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TSC stands up during official visit, ribbon cutting

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jerome C. Baysmore
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  Transit Center officials and the Honorable Daniel B. Ginsberg stood up the Theater Security Cooperation Division here Saturday as part of an ongoing effort to build and expand relationships with global partners.

The assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and Reserve affairs visited the "Liberandos," also toured the transit center and held an all hands call after the ceremony Saturday.

"This is an historic day for both the Transit Center at Manas as well as for the people of the Kyrgyz Republic," he said. "This afternoon we dedicate and open a facility that will provide much needed support and engagement in this very important part of the world.

"It was once said, 'If you want to be incrementally better, be competitive. If you want to be exponentially better, be cooperative,'" Mr. Ginsberg continued. "This statement captures perfectly the mission of the Transit Center's new Theater Security Cooperation Division. The TSC will strive tirelessly to build bridges and uncover solutions to important issues for both the United States and the people of Kyrgyzstan."

The ceremony also marked the end of a 10-month process to create the division that focuses on community partnership to enhance and secure the peace in Kyrgyzstan. Lt. Col. John Elshaw, TSC director, added that the division is also gearing up for the future.

"In the past, we would provide humanitarian assistance anywhere we could," he said. "Now we're drafting operating instructions, setting standards and procedures to sustain this operation for the future."

Colonel Elshaw added that the process included assistance from the Army civil affairs program as a waypoint for current operations in the TSC. He said working with local high-ranking Kyrgyz government officials--comprised from the eight surrounding districts and administrative offices in Bishkek that make up the Chui Province--to organize and plan projects is at the top of the priorities list.

"We're organizing continuity folders and standardizing a process to submit official requests for assistance and working with the local rayons, the Chui Oblast, and the administrative district in Bishkek to work on the main priorities in the area."

The TSC has three primary missions designed to enhance the security and relations of the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic. The three mission types are Humanitarian Assistance, Military-to-Military operations, and Social Cultural operations.

The concept of TSC in the Air Force goes back as early as the Korean War with follow-up operations in every major conflict which followed. The specifics of each mission set were slightly different but always focused on the requirements of the host nation.

"Over the next six months, we're trying to turn this into a self-sustaining operation and make it work for the long term," Colonel Elshaw said.

Mr. Ginsberg added that the quality of life and information exchange facilitated by the TSC will continue to build friendships and partnerships between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic for many years to come.

"Just three months ago, the Theater Security Cooperation mission was the responsibility of just a few individuals," he said. "Today, there are 25 people reaching out to Kyrgyz governmental organizations to include: The Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"This team provided critical medical treatment for more than 3 million school children and many adults through a nation-wide de-worming program," he concluded. "This program touched the lives of nearly 60% of Kyrgyzstan's entire population. The positive impact will be felt for years and generations to come."