CIMIC Course

14 – 17 Dec

Well as my job is the CIMIC (Civilian Military Cooperation) officer of my team site they thought it wise to send me on the new and improved CIMIC course in Khartoum. The only problem was they didn’t notify me of the course until I arrived at the sector HQ during my leave to Uganda. So I attended the course immediately upon return from Uganda without a military uniform. There were about 30 uniformed officers and myself and one other in civilian clothes. Some speakers could not figure out what our relation to the course was. They were worried that we represented some sort of Civil Authority there to monitor them.

The course was excellent. I was warned beforehand that most (insert ALL) of the participants were there (four days 8 hours a day) for only one reason…..They were being paid an extra $130.00 per day to be in Khartoum. I think I counted 4 people including myself, another Canadian, a Kiwi, and a Swedish officer who actually took notes during the course. Everyone else just sat there, some took phone calls and answered cell phones during the presenters lecture!! My partner, I had 2, was from Cambodia and has been on this mission for 12 months and asked for an extention (and got it) for another 6 months. During the 4 days I tried to interact and get him ivolved in the process and team work activities. In 4 days I got two sentences out of him, the first one was him asking what paperwork he needs to get his extra money!

Anyhoot, the course was good however it seems that they have very large ideas, plans and expectations which they are presenting to a very small, understaffed and overworked team site. We will have to see how it goes. I have a few ideas since the course to try and make some improvements to the Kurmuk area.

Now that the course is over I have 2 days off as the flight schedule did not match the course timings so it’s Friday and Saturday off!! YEH!!! I will endeavor to lounge around Canada house, go shopping and get my hair cut. I will also be buying some new food for Kurmuk to help me get through the next 4 weeks.

I am looking forward to getting to the team site I will have two new German and two new2 Australian camp mates!