Director's Message 3/25A/03

     The coming weeks and months will be difficult and challenging for all of us as American and coalition forces engage in operations to disarm Iraq. Current involvement of a significant portion of our Armed Forces is being seen at home and abroad. A number of our students may have a family member who is deployed to the Middle East or engaged in other critical operations closer to home.

     The sacrifice of our Armed Forces is being felt in the workplace, at home, and in our schools. Those who serve are likely to be our students’ parents, our co-workers’ spouses, our employees' sons and daughters, and our neighbors, and we have an important supportive role to play. Our schools offer students a haven for stability, consistency, and routine. We must be steadfast in our mission to provide the best education in the world and, at the same time, remain sensitive and supportive to the emotional needs of the children and families we serve.

     We have open lines of communication within our military communities, including our commands, helping service agencies, and health, medical, safety, and security units. Information, updates, and instructions are being provided to our schools by the military commands, so we should remain abreast of any changes in security awareness.

     Each school has a crisis intervention plan that is ready to be implemented at a moment's notice, and school crisis intervention teams are ready to provide appropriate student and family counseling and support for specific events that may occur. The work schools, districts, and the military commands are doing to insure the security and well being of our students and employees is commendable, and you all have my deep gratitude for your efforts.

     Local military commands have instituted procedures that will enhance the security of our schools located on their bases. DoDDS Pacific schools are unique compared to DoDDS Europe since all of our schools are located within the physical security perimeter of military installations.

     We will continue to operate in a normal fashion, and follow local base guidance related to force protection conditions. The military will insure the security of everyone on their installation. The most important contribution we can make is to remain focused on our mission, provide a safe and secure environment for the children in our schools, support each other, our students and their families, and remain grounded and factual in our communications with one another. I sincerely appreciate all that you are doing to offer our children a stable environment at this time of concern and uncertainty.

     Please join me in keeping our military personnel and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific