Capt. Courtney Smith, Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity (NETSAFA) commanding officer and Ms. Janie Glover, NETSAFA deputy director visited Capt. Edward Gettins, Training Support Center Hampton Roads (TSCHR) commanding officer, and the International Military Services Office (IMSO).

Smith is headquartered in Pensacola, Florida and the purpose of the visit was to put names with faces and to better understand the day-to-day operations of the TSCHR IMSO.

"We appreciate your efforts in making everlasting international coalitions and your hard work strengthening partner navies worldwide, resulting in memories for the students to come to the U.S. that will pay big dividends for years and years to come," said Smith.

"The IMSO military staff members are vital in the success of this training program. They often work weekends and I tend to let my staff chaperone the field trips, take care of the students' administrative paperwork and logistics. The military to military connection is very effective for the foreign students," said Rick Sisler, TSCHR IMSO program director.

"Our office serves as the official U.S. government representative, administrator and host, counselor, expeditor, diplomat and primary POC for all international military students undergoing training under the Department of the Navy in the Hampton Roads area," said Sisler. "We work very closely with NETSAFA, which educates and trains over 6,000 military and civilian personnel from 152 nations annually."

Last year, TSCHR IMSO coordinated 12 Field Studies Program (FSP) events to Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, as well as local U.S. Navy ships and aircraft squadrons. The FSP objective is to provide an actual view of U.S. society, institutions, and goals outside the classroom. The FSP includes discussions with the students about our government structure, judicial system, the political party system.

"My job is challenging, yet interesting; it's like nothing I've never done before," said Machinist's Mate 1st Class Frederick Fletes, TSCHR IMSO leading petty officer. Meeting new people, making sure they receive the administrative paper work is done while providing support for the training they need to return to their native country."

Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Kimberly O'Donnell takes great pride in her job. For the past year, O'Donnell's main job has been coordinating and chaperoning field trips.

"One of the benefits of my job is meeting new people while promoting a better understanding of the United States," according to O'Donnell.

"Our responsibility is to make sure the students get the best impression of our Navy and the U.S., and my staff goes above and beyond to make sure the job gets done," said Sisler.

TSCHR provides student management, quota control, and professional development for nearly 80,000 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and Airmen from the U.S. Armed Forces, and 23 allied nations each year.

Through the innovative use of manpower and resources, TSC Hampton Roads and its learning sites provide the fleet with highly trained Sailors, Marines and the operational support that empowers them to meet the ever-changing global demands of today's Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Coast Guard.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Training Support Center Hampton Roads, visit http://www.navy.mil/.