Helping People

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Helping people is an important part of U.S. European Command’s mission. Its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief work improves living conditions and places partner nations on a trajectory toward long-term, self-sustaining capability. Department of Defense humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supports regional security cooperation. For young eastern European nations still recovering from military conflicts and rebellions and building up essential services and disaster management capabilities, this is particularly true. Helping people is EUCOM’s way to foster good will and bring further stability to the region.

Rather than directly providing aid during humanitarian aid missions, EUCOM is more often a facilitator helping the host nation, NGOs and U.S. governmental agencies do their jobs better. Additionally, EUCOM plays an important role in empowering partner nations before trouble starts. It helps partners plan and prepare thereby mitigating or more effectively responding to disasters. EUCOM often works with these young governments to develop critical infrastructure that improves the underlying living conditions of the civilian populace.

EUCOM’s role in humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness programs is authorized via Title 10 USC 2557/256. The goals are to help avert humanitarian crises, promote democratic development and regional stability, and enable countries to recover from conflict – basically minimize the potential for crises to develop or escalate further. Funded through Overseas Humanitarian Disaster Assistance and Civic Appropriations and EUCOM’s own Operation and Maintenance funds, support activities can include assessments, training, construction projects, well drilling, medical assistance and transportation of non-lethal DoD excess property—all with an end goal of bolstering partner nations’ civil sector capabilities.

Past projects have included:

Flood relief in Poland, Serbia, Albania and Moldova
Water pumps in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania
44 school renovations
28 hospital/clinic renovations and equipment upgrades
33 emergency services/water related upgrades

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September 10, 2012
USS Farragut Makes French Connection

The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) departed La Rochelle, France, following a four-day visit, Sept. 10.
August 9, 2012
Ohio National Guard engineers work with Serbian Armed Forces on school reconstruction project

Since early August this year, the Ohio National Guard and the Serbian Armed Forces have been teaming up to make improvements to portions of the school and fix the gym, which was damaged to such a degree that it hasn’t been used in more than a year.
July 23, 2012
Zhemchuzhinka Orphanage Visits USS Jason Dunham

Children from the Zhemchuzhinka orphanage in Odessa, Ukraine, visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), July 21.
July 12, 2012
SB12 Doctors Visit Ukrainian Military Hospital in Odessa

Exercise Sea Breeze 2012 (SB12) medical staff visited the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Southern Region (MMCC-SR) of Ukraine in Odessa for an educational opportunity, July 11.
July 11, 2012
USS Jason Dunham Sailors Conduct Community Relations in Odessa, Ukraine

Sailors from the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) painted and removed weeds to help restore a play area at Lastochka Recuperative Home in Odessa, Ukraine, July 11.
June 25, 2012
This Week in EUCOM History: June 24, 1948

On this day in 1948, U.S. and British pilots begin delivering food and supplies by airplane to Berlin after the city is isolated by a Soviet Union blockade.
June 22, 2012
Pair of RAF Fairford firefighters earn AF heroism award

Two firefighters from the 420th Air Base Squadron were recently awarded the Robert A. McAllister Heroism Award.
June 18, 2012
Police officer, 2 nurses rescue drowning boy

Four weeks ago, every parent's fear struck Birgit Mueller. She looked over to see her son, Moritz, floating face down in the pool at the Waldbad swimming area, here.
June 13, 2012
Team Lajes responds to truck fire, saves lives

Silva, a fuels specialist and a 31-year veteran of Lajes Field, was driving a C-300 refueling vehicle May 25, when suddenly the truck began smoking and, shortly thereafter, was engulfed in flames.
May 31, 2012
Seabees work with Bosnia, Herzegovina to build better tomorrow

U.S. Navy construction workers are integrating with the Bosnian-Herzegovinian military to build a fence around the military complex here and renovate a neighboring city's school and school annex in support of Shared Resilience 2012 May 28 - June 8.

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May 22, 2012
A Doorway to Education and Opportunities in Romania

Recently, EUCOM partnered with the City and the County Education Department to renovate $380K worth of doors, flooring, windows, interior walls, electrical fixtures and construct playground cover for Pinocchio, Lumea Prichindeilor, and Armonia elementary schools.
May 16, 2012
Smart Civic Engagement in Latvia

On Monday, Judy Garber, U.S. Ambassador to Latvia; members of the U.S. Embassy in Riga and EUCOM; the Latvian Ministry of Interior (State Fire and Rescue Service) and National Guard members; and local government officials broke ground on a EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance project modernizing eight fire and rescue stations in Latvia.
April 23, 2012
Words and Swords

Francois Bellon, the Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to both the EU and NATO, visted the command last week, the first senior ICRC visit to EUCOM in nearly two decades.
November 22, 2011
School donation continues long-standing relationship with Poland

Just last week, I visited the Krakow School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which was heavily damaged in the spring floods of 2010, to deliver furniture and pianos donated by the U.S. Government.
November 17, 2011
Humanitarian Assistance for Latvian Fire and Rescue

Since fall 2008 US Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC Latvia) and State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia (SFRS) have identified and submitted 10 Civic Engagement (Humanitarian Assistance) projects for renovations of fire stations all over Latvia.
October 31, 2011
Learning to Institutionalize Partnership

"2011 Soft Power Symposium" hosted by Pepperdine University and the League for Hope, an NGO that promotes public-private partnership to foster educational, medical, and commercial opportunities for disadvantaged populations.
September 23, 2011
Education and water improvements for the children of Bosnia and Herzegovina

U.S. European Command provided $450,000, which allowed the Office of Defense Cooperation to renovate the Drvar school.
September 14, 2011
A small investment pays big dividends in Albania

EUCOM invested $170,000 to upgrade a kindergarten in Erseke, Albania.
September 1, 2011
First Day of School – Ukrainian Style

I had the privilege of participating in the Ochakiv School #2 ribbon cutting.
August 23, 2011
Operation Unified Protector

I spent much of last night working on what appears to be the endgame of the Libyan campaign. By the morning of 22 August, it appears that the end was in sight for the Kaddaffy regime, although events are moving fast and nothing is ever sure until it actually occurs.

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September 10, 2012
Gearing up for the Berlin Air Show

Maj Gen Mark Schissler, U.S. European Command's director of Policy, Strategy, Partnering and Capabilities, discusses the importance of the Berlin Air Show at the ambassador's reception Sept. 10, 2012. This year's Berlin Air Show runs Sept. 11-16 and features multiple U.S. military aircraft from both the Army and the Air Force.
August 4, 2012
ROTC cadets lend a hand in the Ukraine

Future leaders learn to work in a joint environment in Ukraine while finding time to do some community service. SGT Abigail Waldrop learns about a new program that gives ROTC cadets a chance to see the world.
May 11, 2012
USAREUR Band and Chorus, Chiperceni Middle School, Moldova

The U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus played to enthusiastic audiences in Chisinau and Balti over the weekend. On Monday, the band split into smaller groups and visited three Moldovan schools and one orphanage in Straseni, Congaz and Singerei, performing for an estimated 1,400 very appreciative children.
March 2, 2012
Opening Ceremony for Renovated School in Ukraine

PEREVALSK, Ukraine - Ukrainian children dance to American and Ukrainian music during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Perevalsk Boarding School for Orphans and Children with Genetic Disabilities Feb. 24. This project was selected to improve U.S. - Ukrainian relationships by partnering together in an area where there has been little U.S. presence in the past.
February 23, 2012
Humanitarian Assistance/ Disaster Relief in Montenegro

Soldiers from U.S. Army Europe's 12th Combat Aviation Brigade conduct a resupply mission to deliver goods to Montenegrins stranded by severe weather in Northern Montenegro Feb. 22. The Soldiers are here as part of a U.S. task force to provide humanitarian assistance at request of the government of Montenegro coordinating with the National Emergency Operations Center and the Montenegrin Ministry of Defense to provide relief and to save lives, homes and infrastructure in response to heavy snowfall.
February 14, 2012
U.S. assisting in Balkans during harsh winter

The recent cold snap here has affected many countries across eastern Europe. SSgt Nathan Parry shows us how the United States is helping one country through a very difficult winter.
February 14, 2012
Bosnia Military to Military Exchange

Bosnia Military to Military Exchange. U.S. and NATO forces called in for disaster assistance and relief effort due to heavy snowfall and bitter cold temperatures in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
January 25, 2012
Renovation at Special School for Hearing Impaired Children

Ambassador Moser visited School Number 12 for Hearing Impaired Children in Chisinau's Botanica District to celebrate the renovation of the school's main entrance and the addition of a new wheelchair ramp. The United States has invested over $20,000 in improvements for School Number 12 in addition to private donations from citizens of North Carolina, Ambassador Moser's home state.
November 1, 2011
Turkey Relief Effort

Interview with C-17 pilot and b-roll delivering aid from Norway to Turkey earthquake victims.
October 31, 2011
Members of US Air Forces Europe, US Marine Forces Europe, and Norwegian partners work to load a US Transportation Comand C-17.

Members of US Air Forces Europe, US Marine Forces Europe, and Norwegian partners work to load a US Transportation Comand C-17, home-based at Fort Lewis-McChord, Wash., with supplied for earthquake victims in Turkey.

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Helping People

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