Torn by a recent 14-year civil war, Liberia has been an unstable region. It was there, he said, that the team often learned the most and received the biggest welcome.Īs part of the mission, Captain Hrad and the team worked to ensure a safe and secure national referendum and elections. He sought to assess the effects of the international community involvement, its benefits, and what changes needed to be made.Ĭaptain Hrad explained how he took on the role of planning routes, transportation, mission planning, security, and seeking out areas and tribes that had not been visited recently. Some of the issues he would discuss included health, crime, agriculture, schools, and general needs within the tribal communities. "I tried to talk to as many people as I could," said Captain Hrad. Although the team members each brought different areas of expertise, their main mission was the Liberian people and their culture and needs. Upon his arrival in Liberia, Captain Hrad joined with a UN team that included military officers from Egypt, Bangladesh, Russia, Pakistan, Denmark, Serbia, and China. "It was some of the best, most relevant training I've received in my military career," said the captain.Īt Quantico, he was trained in a wide range of topics from self-defense to diplomacy, to adapting to harsh conditions-all in preparation for the experience awaiting him. To prepare for this deployment, Captain Hrad spent three weeks in Quantico, Va., for pre-deployment training. This type of deployment is rare since there are only a handful of American officers serving on UN peacekeeping missions. This job required him to interact closely with the people of Liberia, often traveling long distances through rough terrain and forests to interview tribal chiefs, county superintendents, refugee camp managers, and other local residents and officials.
During his deployment as a military observer, he served as the eyes and ears in the field. Paul Hrad knows firsthand the meaning of international cooperation, teamwork, and humanitarianism, thanks to a recent deployment to Liberia in support of the United Nations.Ĭaptain Hrad recently returned from a six-month rotation as part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia.
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Engineer Capt.
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