military and the ARS in utilizing the recently arrived EMEDS system are being planned for FY 08. ¶H. Humanitarian Assistance (HA). No additional HA events have been submitted. ODC ARM submitted one HA project to EUCOM J4-HA for funding in November. The project proposes to reconstruct existing water wells in two rural villages in Armenia whose current water system has deteriorated to a degree that potable water is seldom available. This proposal was coordinated with USAID and a local NGO. Additionally the ODC submitted two EP requests. One request is to supply two affiliated orphanages for disabled children with furniture and school equipment. The second request is to supply the same items for a boarding school for children with disabilities. ¶I. International Military Education and Training (IMET): English Language testing and number of IMET students in US. ¶1. Training Snapshot Students at DLI: 15 Students at Specialty Training: 7 ¶2. English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing Students tested: 2 ¶3. PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS ¶A. GAINS: None. ¶B. LOSSES: Avetik Movsisyan: Budget Analyst. Mr Movsisyan moved to the Budget and Financial Section of the US Embassy but will cover his ODC position for a few hours each day until a replacement is found. Replacement planned to be hired before the end of Mar 07. ¶C. ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None. ¶D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: LTC Peterson: FEML 7-23 Feb ¶E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS: Ms Ani Melkumyan: JCTP Coordinator- 22-27 Feb, to Topeka, KS for Field Medical Operations JCTP FAM. ¶F. RATING SCHEME CHANGES: None. ¶G. EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS: None. ¶5. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: ¶A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES: None ¶B. AWARD SUSPENSES: None. ¶C. PERSONNEL ACTIONS: New Budget Analyst/Admin Assistant position recruitment being finalized through Embassy. Language testing and interviews of candidates will be conducted in February. ¶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