1997 DUHS graduate visits Georgia for health logistics

Published 9:11 am Tuesday, August 26, 2008

By By MICHAEL TOLZMANN
TBILISI, Georgia – The son of a Dowagiac couple was recently welcomed to this historic land, nestled between the Black and Caspian seas at the furthest eastern edge of Europe.
This small mountainous country borders Turkey and Russia, and is home to an ancient people and culture.
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is more than 1,500 years old and has Orthodox Christian cathedrals that have stood in the city well over 1,000 years.
Army Reserve 1st Lt. Aaron B. Squiers, son of Thomas and Bernidette Buszek, Joy Drive, Dowagiac, was here serving as an American military ambassador of good will during a cooperative exchange of ideas with the Georgian Armed Forces.
More than 900 American service members, mainly Marines and soldiers, converged at this former Soviet base to improve understanding between the militaries and to share their knowledge.
Squiers is a health service administrator assigned to the 196th Medical Support Unit at Heidelberg, Germany.
He traveled to Vaziani military base, located on the edge of the nation's capitol city Tbilisi, to participate in "Immediate Response 08," an exercise designed to improve understanding and strengthen regional cooperation.
The nearby countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine were also a part of the event with small staffs of observers.
Squiers recognized the importance of his duties and responsibilities here.
"I'm responsible for the medical logistics here. I was also the lead planner for my unit for this mission," said Squiers, a 1997 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School.
American military personnel from stations in the U.S. and Europe, spent from a couple of weeks to a month at this Georgian base, living, eating, sharing military tactics, playing sports and holding ceremonies with the Georgian military. Military situational training was conducted with an Iraq scenario. Nearly 500 combat lifesavers were certified. They learned methods of reacting to roadside bombs. And sponsorship of two local orphanages was also accomplished during the military exercise.
The U.S. and Georgia have some history of working together, but convened here to strengthen their bond. The Georgian military contributes the third largest amount of coalition troops in Iraq by any country.
Georgia also has vocalized a desire to become a member of NATO. They were a host to President George W. Bush in 2004 and the main highway leading from Tbilisi to the international airport was renamed "George W. Bush Street" following his first-ever American presidential visit to Georgia.
For the Americans who came here, interacting with the Georgians was an interesting learning experience.
"Our Georgian counterparts were helpful and eager to learn how we conduct operations," said Squiers. "I have also learned about the Georgian medical capabilities," he said.
Georgia is known for its diverse, but mostly pleasant climate. Slightly larger than West Virginia, Georgia has more than 500 varieties of wine, beaches on the Black Sea, and ski resorts in the Caucasus Mountains. Georgia is also the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, a man who rose to become the Soviet leader and U.S. ally during World War II. Squiers found his own observations here.
"I enjoyed learning about the local customs and traditions. I also enjoyed the prairie lands and mountain views," said Squiers.
Squiers' military background illustrates why he was a good choice in representing the U.S. military in this endeavor.
"I have served in the military for eight years. I served a year at Camp Victory in Baghdad," said Squiers, who earned a bachelor's degree in 2003 at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. He furthered his education with a master's degree in 2007 from Jacksonville State University, Ala.
Shared military knowledge in an ancient land is what Squiers is likely to remember from his days in Georgia, but from a larger political perspective, he is an ambassador of good will to a people who desire an even closer future relationship.
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ACCOMPANYING PHOTOS:
1. Army Reserve 1st Lt. Aaron B. Squiers is a health service administrator assigned to the 196th Medical Support Unit at Heidelberg, Germany, who traveled to the Republic of Georgia to participate in "Immediate Response 08," an exercise designed to improve understanding and strengthen regional cooperation. (Photo by Larry Simmons)
2. At a rifle range, U.S. Marines observe as Georgian soldiers fire American M-4 rifles. (Photo by Jonathan Herring)
3. An American soldier, left, directs U.S. Marines and Georgian soldiers to an American Blackhawk helicopter during simulated medical evacuation procedural training. (Photo by Larry Simmons)
4. During their stay in Georgia, American service members were familiarized with Georgian weapons. Here a Georgian soldier, right, gives American soldiers a hands-on learning experience with Georgian weapons. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
5. During an exercise ceremony, a Georgian Orthodox priest blesses Georgian soldiers by splashing them with holy water. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
6. Georgian soldiers, right, gather in a formation with their American soldier counterparts, who hail from the State of Georgia Army National Guard. The Georgia Army National Guard has a partnership relationship with the Georgian army. (Photo by Larry Simmons)
7. At Vaziani military base, Georgia, U.S. Marines assault a building occupied by a simulated group of terrorists. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
8. At the closing ceremony for exercise Immediate Response 08, a color guard is combined with Georgian soldiers, left, with American Marines and soldiers who carried the flags of the countries who were represented during the training event. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
9. Vaziani military base, Georgia, was once a Soviet base, and is located approximately 20 miles from the Georgian capitol, Tbilisi. Here American soldiers and Marines maneuver near what was once a Soviet airport. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
10. The city of Tbilisi, Georgia, is an ancient city dating more than 1,500 years. (Photo by Larry Simmons)