NEWS AND VIEWS: United States and Ukraine conduct Peace Shield '97 (03/08/98)

NEWS AND VIEWS: United States and Ukraine conduct Peace Shield '97

by Walter Chyterbok

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Ukrainian and United States military forces conducted a joint, bilateral peacekeeping exercise at Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif., on November 14-23, 1997, to expand and enhance Ukrainian-U.S. relations in a peacekeeping role and promote military to military cooperation between forces.

A total of 49 Ukrainian army personnel from the 6th Army Corps, Odessa Military district arrived November 12 in California. The California National Guard was represented by 65 soldiers from the 3rd Brigade 40th Infantry Division Mechanized plus 170 other guard soldiers in supporting roles. The exercise director was U.S. Brig. Gen. Portante who was assisted by Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Sakovsky and U.S. Brig. Gen. Hudlet.

Peace Shield '97, as the exercise is known, is part of the Partnership for Peace program assembled by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1994. The partnership's goal is to increase and intensify political and military cooperation throughout Europe. The peacekeeping exercises were sponsored by the U.S. Atlantic Command and hosted by the California National Guard. Peace Shield '97 provided opportunities for Ukrainian and U.S. personnel to share information on peacekeeping operations. It also allowed Ukrainian and U.S. commanders and staffs to plan for organizing, controlling and supporting bilateral peace operations.

One of the critical elements in this kind of exercise is language interpretation. The U.S. Armed Forces provided 11 interpreters, while the State Department provided an additional six interpreters. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense sent six Ukrainian officers to assist in interpretation efforts. While there were 23 interpreters, the task seemed to be, in many instances, very challenging. While language can be a barrier, both Ukrainian and U.S. personnel did an excellent job of cooperating and understanding each other.

The exercise kicked off with opening ceremonies on November 15, with performances by the Ukrainian Tropak Dance troupe from Vancouver and the Righetti High School Ballet Folklorico. One of the speakers was Lt. Gen. Edward D. Baca, chief of the National Guard Bureau in Washington. "Who would have ever thought 10 years ago that we would be participating together in an exercise of peace?" Lt. Gen. Baca asked the audience. "Let this exercise be a model for all partnerships to follow. Let it be that we maintain this peace forever," he continued.

The Peace Shield '97 exercise started on November 18, using computers and software called Spectrum. The scenarios that were simulated by both Ukrainian and U.S. armed forces involved a situation similar to that of Bosnia with a regional threat comparable to that of Desert Storm. In the fictitious scenario, NATO sent troops into Govinia, which has suffered years of civil war. There are several factions that are vying for control.

The computer exercise allows U.S. Army units to simulate actions that would be comparable to reality. The staffs are trained in coordinating with other staff members in operations, logistics, intelligence and civil military affairs. Ukrainian officers were trained on the computers days before the exercise started and caught on extremely quickly. They were amazed that such good training can come from computers. Ukrainian Exercise Liaison Officer Col. Sergiy Poliakov commented that computer simulation will dramatically enhance Ukrainian staff training and coordination in peacekeeping missions.

A group of senior retired U.S. Army generals assisted in the exercises as mentors and senior facilitators to the exercise participants and Maj. Gen. Nicholas Krawciw, who is of Ukrainian descent, is the key liaison individual between the U.S. Armed Services and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

After a day of simulated military challenges, Ukrainian and U.S. personnel gathered in the evening for a taste of American culture. A visit was made to a dude ranch, where Ukrainians rode horses and were treated to a real Western-style barbecue.

Many questions were asked of the Ukrainian American interpreters, including our upbringing in the U.S. and how we were able to maintain the language. Ukrainian military personnel are intrigued by the Ukrainian diaspora that managed to maintain its culture, language and heritage. This writer, who was also an interpreter, developed a special kinship with the Ukrainians and forged some genuine friendships with many Ukrainian officers.

Closing ceremonies were held on November 22 and Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Gen. Col. Ivan Bizhan attended. His assistant, Gen. Maj. Vladislav Bogoulsky, deputy commander, 8th Army Corps, Lviv, also attended the ceremonies as his corps will be hosting the 1998 Peace Shield exercises.

As I sat at the ceremonies watching the Ukrainian and American flags stand together, a vibrant electrical feeling hit me. I was so proud to see my U.S. flag and that of Ukraine standing side by side. Yes indeed, who would have thought that this would happen in our generation! We the Ukrainian American sons and daughters of the diaspora, are indeed proud to have made a contribution to fostering a better U.S.-Ukrainian relationship through our language interpretations. Our mission in interpreting only was possible because of our parents' determination to teach us about our Ukrainian heritage, send us to Saturday language schools, encourage membership in SUM-A and Plast, work hard to keep our religious holidays sacred and most of all - believe that someday there will be a free Ukraine. God bless the United States of America and Ukraine.

The U.S. military interpreters were: Master Sgt. Leo. Iwaskiw, USAR, Philadelphia; Spc. Mark Iwankiw, USAR, Teaneck, N.J.; Staff Sgt. Andy Midzak, USAF, Rapid City, S.D.; 1st Lt. Constantine Voyevidka USA, Fort Riley, Kansas; 2nd Lt. Ihor Kobryn, NYNG, Staten Island, N.Y.; 2nd Lt. Mark Brykowytch, USAF, Rome, N.Y.; 1st Lt. Malanka Turczeniuk, USAR, Catawissa, Pa.; 1st Lt. Ihor Balaban, UNG, West Jordan, Utah; 1st Lt. Gregory Christensen USA, Barksdale Air Force Base, Calif.; Lt. Comdr. Bohdan Nakoneczny, USAR, Philadelphia; and Lt. Comdr. Walter Chyterbok, USAR, Schaumburg, Ill.

State Department interpreters: Oles Berezhny, Arlington, Va.; Ludmila Davis, Mahopac, N.Y.; Zoya Hayuk, San Francisco; Vyacheslav Ponomarenko, St. Paul, Minn.; George Sajewych, Silver Spring, Md.; and Dr. Alex Tsiovkh, Lawrence, Kan.

Ukrainian army officer interpreters: Lt. Col. Olexander Balabaiy, Lt. Col. Vasil Krasovskiy, Maj. Yevgen Grinchenko, Lt. Col. Mikhailo Dodoka, Maj. Rafael Musoyan, and Cadet Olexander Ponomarchuk.