Al Vosburgh, President

I recently returned from Washington DC and our annual Board of Directors meeting. Maybe due to the proximity of the halls of power, our discussions seemed to focus on three big areas of interest. The implementation of the Foundation Safety Program got a lot of comments and suggestions. Our interests in improving our branding and social media marketing for both Golden West and Swim for Life got a lot of attention. Finally, we discussed ways the Foundation can more effectively engage the U.S. Congress and international leaders to expand our support base and look for new donors.

The Foundation Safety Program ensures that safety considerations become an intrinsic part of all proposals, operations and reporting. This doesn’t suggest we are unsafe, just that we want to make quality safety training available and a regular part of all we do. Safety program implementation provides a competitive advantage and brings us into compliance with U.S. laws and policies.

Afifa Habbissi, Country Manager Moldova and SMSgt Jacob Barnes of the Michigan Air National Guard

Golden West participated in the EOD Day on the Hill, sponsored by the Congressional EOD Caucus. This annual event provides an opportunity for Members of Congress and their staffers to interact with EOD and HMA organizations, learning more about what we do and how they can help our cause.

Our very own Afifa Habbissi and SMSgt Jacob Barnes of the Michigan Air National Guard, who is a Team Leader for one of the USEUCOM HMA Programs, represented the Foundation. This is the start of a new campaign designed to enlist our political leaders to support what we do. By promoting Golden West, we also promote our donors and help them obtain more resources.

As we get into the Summer, we have a team deployed to the Marshall Islands, the QRF staging for a return to Tuvalu, on-going training in Fiji, Vietnam, Thailand and projects all over the US EUCOM area of operations. We just finished supporting the HDR&D Workshop in Phnom Penh and hosting our friends from USARPAC, U.S. Navy and MARFORPAC at the ATTC. We have projects pending in the Philippines and Federated States of Micronesia, as well as assessments we are planning across the Pacific Islands. We hope to start new projects supporting US AFRICOM and recently visited Ukraine to see what we can do to help.

GWHF EHP Team Member Lim Srey Sa conducting a continuity check of the blasting cap

Ukrainian trainee setting Chinese 82mm HE mortars for disposal

We will be providing more information about available safety training, how you can help our social media and marketing, and what we are doing to keep our political leaders informed.

Please be safe out there and take care of your health. We need all of you in good shape and continuing to do the great work you do.

Happy Independence Day. Enjoy your 4th July celebrations.

Al

GWHF EHP Manager, Joe Valdez, oversees the EHP team and CMAC Level 3 EOD technicians as they position UXOs and unserviceable munitions for destruction.

Focus areas included: Safe handling of explosives, demolition procedures, EOD terminology, explosive physics, IMAS-level EOD safety and procedures.

Our dedicated team conducted an additional 20 classes (100-hours) for EHP and CMAC personnel, covering ordnance ID, explosive fillers, demolition operations, and instructional techniques.

All training took place in our HDR&D and WRA-sponsored classroom at KCTC, as we continue to empower EOD technicians with critical skills to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Over an intensive 6-week course, our Training Director, Mark Lasley, alongside our SME’s Pete Archer and Mike Burghardt, worked with a dedicated cadre from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force to deliver comprehensive training on explosive theory, ordnance recognition, and demolitions at the range.

Our team of 24 trainees included seasoned veterans and first responders from the State Emergency Services Ukraine (SESU) and the National Police Ukraine (NPU). Their commitment and dedication were truly inspiring.

We are honored to be part of this vital initiative, supporting Ukraine in partnership with US EUCOM.

Together, we are strengthening capabilities and building stronger, safer communities.

A Ukrainian trainee instructed on an electric firing system.

Graduating class and instructors

Our Swim for Life team, led by Ms Dang Thi Hai Yen, recently had the honor of launching our drowning prevention program at Tan Thanh Primary and Secondary School in the lush green Huong Hoa mountainous district of Quang Tri Province.

With 47 dedicated participants and 200 excited children aged 9-13, this event marked a significant step towards safeguarding this young generation from drowning.

Our heartfelt thanks to the Quang Tri provincial DOLISA, DOET, district leaders, local schools, swim instructors, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, and the Swim for Life team members for their unwavering support; and we'd like to give a special mention to the Quang Tri Newspaper and Television for covering this impactful event and further raising awareness for drowning prevention in Vietnam.

Quang Tri provincial DOLISA launched the 2024 drowning prevention program, before Ms Huyen, the Country Director of CTFK/GHAI in Vietnam, gave an inspiring speech emphasizing the importance and significance of our drowning prevention program for the children of Quang Tri.

A young student represented all children, pledging their commitment to safety and was joined on stage by 20 disadvantaged children from Huong Hoa who received scholarships to support their education and well-being.

Together we're making waves of change, ensuring a safer, brighter future for Vietnamese children.