A Humanitarian Work Force Mission - Essay Example

The 961st Engineer Battalion (Army Reserves) was deployed to Panama in 2007 as a part of a humanitarian work force mission. Our mission wasto increase the effectiveness of the humanitarian efforts by accomplishing general engineering tasks. I helped insure that our humanitarian efforts were implemented to its fullest potential by inspiring and leading my company to effectively construct, repair and maintain schools, churches and medical clinics wherever and whenever required. This paper chronicles our battalion experiences with the Panamanians and their local communities. It shall list our accomplishments as a team and the obstacles that we had to overcome in order to bring the necessary infrastructures to a country that has always needed humanitarian efforts in order to keep the country on its feet. Humanitarian Efforts in Panama 2007 Mission Development At the request of the Panamanian government through the U.S. Embassy in Panama, the 961st Engineering Battalion was deployed to the country as the part of the forces with the intention of helping the Panamanian residents whose schools, churches, hospitals and other vital installations needed repair and maintenance work. Upon receiving this request, our team immediately set out to make recommendations for the commander in charge of the mission in reference to how the 961st could help make a difference during this mission. Our recommendations resulted in the following proof of concept missions: “The mission is to happen in 3 phases. The first phase is the planning stage which was to be completed at least 8 months before deployment and will require the operations engineers to survey the work areas and the equipment that shall be needed in order to complete the work. The second phase of the mission is the deployment itself wherein the 961st would help coordinate all the units, missions, and security for soldiers assigned to this mission. The final phase of the mission will require the same battalion to return to Panama one year later in order to survey the work done in the previous year and do any repairs required to maintain the integrity of the work provided.” Mission Implementation Once the mission development and analysis was finalized and approved by the commanding officer, I was chosen to hand pick my team amongst the Army Reservists listed in the reserve program because of my leadership abilities and skills relevant to program policy and operations, plans and reserve component integration. I was directed to immediately plan the transfer of these officers from their home bases to our newly established company for the humanitarian mission. I accomplished this task by providing the personnel section with the mission requirements and transfer justification documents which resulted in the mobilization station in Fort Lee, Virginia, allowing these reservists to have a temporary change of station order assigned to them. Upon their arrival at the 961st home base, those with the relevant engineering backgrounds were immediately deployed to Panama for the completion of phase one. Phase I: Damage and Repair Assessment Phase I was one of the engineers on the advanced party team that went to Panama. While there, I collaborated with other team members regarding the painstaking plans for repair of the damaged schools, churches and hospitals. We came to realize that this was not going to be an easy task to accomplish but with a proper team work and cooperation from our immediate officers we could make a change in these people’s lives that they would never forget. Phase II: Mission Deployment By providing the Panamanian government with the necessary plans and concerns for the development and repair of their various infrastructures they were able to make proper representations with the U.S. Government through the U.S. Embassy in reference to the necessary materials and budgets in order to make the humanitarian effort a reality. The engineers of the 961st were immediately deployed to Panama the minute the mission deployment papers were finally approved. Mobilization Process It was not easy for me to be in charge of the battalion mobilization but I took on the challenge with vim and vigor. Since policy required at 90 day lead on for all mobilization requests, I made sure that my I allowed sufficient time for the approval and notification scheduling that would become necessary in order to get my whole team together within 90 days. This was not an easy task to accomplish due to the existence of bureaucratic red tape that often threatened to prevent the release of the army reservists that I had already requested a temporary change in station for. But the soldiers who were required eventually got their notice of active duty. Since their mission was not combat relevant, there was no real need for additional training for the men other than what combat training they already had from their ROTC days. We immediately deployed the Panama the minute the last man on the team roster reported to our camp. One of the humanitarian efforts that we took part in happened in Bocas del Toro. It was in the town of Norteno that our battalion faced the reality of the abject poverty that these people were living in. These people did not have any proper roads, which made it difficult for the others, such as the medical team, to reach the poorest areas of the region. That is why we did not waste any time in setting up support units that would provide our troops with shelter and worked on fixing the roads in order to make it passable by motorized vehicles. Since Panama was not an active battlefront, there was no clear and present danger to any of the army reservists or other military forces present on the mission. We continuously worked on the completion of two health care clinic buildings, a few classroom buildings and the two roads that led to the mainland part of the province of Bocas del Toro. What made the humanitarian effort even more heartwarming for those involved was the fact that local businesses who found themselves in a financial capacity to help their community also pitched in with financial donations and the use of their own construction equipment and personnel whenever possible. Formalizing the Proponent The last phase of the Panamanian humanitarian mission took place in 2008 when another team from the 961st was sent back to Panama to check on the work that was completed the year before. The reports that came back were mostly positive as the engineering work on the schools, hospitals, churches, and roads held up to the test of seasons. However, it became disconcerting to note that Panama needed more in terms of humanitarian help. I only wish that I could go back and do more to help the kind and loving people of Panama who showed my team and I much love and respect while we were there providing them with necessary infrastructure projects in order to improve their lives. Conclusion The Army Reservists are always on call to help our military and other nations whenever called upon to do so. Modern day soldiers must look at Army Reservists as their brothers in arms who can manage to think outside of the box and accomplish enormous tasks alongside the commissioned and active duty soldiers. As a leader, I found that the military works as a cohesive force. We all carry the responsibility of working together in a changing world where the one constant will be the need for compassion and acts of human kindness. Read More