SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-JANUARY 2008

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000097 SIPDIS SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-JANUARY 2008 ¶1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Demining familiarization event and assessment conducted; Postponement of Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) training; Planning meeting for Crisis Response table-top exercise (TTX) conducted. ¶2. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ¶A. From 22-24 Jan 08 Kansas National Guard Engineers familiarized Armenian Humanitarian Demining troops with the fitting of their new demining and explosive ordinance disposal suits that were provided through FMF. Additionally, 20 new sets of mine detection equipment, and field equipment for the entire unit were delivered by the ODC. An assessment of the unit was simultaneously conducted by EUCOM's Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) office: Mr Gary Wraalstad. After having evaluated the Armenian unit's needs, Mr Wraalstad plans to commit about $50K to provide computers and internet conductivity to enable the Armenian Humanitarian Demining Center access to the Geneva HMA database. The EUCOM HMA office with the ODC is further coordinating HMA demining sustainment training for the Armenian unit, which will be conducted by KSNG Engineers 24 Mar-11 Apr 08 in Armenia. ¶B. The EMEDS training originally scheduled to be conducted with two MTTs on 2-14 March 08 and 7-18 April 08 will be postponed due to FMS equipment delivery delays that impact on the training timelines. The EMEDS MTTs have been rescheduled for 16-27 May and 16-20 June ¶08. ODC Armenia is working closely with USASAC and IMATS to help ensure that the equipment deliveries will meet the new training timelines, and that the Armenian EMEDS unit will still be certified by US trainers for potential NATO/Coalition deployments by Aug 08. Currently the LOA for EDA trucks: AM-B-IAA is at DSCA and should be provided to the ODC in about a week. EDA Kaiserslautern will ship the EDA trucks immediately to Italy for refurbishment upon receiving FMF funding from the case. The EMEDS AM-D-QAA case is being worked by IMATS and timelines for delivery of equipment should be provided soon by that organization. ¶C. The Corps of Engineers, Civil Military Emergency Preparedness (CMEP) representative Diane Acurio, and the ODC conducted an initial coordinations meetings to establish the requirements for the crisis response table-top exercise (TTX),which will be conducted by CMEP in Yerevan from 7-11 Jul 08. The TTX will involve the Armenian Rescue Service, and the Ministries of Defense, Energy and Health. It will be based on a crisis response scenario centered on a nuclear incident at the Armenian Metzamor nuclear power station. International organization representatives from OSCE, UN, IRC, USAID, and KSNG will also participate or observe. A final planning meeting will be conducted 7-8 May 08 in Yerevan. ¶D. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF): ¶1. Harris Radios from the $3.3M package from FMF case: AM-B-UAB is currently scheduled to arrive in Yerevan on about 12 Feb ¶08. ¶2. ODC received the LOA for the FMF case AM-R-FFF and is awaiting ARM MOD to sign the case. This case is for excess defense article personal equipment. This case will compliment the existing FMF cases that equipped the 12th PK Bn and that will equip other PK BDE units. The case directly supports IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. ¶3. The ARM MOD submitted a request for pricing of topographical equipment. ODC will coordinate this request with EUCOM, DSCA, and OSD to determine if the request supports US country goals and objectives. ¶E. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). Marine Forces Europe conducted a TCT 28 Jan- 1 Feb 08. This event familiarized the 12th Peacekeeping Bn and the Armenian Medical Department with tactical medical evacuation procedures that can be utilized in OIF. This event compliments the EMEDS training that will be conducted in FY08, supports the MOD decision to stand-up a medic platoon in the PK Forces, and supports the overall reform of the Armenian medical system. ¶F. State Partnership Program (SPP). One SPP event was conducted from 21-25 Jan 08. The event "Mine-clearing Operations in PKO TCT" was conducted with the Armenian De-mining unit using their new de-mining suits it received through its recent FMF order. These same Guardsmen, with eight others will participate in a Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) training event scheduled for Mar-Apr 08. ¶G. Humanitarian Assistance (HA). ¶1. The ODC will conduct a project initiation meeting for the HA water project the week of 1 April 08 with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representative from Tbilisi, who will oversee the project. EUCOM has transferred the HA funding to CoE and the initial planning meeting in April will be immediately followed by a site-survey of the assistance sites. 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. ¶2. The ODC submitted two Excess Property requests that are now funded and currently being processed and shipped by 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. A third EP project for fire fighting equipment to support the Armenian Rescue Service (ARS) is currently being coordinated by the BAO and EUCOM-J4-ID-HA. ¶H. International Military Education and Training (IMET): English Language testing and number of IMET students in US. ¶1. Training Snapshot Students at DLI: 12 Students at Specialty Training: 9 E-IMET: 0 ¶2. English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing Students tested in January: 4 ¶3. PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS ¶A. GAINS: None. ¶B. LOSSES: None ¶C. ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None. ¶D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: None ¶E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS: None ¶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: None ¶7. POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson. 37410-49-46-65 37410-46-47-36(fax) petersond@state.gov PENNINGTON