Red Cross Volunteer Interpreters Sent to Haiti
In what is the largest deployment in its recent history, the American Red Cross (ARC) sent 69 volunteer interpreters from seven states to support the US military's Operation Unified Response in Haiti. The interpreters were chosen from a pool of more than 1,200 volunteers after extensive background checks. They will serve for one month as interpreters on board the hospital ship USNS Comfort. The relief effort is often very personal for the volunteers, many of whom have family ties to Haiti. Before deploying, volunteers attended a Red Cross orientation, a class on international humanitarian law, and a course on military culture and etiquette. Dee Swanier, ARC senior director of service delivery, says, "We're preparing them to let them know that this is a catastrophic event. They're going to see some injuries they've never seen before." Volunteer Golene Louis, who has a cousin still missing, understands the reality. Louis says, "I expect to see wounded people and devastated people. I'm preparing myself mentally." The Comfort is one of 20 US ships off the Haitian coast.
From "AF, Navy Help Red Cross Volunteers Reach Haiti"
Air Force Link (DC) (01/22/10) Bahret, Brian
Source: ATA Newsbriefs - January 2010