Page 52 - A Soldiers Exposition

HUMANITARIAN AID

Underlining and italics added for emphasis

Civilian and Military Cooperation in Complex Humanitarian Operations

“THE INTERDEPENDENCE of civilian and military organizations that respond to increasingly frequent
and devastating complex emergencies around the world is becoming more evident. Better understanding
of cultural differences between civilian humanitarian assistance organizations (HAOs) and the military
could help HAOs' personnel and the military work together more effectively in complex emergencies, as
well as in peace operations, disaster response, consequence management, and humanitarian
assistance.”

“Why is this cooperation and coordination of civilian and military organizations necessary? Joint
Publication 3-07.6 Joint Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Humanitarian Assistance begins with
these words:

The purpose of foreign humanitarian assistance (FHA) is to relieve or reduce the results of natural or
manmade disasters or other endemic conditions such as human suffering, diseases, or privation that
might present a serious threat to life or loss of property. It is sometimes in the best interest of the United
States and its allies to deploy U.S. forces to provide humanitarian assistance (HA) to those in need. In
addition, humanitarian and political considerations are likely to make HA operations commonplace…
These words have proven to be all too true as we move into the 21st century.”

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a434256.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/39963547_Civilian_and_military_cooperation_in_complex_humanitarian_operations

It may be hard for some to accept, but our government, especially the military, is ingenious with the use of
soldiers for missions that the public would never believe we would be remotely associated with.

Often these so-called short-term assignments are on a “TDY” or “Other Duties as Assigned” basis and
never documented in the soldier’s official record of service.

These are “get in and get out” missions lasting a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks, and therefore
considered “Other Duties as Assigned” or “TDY” missions.

In reality, these assignments quite often last forever in the minds of the soldiers.

The ghosts visit regularly with their garish phantasmagorias.

When Americans think of our government providing humanitarian aid, to whomever, or wherever, we
immediately think Red Cross, USAID, or the UN.

Who protects the Red Cross when they get caught in the crosshairs of a civil war in a foreign nation?

Who comes to the aid of the church groups passing out bibles to impoverished people in Africa?

Are you aware that we have soldiers all over the world at any given time wearing the blue beret of the
UN? If the average US citizen was aware of all the places our soldiers are in service, I believe they would
be shocked.