WEBVTT 00:03.720 --> 00:06.470 (dramatic music) 00:25.420 --> 00:27.090 - Hello, I'm TEC Sergeant Amber Monio 00:27.090 --> 00:29.760 with the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center. 00:29.760 --> 00:31.620 I will be conducting a series of interviews 00:31.620 --> 00:33.960 to help you better understand the different roles 00:33.960 --> 00:35.340 that Foreign Area Officers 00:35.340 --> 00:37.280 and International Health Specialists perform 00:37.280 --> 00:39.650 in supporting U.S. national policy. 00:39.650 --> 00:42.150 Additionally, in today's global environment, 00:42.150 --> 00:45.180 there will be one video addressing gender-specific issues 00:45.180 --> 00:46.190 that you should be aware of 00:46.190 --> 00:48.610 before your first FAO assignment. 00:48.610 --> 00:51.270 I'd like to introduce you to Major Diego Torres 00:51.270 --> 00:53.940 an International Health Specialist. 00:53.940 --> 00:54.773 Major Torres, 00:54.773 --> 00:56.870 how long have you been in your role as an IHS. 00:56.870 --> 01:00.810 - It's been about a year and a half in the role of an IHS, 01:00.810 --> 01:04.040 and I'm part of the Twelfth Air Force, Air Forces Southern, 01:04.040 --> 01:07.300 Surgeon General's Office at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. 01:07.300 --> 01:10.479 - Can you briefly describe some of your job duties 01:10.479 --> 01:11.420 in that position? - Absolutely. 01:11.420 --> 01:14.870 As an IHS, we lead global health engagement development, 01:14.870 --> 01:16.930 and execution and support of SOUTHCOM, 01:16.930 --> 01:18.560 along with coordinating efforts 01:18.560 --> 01:21.420 with multiple stakeholders and joint agencies. 01:21.420 --> 01:22.960 It also includes being a key advisor 01:22.960 --> 01:24.600 to combatant commander, 01:24.600 --> 01:26.730 and Surgeon General in the Air Force Medical Service, 01:26.730 --> 01:28.460 through security cooperation 01:28.460 --> 01:31.520 encompassing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, 01:31.520 --> 01:34.270 along with health infrastructure development. 01:34.270 --> 01:36.380 Furthermore, it provides planning support 01:36.380 --> 01:38.260 on military and civilian international 01:38.260 --> 01:40.210 and cultural healthcare issues 01:40.210 --> 01:42.040 in the SOUTHCOM area of operation, 01:42.040 --> 01:44.470 while utilizing strategic communication. 01:44.470 --> 01:46.010 To represent the United States Air Force 01:46.010 --> 01:49.070 and our partner nation, is a great privilege. 01:49.070 --> 01:50.690 Medical engagements are extremely important, 01:50.690 --> 01:52.560 because they are soft power, 01:52.560 --> 01:54.370 utilized to open doors and build bridges 01:54.370 --> 01:56.140 with our partner nations. 01:56.140 --> 01:57.610 It is up to the IHS personnel 01:57.610 --> 01:59.710 to make every engagement an effective one. 02:00.830 --> 02:02.410 - As an International Health Specialist, 02:02.410 --> 02:06.090 how do global engagements support the campaign support plan? 02:06.090 --> 02:08.450 - Okay, well, it facilitates effective use 02:08.450 --> 02:11.470 of Air Force medical assets in the AOR, 02:11.470 --> 02:13.520 supporting vital combatant command 02:13.520 --> 02:15.840 U.S. theater strategies and objectives. 02:15.840 --> 02:18.420 Active communication with the country desk officers 02:18.420 --> 02:20.660 while planning an event, is also paramount. 02:20.660 --> 02:23.420 It solidifies relationships with our partner nations, 02:23.420 --> 02:26.460 by strengthening partnerships, building teams, 02:26.460 --> 02:27.833 and countering threats. 02:28.800 --> 02:30.270 After an engagement occurs, 02:30.270 --> 02:32.360 an after-action report is generated 02:32.360 --> 02:34.800 and reviewed by the country desk officers. 02:34.800 --> 02:36.300 Once the report is approved, 02:36.300 --> 02:37.430 it is shared and utilized 02:37.430 --> 02:40.620 when planning future events in the country. 02:40.620 --> 02:43.240 This will aid in maintaining the proposed life path 02:43.240 --> 02:44.800 for the partner nation. 02:44.800 --> 02:46.420 It would optimally shape conditions 02:46.420 --> 02:48.740 throughout health-related opportunities, 02:48.740 --> 02:51.210 that align with the National Security Strategy, 02:51.210 --> 02:53.170 National Defense Strategy, 02:53.170 --> 02:54.940 and National Military Strategy, 02:54.940 --> 02:57.690 as expressed in combatant command campaign plans 02:57.690 --> 02:59.833 throughout all phases of a conflict. 03:00.768 --> 03:01.601 - Great. 03:01.601 --> 03:02.434 What would you say 03:02.434 --> 03:04.544 is the most challenging aspect of your job? 03:04.544 --> 03:07.040 - Well, one of the most challenging aspects of the job 03:07.040 --> 03:09.040 was getting to know all of the stakeholders 03:09.040 --> 03:11.140 involved in planning and execution 03:11.140 --> 03:13.490 of a global health engagement project. 03:13.490 --> 03:15.980 You will have to coordinate with fellow Staff Officers 03:15.980 --> 03:18.740 from Manpower and Personnel, Logistics, 03:18.740 --> 03:21.380 Plans and Requirements, Communication, 03:21.380 --> 03:24.810 Strategic Plans, Programs, Analysis, and Assessments. 03:24.810 --> 03:27.230 The coordination must also occur with the U.S. Embassy, 03:27.230 --> 03:30.750 staff, and host nation military representatives. 03:30.750 --> 03:33.440 Unforeseen events can also occur in partner nations, 03:33.440 --> 03:35.500 and there might be a need to adjust quickly. 03:35.500 --> 03:37.010 International Health Specialists will need 03:37.010 --> 03:38.800 to effectively multi-task 03:38.800 --> 03:40.890 and establish clear lines of communication 03:40.890 --> 03:42.760 with supportive agencies. 03:42.760 --> 03:44.760 As an International Health Specialist, 03:44.760 --> 03:48.070 you must be able to effectively network and socialize, 03:48.070 --> 03:50.340 not only with your team members at home, 03:50.340 --> 03:52.923 but also the partner nations and participants. 03:54.000 --> 03:57.480 - What education or training most helped you as an IHS? 03:57.480 --> 03:59.900 - Well I believe being a registered nurse helped me 03:59.900 --> 04:02.110 in developing critical thinking skills, 04:02.110 --> 04:04.840 ability to think quickly, and problem-solve. 04:04.840 --> 04:07.230 Medical evacuation operational experience 04:07.230 --> 04:09.530 as an instructor and evaluator 04:09.530 --> 04:11.670 at the Formal Training Unit, 04:11.670 --> 04:14.223 was also extremely important. 04:15.600 --> 04:17.900 Training future nurses also helped me 04:17.900 --> 04:19.120 in this current position, 04:19.120 --> 04:20.920 and finally, my prior enlisted experience 04:20.920 --> 04:24.330 in the United States Army and the Air National Guard. 04:24.330 --> 04:26.480 - What education or training did we miss 04:26.480 --> 04:28.330 in the International Health Specialist 04:28.330 --> 04:30.020 development education? 04:30.020 --> 04:31.610 And what do you wish you knew more about 04:31.610 --> 04:33.780 before starting your current position? 04:33.780 --> 04:34.613 - Right. 04:34.613 --> 04:35.460 Well, it's important to get to know 04:35.460 --> 04:37.640 all the multiple authorities that all have a hand 04:37.640 --> 04:39.700 in developing and execution of missions, 04:39.700 --> 04:42.470 from the in-country teams to the desk officers, 04:42.470 --> 04:44.670 and the components in combatant command, 04:44.670 --> 04:46.660 along with the rest of the staff personnel. 04:46.660 --> 04:49.160 We all have our area of responsibility 04:49.160 --> 04:50.500 and it's imperative to establish 04:50.500 --> 04:52.450 clear lines of communication 04:52.450 --> 04:54.260 among the security cooperation teams, 04:54.260 --> 04:57.010 and this will facilitate in achieving mission success, 04:57.010 --> 05:00.372 based on the guidelines set forth by our leadership. 05:00.372 --> 05:01.205 - Okay. 05:01.205 --> 05:02.038 Thank you very much Major for our training. 05:02.038 --> 05:03.445 - You're welcome. - Thank you very much. 05:03.445 --> 05:05.778 (whooshing)