Panamanians learn disaster preparedness from Missouri counterparts

The aerial delivery mission is explained by Senior Master Sgt. Reece Wilson. Typically, they do not drop supplies for humanitarian missions, but they have the ability to do so if needed. Visitors from the Panamanian National Frontier Force and National Civil Protection were eager to learn how similar agencies operate in the U.S. (Photo by Jennifer Archdekin/Missouri National Guard)

By Jennifer Archdekin
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

ST. JOSEPH - Representatives from the Panamanian National Frontier Force and the National Civil Protection recently visited northwest Missouri to gain knowledge on logistics capabilities, management, control and distribution of supplies during times of natural or man-made disasters, and to supply troops. The exchange of information between Missouri and Panama will assist these Panamanian agencies with ways to inventory and store crucial survival supplies for times of disaster.

The exchange was hosted by the Missouri Air National Guard's 139th Logistics Readiness Squadron. In addition, other Missouri Army National Guard logistics and emergency management subject matter experts provided briefings to the Panamanian delegation. These included Lt. Col. Jim Meyer, chief of international affairs; Maj. Jeffrey Ford, Joint Operations Center officer; Chief Warrant Officer Shawn Skelton, director of logistics; and Renee Robinson, environmental management officer.

While in St. Joseph, the group toured the 139th Air Lift Wing, the Red Cross, Mayes Memorial National Guard Armory and the county's hazmat trailer. In Kansas City they visited the FEMA Regional Resource Coordination Center, where they received a briefing from Jeff Smith, branch chief.

"Definitely what we're trying to show them, and the theme that we're trying to present to them, is that we need to prepare, plan, communicate and work together with all the other agencies," said 2nd Lt. Robert Lovelady, logistics officer for the 139th Airlift Wing. "Planning's the first part. You have to plan and be prepared ahead of time because it does you no good if you don't plan ahead."

In Panama, the FEMA equivalent is the National Civil Protection. Alexis Del Cid, warehouse chief for the agency, said the exchange of information was a great benefit to him, as well as Panama as a whole.

"He has learned a lot," said Del Cid, who spoke through translator 2nd Lt. Matthew Cantwell. "One of the main things they are looking at now is the organizational structure. He has learned a lot from the warehouse and the logistics center. He's seen a few things they are kind of lacking down there that he can take back and implement from those areas."

Del Cid added that he hopes his Missouri counterparts can make a trip to Panama so he can demonstrate how they run business.

"We want it to be an exchange of information," said Lovelady. "Some of the things we can get from them is how they utilize limited resources to perform some of the same things we do. We want to learn from them as much as they learn from us."

The State Partnership Program routinely hosts these exchanges, as well as coordinates travel to Panama. Lt. Col. Rebecca Segovia, Missouri State Partnership Program director, says the program is a tenant of Department of Defense security cooperation and links National Guard states and territories with partner countries for the purpose of fostering mutual interests, establishing habitual long-term relationships and providing international security and stability.

There are currently 62 countries partnered with different state National Guards. Missouri and Panama have been partners since 1996.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites:

www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard

Demonstrating the ease of retrieving inventory with a forklift, Master Sgt. Ed Hudecek, storage noncommissioned officer in charge, can quickly access supplies in the warehouse. Visitors from the Panamanian National Frontier Force and National Civil Protection were intrigued with efficiency of the warehouse system. (Photo by Jennifer Archdekin/Missouri National Guard)