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DE RUEHYE #0602/01 2120319
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R 300319Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
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RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-ID//
INFO RHMFIUU/DISAM WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH//
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RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7835
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDATL/IC//
RUEADWD/HQDA WASHDC//SAAL-NA//
RHMFIUU/CDRUSASAC FT BELVOIR VA//
RUEAHQA/OSAF WASHDC//IA/IARE//
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5//
RUEAUSA/CNGB WASHDC//NGB-IA//
RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//SAAL-NI//

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000602 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM
SUBJECT:  SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-JULY 2008 
 
¶1.  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:  Defense Language Instructor month-long 
assistance and assessment; Crisis Response Table Top ExerciQwith 
Armenian Rescue Service; Strategic DeQse Review Workshop with 
CCMR; JCTP and SPP events conducted 
 
¶2.  SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 
 
    ¶A. An instrQor from the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in 
San Antonio, TX, is in Armenia for 30-days conducting an assessment 
of the existing English language programs in the MOD. Ms Mary Jo 
Villalobos is evaluating the fledgling intensive-English language 
course designed to support Armenian officers and NCOs who have been 
identified to attend DLI training through IMET. She is also 
assessing the older non-intensive English language courses that have 
been established at the two Armenian four-year military academies. 
Ms Villalobos is also providing teaching technique instruction 
directly to the Armenian English language instructors and is also 
providing course development assistance to the Armenian English 
Language Program Director. All recommendations from Ms. Villalobos' 
visit will be provided to the Armenian Ministry of Defense's 
Personnel and Education Department via the ODC. This event directly 
supports IPAP Goal 2.4.5: Language Training 
 
    ¶B. From 15-18 Jul 08 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Civil 
Military Emergency Preparedness program conducted a Table Top 
Exercise (TTX) designed to test and validate the Armenian crisis 
response plan for a potential nuclear power plant incident at the 
Metzamor nuclear facility located on the outskirts of Yerevan.  The 
TTX marked the first time that all Armenian agencies and 
governmental directorates which are identified to react to a nuclear 
incident in Armenia, participated together in an Emergency 
Operations Center (EOC) during a full-blown TTX. The TTX validated 
some actions identified in the Armenian plan, while also identifying 
potential weaknesses that will need to be addressed and improved by 
the Armenian government. Also attending the event were numerous 
international agencies and NGOs such as the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), International Committee 
of the ReQCross (ICRC), the United Nations DevelopmeQProgram 
(UNDP) and Swiss and German crisis response organizations. Select 
Armenian individuals will follow-Qthis TXX by attending and 
observing the Kansas Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant crisis response 
exercise later this year.  This event directly supports IPAP Goal 
1.4.1: Enhance Armenia's overall crisis management capabilities and 
inter-agency coordination. 
 
     ¶C. The Center for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR) conducted a 
workshop with all the Armenian participants who were initially 
identified to be part of Armenia's Strategic Defense Review (SDR). 
Since the execution of an SDR constitutes a huge leap forward in 
identifying necessary reforms and providing national military 
transparency to NATO and the US, CCMR is providing a team of 
international experts who will work directly with the Armenians to 
identify the purpose and procedures for conducting an effective SDR, 
and to further assist in identifying each SDR team member's 
responsibilities and duties. Additionally, personnel from the 
Bulgaria MOD will provide insight into Bulgaria's lQons learned 
from the conduct of that country's SDR. Upon completion of this 
initial SDR event, CCMR will identify follow-on events which will be 
designed to support the Armenian SDR during the remainder of FY08 
and into FY09. This event supports IPAP Goal:  2.2.3: Conduct a 
Strategic Defense Review. 
 
     ¶D. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF): 
 
    ¶1. The Armenian MOD submitted a Letter of Request to provide 
additional FMF funding to the existing AM-B-OAA: Blanket Army 
Training Case; to support the execution of the $750K Medic MTT. This 
MTT will train 35 Armenian medics in the US Army 16-week, Combat 
Medic course, in Armenia, to US standards and qualifications. This 
FMF case would support IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping 
Brigade. 
 
    ¶2. The Armenian MOD submitted a request through the ODC for GPOI 
funds to provide temporary buildings to house and establish the new 
Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade outside of Yerevan, Armenia. Initial 
estimates of the request would be for about $6M to support the 
provision of structures identical or very similar to those provided 
to the Georgian Ministry of Defense, which are located at the 
Krtsanisi Training Area, just outside of Tbilisi, Georgia. This GPOI 
case would support IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping 
Brigade. 
 
    ¶3.  The Armenian MOD plans to submit a Letter of Request in the 
coming weeks to acquire Harris Radio maintenance equipment and to 
establish a Harris radio maintenance facility in the Signal 
Department in order to allow the MOD to service and repair FMF 
provided Harris radios within Armenia. This FMF case would support 
IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. 
 
    ¶4. US Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) is coordinating 
the Armenian Letter of Request for approximately $2.5M worth of 
Harris Radios and ancillary equipment for outfitting the Armenian 
2nd Peacekeeping Battalion with US and NATO interoperable 
communications equipment. This amendment to the existing AM-B-UAB 
FMF case supports IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping 
Brigade. 
 
 
     ¶E. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). Two JCTP events were 
conducted during the month of July. 
       ¶1. The Professional Military Education FAM was conducted from 
7-11 Jul. Three Armenian officers including the Chief of the 
Personnel and Education Department visited Ft Benning, GA, to 
observe the types of courses that Armenian officers and NCOs attend 
there, and to get a better understanding of the requirements and 
training standards of those courses, and the education that their 
officers and NCOs receive through IMET 
       ¶2. Marine Forces Europe conducted a briefing, from 22-24 Jul, 
on Personnel Readiness Processing (PRP) as related to preparing 
troops for foreign deployments. 
 
     ¶F. State Partnership Program (SPP).  Three SPP events were 
conducted during the month of July. 
       ¶1. The Combat Lifesaver (CLS) TCT was conducted from 14-18 
Jul with the Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade. Armenian soldiers were 
provided with the standards and requirements for being a qualified 
CLS. 
       ¶2. Armenian EMEDS personnel observed the US National Guard 
"Patriot" Exercise in Volk Field, Wisconsin from 21-25 Jul. The 
exercise demonstrated to the Armenians how EMEDS field hospital can 
be effectively deployed and redeployed, used to conduct medical 
operations. 
       ¶3. Nurses from the Kansas National Guard provided briefings 
on U.S. nursing education, qualifications, standards, duties and 
responsibilities for the Armenian Medical Department and 
Expeditionary Medical Support field hospital personnel 
 
     ¶G. Defense Institution Building (DIB). The Strategic Defense 
Review (SDR) workshop was conQted by the Center for Civil Military 
RelationsQCMR) from 28 Jul-1 Aug. CCMR provided two SDR experts to 
provide briefings and advice to the Armenian military and civilians 
identified to be conducting ArmenQs SDRQ the coming year. CCMR 
further coordinated with two Bulgarians from the Bulgarian MOD who 
provided input to the Armenian MOD on lessons learned from the 
conduct of the Bulgarian SDR 
 
     ¶H.  Humanitarian Assistance (HA). 
 
     ¶1. An EP project that will provide fire-fighting equipment to 
support the Armenian Rescue Service (ARS) is currently being 
coordinated by the BAO and EUCOM-J4-ID-HA. 
 
      ¶2. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) is currently 
coordinating the implementation of the HA-Other stand-alone project 
that will reconstruct existing water wells in three rural villages 
in Armenia where the current water system has deteriorated to a 
degree that potable water is seldom available. HA funding for this 
project must be obligated by the end of this fiscal year. 
 
 
     ¶I.  International Military Education and Training (IMET): 
English Language testing and number of IMET students in US. 
 
      ¶1.  Training Snapshot 
          Students at DLI:  5 
          Students at Specialty Training:  6 
          E-IMET:  0 
 
      ¶2.  English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing 
          Students tested in June: 2 
 
 
¶3.  PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS 
 
      ¶A.  GAINS:  MAJ Mike McCullough is scheduled to arrive 
          in Yerevan to assume responsibilities as ODC Chief 
          on 25 Aug 08 following DISAM training and COT 
          leave. 
 
     ¶B.  LOSSES:  LTC Doug Peterson departed 
         Yerevan, Armenia as the ODC Chief on 31 Jul 08. 
 
     ¶C.  ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None. 
 
¶D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: 
    MAJ McCullough: COT leave from 6-25 Aug 08 
 
¶E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS:  None 
 
      ¶F.  RATING SCHEME CHANGES: MAJ Keller is 
          anticipated to be rated by COL Gabel the ECJ5-BE 
          Chief upon the departure of LTC Peterson 
 
     ¶G.  EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS:  None. 
 
¶5.  ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: 
 
¶A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES:  None 
 
     ¶B.  AWARD SUSPENSES: LTC Peterson: ODC Chief 
         PCS Award submission - Complete 
 
     ¶C.  PERSONNEL ACTIONS: None 
 
¶6.  ODC CHIEF'S COMMENTS:  In-country JCTP events and Defense 
Institution Building events that were not conducted as planned from 
Mar-Jun 08 are currently being executed from Jul-Sep 08. 
 
¶7.  POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson. 
 
37410-49-46-65 
37410-46-47-36(fax) 
petersond@state.gov 
 
PENNINGTON