U.S. European Command Interagency Partnering Directorate works with U.S. Agency for International Development to combat the spread of tuberculosis in Georgia.

USEUCOM, together with OFDA, USAID is providing the Joint Humanitarian Operations Course to countries that need a plan when disaster strikes to ensure humanitarian assistance can be delivered in time to save lives.

Sergeant 1st Class John Newland (center), U.S. European Command Interagency Partnering Directorate Civil Affairs Noncommissioned Officer in Charge and Dr. Cate Johnson (right), U.S. Agency for International Development’s senior advisor to USAID tour the tuberculosis hospital in Abastumani, Georgia, Jan. 24, 2014, with David Raminashvili, USAID implementing partner to assess the government’s ability to treat and respond to TB. This building was built in the early 19th Century by Tsar Nikolas II and as a TB hospital can treat up to 65 of the estimated 2,500 infected in the region it serves.

Angela Sherbenou, OFDA senior humanitarian advisor and civilian/military advisor to U.S. Africa Command, leads a presentation during the Joint Humanitarian Operations Course May 22-23, 2012. The course, offered twice annually to U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, provides a high-level overview of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), USAID's arm for foreign disaster response. Of the 70 some disasters that OFDA responds to each year, about 10 percent involve the U.S. military in some role. The JHOC course is designed to build relationships and explain the disaster response process before such an event occurs.

I'm thinking about how to connect public and private efforts to create security. In this turbulent 21st century, security is not about creating walls. We won't deliver a secure world strictly from the barrel of a gun.

U.S. and Ukrainian officials last week celebrated the completion of two of eight humanitarian aid projects in the Ukraine where a bilateral partnership between U.S. European Command and the government there is improving the lives of Ukrainian citizens.

PEREVALSK, Ukraine – A ribbon cutting ceremony at the Perevalsk Boarding School for Orphans and Children with Genetic Disabilities Feb. 24 marked a historic partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine to provide funding to renovate the school’s gym, which was in need of toilets, showers, and locker rooms in order to remain open. During the ceremony, the school children showed their talented singing and dancing skills to U.S. and Ukrainian music. 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.

Perevalsk, Ukraine (February 24, 2012) – A ribbon cutting ceremony at the Perevalsk Boarding School for Orphans and Children with Genetic Disabilities marked a historic partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine to provide funding to renovate the school’s gym. Prior to the renovation, the school was on the verge of closing because of the unhealthful condition of the gym, but due to humanitarian aid from U.S. European Command, the gym was renovated, which included indoor locker rooms, bathrooms and showers for boys and girls. 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.

Designated areas at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center and three other major regional hospitals throughout the country are being renovated to house new telemedicine and e-health centers.

At the invitation of my good friend and colleague, AID Administrator Raj Shah, I had the chance to speak to his senior team about their extraordinary work on global issues of poverty, disease, and economic development.

VINICA, Macedonia - The school community of Vinica organized a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 27th to celebrate the successful completion of a school renovation project made possible by generous funding support from the United States European Command and expert technical assistance from the USAID Primary Education Project.

Ambassador Wohlers enters the grounds of the "Slavco Stojmenski" Primary School in Vinica, Macedonia.

School Director Jordan Stojanov, Ambassador Paul Wohlers, and Mayor Emil Doncev (l-r) cut the ribbon of the newly renovated school.

SKOPJE, Macedonia - It was a time of celebration, a time of friendship and a time focused solely on the children. Hundreds of students, teachers and parents greeted U.S. European Command members who traveled here to celebrate the refurbishment of two local schools.