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HNCC provides servicemembers

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Spencer Gallien
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  When servicemembers step off the plane and enter the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing's host nation, there is one group of dedicated professionals here to provide assistance, and help Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen understand and cope with an unfamiliar culture.

The Host Nation Coordination Cell works with host-nation customs and immigrations officers, ensures aircraft have diplomatic clearances for arrival, departure and overflight, and submits and coordinates host-nation approval requests for U.S. Armed Forces personnel travelling through this non-disclosed Southwest Asia location.

The HNCC also provides Arabic translation services and cultural advice as well as passport, visa and residency coordination. They work with local law enforcement agencies when U.S. Forces need assistance with vehicle registration, traffic accidents and other issues. Furthermore, the HNCC is a liaison with the Office of Military Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Army Central Forces Area Support Group.

"We are the primary coordinating agency with the host-nation's general headquarters," said Lt. Col. Steven Dutschmann, 379th AEW HNCC deputy director. "All requests, and any issues that we need approval for, go through us and we, in turn, provide those requests to the host-nation coordinator."

From the construction of new facilities and requests for radio frequencies, to the transportation of people, equipment and Army and Air Force Exchange Services product shipment, each and every request must be routed through the HNCC.

In order to efficiently complete their mission, the HNCC staff must build relationships with host nation representatives.

"In Arabic culture, relationships are everything," said Colonel Dutschmann. "To really get things done, you need to get to know the people you're dealing with, build trust, and understand their traditions, culture, and procedures.

"Many host-nation officers are educated in the west and speak English fluently," he added. "In the (U.S.) Air Force, there are very few members who speak Arabic, or understand middle-eastern culture. We're here to help build those relationships that create a firm foundation of understanding and trust."

One service the HNCC recently provided was acting as a liaison between the host-nation and the U.S. military during a week-long series of invitations for servicemembers to attend a day of rest and relaxation at a private beach house.

"It was an incredibly nice gesture," said Capt. David Williams, HNCC current operations officer. "The invitations are an extension of the friendship we share. Ultimately, we're all here working long hours with high stress, it's an opportunity to get off base and decompress."

The need for the HNCC is compounded by the nature of the military presence in Southwest Asia.

"We consume a lot of resources and need a lot of support to maintain missions. The HNCC is here to ensure those resources and support are here when we need them," Colonel Dutschmann said.

In total, the HNCC is responsible for all U.S. Armed Forces at this non-disclosed Southwest Asia location including U.S. Central Command, U.S. Central Forces Special Operations Command, Air Mobility Command units, the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, a Red Horse unit, U.S. Navy aviation, and nearby U.S. Army installations.

"As we continue a relationship with our host-nation, servicemembers should take time to learn about where they are," Colonel Dutschmann said. "This is a great opportunity to experience a culture that is very different from our own. By learning about the culture and building a rapport with our hosts, base members play a role in how effectively we may work with our host-nation."