SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-July 2007

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000998

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM
SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-July 2007



1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Large FMF equipment shipment for 12th
Peacekeeping Battalion arrives; Received Defense Language Institute
assessment of Armenian English language training programs; Armenian
OIF contingent deploys; Awaiting Letter of Agreement for Excess
Defense Articles (EDA) to be approved by DoS; New BAO: MAJ Keller
arrives in Yerevan.


2. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS


A. On 27 July and 1 Aug, approximately $3 million of US
interoperable military equipment for the Armenian 12th Peacekeeping
Battalion was delivered to the Armenian Ministry of Defense. The
U.S. field equipment was provided as part of an $8 million plan by
the ODC, using Foreign Military Financing, to assist the Armenian
government achieve its IPAP goal of developing a NATO interoperable
Peacekeeping Battalion by 2009. With the arrival of additional
shipments in coming weeks, the battalion should be fully equipped
with U.S. and NATO interoperable equipment before the end of the
year, thereby easing its logistical requirements regarding equipment
re-supply during deployment. This event marked the largest shipment
of U.S. military equipment for the Peacekeeping Battalion to date.
Included in the shipment were desert uniforms and clothing, boots,
backpacks, protective masks, field equipment, de-mining equipment,
medical supplies, cold weather clothing, and maintenance equipment.



B. OIF Deployment. Forty-six Armenian military personnel
deployed on the sixth Armenian rotation, since Jan 2005, to OIF on
24 July. The contingent consisted of truck drivers, some doctors,
and mine clearing and bomb disposal engineers. The Armenian
contingent will deploy for six months, and this deployment marks the
first time that the Armenian contingent will fall directly under the
command of a U.S. Brigade. Previously the Armenians served with the
Polish Brigade at Camp Echo. The previous contingent arrived back in
Armenia on 4 Aug 07, after conducting a hand-over with the incoming
Armenian unit.


C. Language Assessment. On 28 July the ODC received the final
report from the Defense Language Institute, English Language Center
(DLIELC) regarding their assessment of the current English language
program in the Armenian military, as well as their recommendations
for establishing an intensive English language training program. The
DLI report provided input to the Armenian MOD for improving the
existing ELT that is conducted at the two local military academies,
which included the recommendation for regular testing of cadets and
use of the ALCPT to regularly evaluate the cadets' progress. The
report also established preconditions for the MOD before they
request a U.S. Mobile Training Team to assist in establishing an
Armenian intensive ELT program at their Aviation Institute. These
requirements stipulated that: a number of IMET candidates to be
assigned to the course; for the identified students to reach a score
of 40 before attending the intensive course; and for the MOD to
coordinate billeting and messing for the students prior to the
establishment of the intensive course and the arrival of the U.S.
MTT. The report was forwarded onto the MOD, and the ODC is
coordinating a follow-up meeting with the MOD to discuss
implementation of the DLI recommendations and establishment of the
intensive EL course in FY08.




D. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF):

1. ODC is waiting to receive the LOA for the FMF case for
excess defense vehicles coordinated by the United States Army
Security Assistance Command (USASAC) sent out on 11 May 07
(AM-R-FFF). It is currently being delayed in State Department
(PM/RSAT) until the 505 Foreign Assistance Act agreement between the
U.S. and Armenia, which was signed in 2002, can be located and
verified. The ODC and Embassy Pol/Econ section are working to assist
as required. This FMF case will improve the capability of the
Armenian Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) field hospital by
providing trucks for deploying this system as required.

2. Additional equipment ordered for the 12th Peacekeeping
Battalion in the FMF AM-B-BAA, A1 case requested in Sep 06 will
continue arriving with the delivery of a fourth shipment expected in
late Aug or early Sep.

3. ODC is awaiting the LOA for the FMF blanket case for
excess personnel equipment, coordinated by the Defense Reutilization
and Marketing Office (DRMO) sent out on 2 Feb 07 (AM-R-FFF). This
case is also currently delayed in State Department (PM/RSAT) until
the 505 Foreign Assistance Act agreement between the U.S. and
Armenia, which was signed in 2002, can be located and verified.


E. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). No JCTP events were
conducted in July.


F. State Partnership Program (SPP). No SPP events were
conducted in July. Funding has been received to conduct a Crisis
Communications TCT. The event is currently scheduled for 4th
Quarter.



G. Humanitarian Assistance (HA). After the ODC was notified
that the water refurbishment HA project would be funded for FY 07
and a total of $200K would be provided to support EUCOM approved HA
projects in FY07-08, the BAO conducted coordination meetings in June
with the NGO supporting the HA project. A follow-on coordination
meeting tied to the BAO turnover was conducted on 27 Jul, and the
ODC will conduct a project initiation meeting as soon as the US Army
Corps of Engineers can provide their contracting and oversight agent
to initiate the water-well drilling project. This should occur in
the coming weeks. The stand-alone HA event will reconstruct
existing water wells in three rural villages in Armenia where the
current water system has deteriorated to a degree that potable water
is seldom available.

3. The second approved HA event will provide medical supplies
and support during an HA related Mil-to-Mil event. This event will
bring a dentist and optometrist from the Kansas National Guard to
Armenia to work with two Armenian Military doctors to provide
services to rural areas in Armenia. This event is scheduled to be
executed 17-21 Sep following a final coordination site visit on 6-7
Sep.

4. Additionally the ODC submitted two EP requests that are
awaiting funding from EUCOM-J4-ID-HA. One request is to supply
furniture and school equipment to two affiliated orphanages for
disabled children. The second request is to supply the same items
for a boarding school for children with disabilities.


H. International Military Education and Training (IMET):
English Language testing and number of IMET students in US.


1. Training Snapshot
Students at DLI: 13
Students at Specialty Training: 5
E-IMET: 2


2. English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing
Students tested in July: 0



3. PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS


A. GAINS: Major Edward Keller. New Bilateral Affairs
Officer from KSNG arrived in Yerevan 22
Jul 07


B. LOSSES: LTC Moyer departed the ODC as BAO on 25
Jul 07. He returns to the KSNG in the US


C. ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None.


D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: None


E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS: MAJ Keller, 16-27 Aug 07; Permissive TDY to
move HHG, POV, and consumables from Kansas to Yerevan.


F. RATING SCHEME CHANGES: LTC Peterson becomes rater
for MAJ Keller with a start date of 24 Aug 07.


G. EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS: None.


5. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES:


A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES: None


B. AWARD SUSPENSES: Mrs Araksya Abrahamyan: 27 Sep

07.


C. PERSONNEL ACTIONS: MAJ Ed Keller of the KSNG arrived in
Yerevan on 22 July and conducted a handover with LTC Moyer before
his departure. MAJ Keller is on an unaccompanied 18 month tour as
the BAO.


6. ODC CHIEF'S COMMENTS: None.


7. POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson.

37410-49-46-65
37410-46-47-36(fax)
petersond@state.gov

PERINA