the school’s dormitories where the
children stay for the duration of the
school year.
“These renovations help the kids
in every possible sense,” Asimovic
said. “I have been working at this
school for 40 years and there has
never been this extensive renovation
since I have been here.”
Nguyen said the school projects
received the Humanitarian Assistance
project label in June as a standalone project sponsored by the U.S.
European Command since the local
government and municipality didn’t
have the funds for such a large-scale
renovation.
“We had a very tight schedule,”
said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark
Moritz, the National Guard Liaison
to EUCOM’s Civil Engagement
Branch and a native of Marino Valley,
Calif. “Originally the contractor was
supposed to be given 90 days, but
instead only getting about 46 days
to get all of this work done, so it’s
a pretty amazing project and the
schools and the kids are very happy.”
U.S. Army Maj. Marc Nguyen, a contracting of?cer with Area Support Team Balkans and a native
of Monterey, Calif., meets with the contractor to conduct a ?nal inspection of renovations completed at the Mjedenica School in Sarajevo Sept. 11.
Moritz added that both projects
?nished ahead of schedule and
well under budget and the quick
turnaround allowed the children the
opportunity to safely return to school.
“I’ve always wanted to have the
opportunity to participate in a
humanitarian mission, and when I
learned about the school projects
in Bosnia, I was very excited,”
said Nguyen. “Dealing with school
children brings me back to my own
experience as a child, being in a war
torn country during the Vietnam era.
I can relate to the children, yearning
to have the opportunity for an
education in a safe and welcoming
environment to learn and thrive. I’m
honored and privileged to be part of
this project.”
Members of U.S. European Command and Area Support Team Balkans meet with the contractor to
do a ?nal inspection of renovations completed at the Mjedenica School in Sarajevo Sept. 11. The
facility is a boarding school for children with special needs.
PG 23