2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Background: Building partner capacity is a primary consideration when training in communities off of any military installation. Every engagement is described as a capacity-building opportunity contributing to security and stability in the country, starting at the community level. The Department of Defense Security Cooperation Humanitarian Assistance program reviews country requests for a partnership to build needed infrastructure. Military construction units from all services then apply for the training opportunity to build roads, schools, clinics, emergency operations centers, or other facilities in partnership with their military engineers. These humanitarian assistance civic action projects are opportunities for Geographic Combatant Commanders to collaborate with Partner Nation government leaders to reduce human suffering, disease, hunger, and any other issues related to poverty. This program was established in 1971 and partners with over 200 nations.

The unique opportunity for soldiers, sailors, and airmen to work in remote communities, side by side with foreign military engineers, learn new techniques hands-on, and use different materials is ideal for training in leadership, problem-solving, and honing construction trade skills. These exercises mirror real-world experiences in complex environments.

Program: Having worked in several countries in the Western Hemisphere and the Middle East on Security Cooperation missions providing construction training opportunities for military engineers on a variety of projects for over 15 years, I was inspired to analyze a military training partnership project under a humanitarian-systems engineering lens to determine its alignment with doctrine, training goals, and community engagement goals. Initial findings indicate that this type of training is highly supported by leadership and service members. All believe that the exercise is excellent training for future deployment. Gaps were identified in the inclusion of partner nation engineer leaders in the planning and execution. Building materials did not align with local customs or design. The community citizens were incredibly grateful however the ribbon-cutting ceremony focused on US success, not on community leadership or partner nation service members.

Way Ahead: These projects allow training funds to support real-world issues for communities. The importance of a quality home, reliable clean water, health care, and education cannot be overstated. These multi-million-dollar programs can provide win-win scenarios. Working toward eliminating these gaps and aligning these funds to directly support well-planned social justice needs could lead to the successful achievement of UN goals on poverty, education, and healthcare.