Civil Affairs Training Enlightens Coalition Forces at Bright Star

Courtesy Photo | Egyptian Navy Cmdr. Aladdin Mokhter (left), chief coordinator, Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, engages in conversation with Col. Joe Schroeder (top left), deputy director, Civil Military Operations Center, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, following a civil affairs lecture at the officers' club in Muhbarak Military City, Egypt, Sept. 15. Schroeder, a Fredericksburg, Va., native, was one of several U.S. officers who presented information to coalition forces during Exercise Bright Star concerning procedures and lessons learned from 352nd CAC operations in Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the War on Terrorism. Bright Star  

09.18.2005

Courtesy Story

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Story and photos by Marine Staff Sgt. Houston F. White Jr.
Combined Joint Task Force-Bright Star/ 13th MEU Public Affairs

MUBARAK MILITARY CITY, Egypt (Sept. 15, 2005)" In the midst of a variety of weapons ranges, amphibious beach landings from the Mediterranean Sea and multinational airplane jumps, a more relaxed setting provided the scene for a different type of joint coalition training, Sept. 15.

Inside the MMC's officer's club, Egyptian and U.S. forces attended an informative presentation provided by members of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, which, according to Army Col. Eileen Kelly, civil military operations officer for the 352nd CAC, was designed to give attendees a better understanding of the dynamics of civil affairs.

"We developed our presentation specifically for Bright Star," said the Suffern, N.Y., native, who impressed the audience by delivering her opening remarks in fluent Arabic. "The Egyptian military requested training with more human experiences instead of scenarios from a book and I think we were able to give them that."

Delivered via slides, graphs, photos and lectures, the training touched on subjects ranging from psychological and civil affairs operations during peacetime. The classes were also presented to show the positive aspects of the actions taken by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan during the "Global War on Terrorism.

The presentation also included discussion about procedures that could be improved in the future during such operations.

"The briefing was very beneficial for me because by comparing the civil affairs assessments from the U.S. with those in my own country, it will allow us to make improvements in the way we do things," said Egyptian Navy Cmdr. Aladdin Mokhter. "It is always good to exchange information and ideas while absorbing the skills and cultures of another country, and we can take what we have learned here back to train your people."

According to Col. Joe Schroeder, deputy director, Civil Military Operations Center, 352nd CAC, the opportunity to communicate and trade knowledge with foreign forces during Bright Star 2005 was invaluable, especially considering the volatile civil affairs atmosphere countries currently face.

"In today's world, no service operates in a vacuum," said the Fredericksburg, Va., native. "Bright Star gives us the chance to work in a true joint coalition environment giving our soldiers the chance to work with other countries.

This is vital because Civil Affairs touches the general public, as well as the military," he added

Mokhter, a native of Cairo, added that the training helped to dispel preconceived notions and rumors that may have existed about American operations in the Middle East, while allowing Egyptian forces to become more proficient in civil affairs and giving them the ability to make the citizens of Egypt more aware of what is going on during such operations.

Given their country's mission of strengthening the way they do business in the civil affairs realm, the training Egyptian officers received during Bright Star was definitely a step toward that goal.

"A lot of countries model their civil affairs programs after the way we do it in America," said Schroeder. "The sole purpose for (352nd CAC) conducting affiliation training are that only a handful of countries have civil affairs capabilities and Egypt is one of the countries that is actually developing that capability."

Considering the training a huge success, Schroeder added.

"Because of the dynamic situation we have recently come from (after conducting civil affairs operations in Afghanistan and Iraq), I feel that there will be a tremendous interest in this sort of training in the future."

• Date Taken: 09.18.2005
• Date Posted: 09.18.2005 21:55
• Story ID: 3049