Members from Pakistan visit Scott agencies Published June 18, 2008 By Bob Fehringer U.S. Transportation Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- A group of Pakistani civilians and military members visited the U.S. Transportation Command June 1-7 as part of the Pakistan Outreach Program. The 12-member group included Pakistani Army, Air Force and Naval officers as well as four civilians who work on transportation issues for USTRANSCOM at the U.S. consulates in Karachi and Peshawar, Pakistan. According to the USTRANSCOM Security Cooperation Program Manager Lt. Col. Mike Brogan, the program was created to help promote close personal contact between Pakistani transporters and logisticians and their counterparts in USTRANSCOM. The visitors were escorted by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Greg Younger, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Center liaison officer to U.S. Embassy-Islamabad. "The Pakistanis attended briefings on the USTRANSCOM Distribution Academy, its mission and its role as the distribution process owner," said Joe Lepanto, USTRANSCOM security cooperation specialist. "They also toured the Deployment and Distribution Operations Center," Mr. Lepanto continued, "and received a briefing from Air Mobility Command and a briefing and tour from the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center." The group also took part in a round-table discussion concerning Pakistan ground lines of communications with action officers from USTRANSCOM Directorate of Operations and made a visit to SDDC Headquarters where they held discussions with the SDDC Chief of Staff Col. Prescott Marshall. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, USTRANSCOM commander, welcomed the group on their first day and stated that this was the first time members from the Pakistani military have visited USTRANSCOM, emphasizing how important Pakistan is to the United States and USTRANSCOM. The Pakistanis also got a taste of local culture as Mike Brogan escorted them on a tour of St. Louis, which included a visit to the Arch and Union Station. Other events during the week included a reception hosted by General Schwartz and a typical American backyard cook-out at Mr. Brogan's house. Closing the week's activities, Maj. Gen. William Johnson, USTRANSCOM chief of staff, presented graduation certificates to the visitors. According to Mr. Lepanto, the members of the group accomplished an exchange of information with USTRANSCOM and enjoyed the experience, especially the mid-western hospitality.