| Kagnew Station's community relations
depend, in the final analysis, mostly on the
daily conduct of individual Americans both
on and off the station. The favorable
attitude of the citizens of Asmara towards
the presence of Americans has been due
primarily to the extent to which individual
Americans have demonstrated courtesy and
good manners, self-respect and respect for
local customs and traditions.
Your overseas job is going to be essentially the same as your military job in the United States. The major difference comes when military personnel are off duty. It is at this time that you will be seen as an individual. It goes without saying that we want our Ethiopian friends to continue to be our friends. Your proper conduct all all times |
can help to increase this friendship, and you
then become an objective ambassador of good
will for our nation.
Unfortunately, it takes only a few discourteous
persons who drink too much, or use rude
manners to offset what they lack in personality,
to destroy the good will others have built up.
Regimes of the past have furnished people
overseas with more than their share of
conquering, swaggering bullies. The United
States military is an invited guest of a friendly
nation... that is a fact to be remembered.
As members of the Asmara community, we contribute a great deal. Almost U.S. $4 million per year is injected into the local economy. Salaries to 1,600 local civilian employees of the post, its activities, or assigned miliatry |
| On his own time, Specilist Hugh Downey raised funds, helped build needed schools in villages near Cheren, as one of the most valuable of Kagnew Station community relations projects. | |
| personnel, account for U.S.l $400,000
annually. In addition, land is leased,
transportation charges are paid, rentals and
related bills are paid, and tourist items are
purchased in local stores.
Our contribution in courtest can outweigh this physical contribution, however, for Ethiopia is a protocol-conscious country. Certain formalities should be observed in relations with Ethiopians. It is important in meeting Ethiopians to use the proper form of address. Ethiopians are addressed by their first (their own) rather than their last (their father's) name. The word "Ato" means mister, the word "Woizero" means Mrs., and the word "Woizerit" means Miss. Thus, Ato Tesfaye Abebe would be called Ato Tesfaye, not "Mr. Abebe." Weizero Abebech Tekle would be called Woizero Abebech, not "Woizero Tekle" or "Mrs. Tekle". Ehtiopian women do not change their names upon marriage, hence it is not proper to call an Ethiopian woman by the name of her husband. Many of the more prominent Ethiopians have titles, which are |
honorary. These should be used in lieu of
"Ato"... or in the event of high government
officials "Your Excellency" may be used.
The active organized community relations program of Kagnew Station takes many forms, and is closely coordinated by the post's Information Officer. Among the activities are close personal contact with local citizens through clubs, athletic programs, and joint help at orphanages and hospitals; the conduct of tours of Kagnew Station facilities for interested organized groups, particularly on Armed Forces Day, Independence Day and at special ceremonies; close cooperations between the Post Veterinarian and local officals to improve sanitary conditions; the use of volunteer assistance for post personnel in times of local need; voluntary participation by military and dependant personnel during non-duty periods in education programs, and general assistance to the community in every reasonable way. |
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Tours of Kagnew Station, whether by Emperor Haile Selassie I or other organized groups, are welcomed as part of the post's community relations program. |
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Last Updated February 4, 1998 by James Boyce
