Page 6 - Ft. Huachuca Scout 6-26-15

6A The Scout FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015

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By Fikretta Grant
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The 304th Military Intelligence Battalion, Inter- COURTESY PHOTO
national Military Student Office is actively seeking ,QWHUQDWLRQDORI¿FHUVDWWHQGD8QLYHUVLW\RI$UL]RQDJDPHDVRQHRIWKHLU¿HOGWULSVWRH[SHULHQFH$PHULFDQFXOWXUH
sponsors for the Community Friends Program — a
hospitality program intended to provide international the international students has been rewarding for his and interests to better match them with a student.
military officers the opportunity to become acquaint- Family as well. “This is a great way to informally Sponsors are not limited to one officer or one country.
ed with the American lifestyle. learn more about various countries and cultures while
sharing just a small picture of our own lives,” he said. For more information about the Community
More than 100 international military students from Friends Program, or to be a sponsor, contact the field
more than 65 countries live and train on Fort Huachu- Those who decide to become a community friend studies program manager at 520.533.4135 or field
ca each year, building relationships with American will be asked a few questions about their background studies program coordinator at 520.533.8964.
officers and strengthening ties between the U.S. and
the officers’ nations. The Community Friends Pro-
gram aims to get these officers outside of Fort Hua-
chuca to experience American culture first-hand, in a
relaxed environment.

As a sponsor, or community friend, each volunteer
assists the international students in understanding the
American people by inviting these visitors off post
to attend special activities in their home and within
the community. Sponsors should be knowledgeable
about the U.S. and ready to answer questions.

The Community Friends Program gives the for-
eign officers an opportunity to see who American
citizens are as people, and not what they see on tele-
vision. The officers have many different perceptions
of Americans, and interactions with the local com-
munity helps change those perceptions.

When the officers return to their home countries,
they often relate their experiences in the U.S. with
their interactions with their sponsors. Sponsors must
have a sincere interest in making the officers feel at
home. Sponsors should invite the officer to attend
some type of activity at least once a month. Enter-
tainment should be simple because officers prefer to
experience the traditional American lifestyle.

Current sponsors have taken students shopping
in Sierra Vista, brought them to local festivals and
fairs, provided opportunities to hike and explore the
Coronado National Forest and invited them on trips
to Tucson.

A recent sponsor emphasizes, “Potential civilian
sponsors should understand that there are no formal
obligations and that the level of involvement is up to
you, but any amount of contact is almost always ap-
preciated.” He further explained that his contact with

From HT-JCOE3DJH$

Boucher gave the audience a brief history les- This is the first time Phillips and his Family NATALIE LAKOSIL
son on the human intelligence industry, touch- will be stationed at Fort Huachuca. They were Maj. Gen. Robert Ashley, commanding general, U.S. Army In-
ing on the mission and goals of HT-JCOE. “As previously stationed in England. telligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca, passes the
I give my remarks today, America’s Army, the colors to incoming Commander Col. Travis Phillips, Human
strength of this nation, has 143,000 Soldiers “I am honored at the chance to lead the talented Intelligence Training Joint Center of Excellence, signifying
currently operating in 149 countries around the men and women that make up the Human Intelli- the change of command.
world, with eight divisions committed and two gence Training Joint Center of Excellence,” Phil-
preparing to deploy. lips said. “What a privilege it is for Catarina and
me to serve here at beautiful Fort Huachuca.”
“Most often Americans think of the ongoing
operations in Afghanistan and the small contin- When asked about what he is looking forward
gent in Iraq but in realty the U.S. Army is all to most about Fort Huachuca, Phillips said, “Other
over the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe than being back in the States, I’m looking forward
and Asia where human operations are ongoing,” to riding my motorcycle all year round.
Boucher said.
“It’s going to take me a month or so to go
“Travis, I have great confidence that you will through all the different aspects of this command,
take us to the next level,” he added. “HT-JCOE talk to everybody. We have a strategic plan; it’s
might be a redheaded stepchild but it’s now your a five-year plan so we are already working that
redheaded stepchild.” right now,” Phillips said on his future vision for
HT-JCOE.