From: ndallen@r-node.gts.org (Nigel Allen)
Subject: U.S. reserve officers support program to assist former Soviet officers
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 10:12:02 GMT

Here is a press release from the Reserve Officers Association.

 Reserve Officers Support Program to Assist Former Soviet Officers
 To: National Desk, Defense Writer
 Contact: Herbert M. Hart of the Reserve Officers Association
          of the United States, 202-479-2258

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- Interested in hosting a former 
Soviet military officer while he attends a United States
school to learn about the free enterprise system and job skills?
   If so, the Reserve Officers Association of the United States has a
program that could make it happen.
   According to Colonel Alexander A. C. Gerry, AUS (Ret.), writing in
the December issue of the monthly "ROA National Security Report," ROA
is responding to a Russian request "to extend humanitarian assistance
to the mass of Russian officers scheduled to be released from active
duty."
   "Specifically," he continues, "this assistance could take the form
of programs to provide civilian skills to former officers in order to
facilitate their integration into democratic society to the extent
that they become part of the solution and not part of the problem."
   His article follows a 10 day trip to Russia by major General Evan
L. Multman AUS (Ret.), and Gerry to meet leaders of the Ministries of
Labor and Defense and the Foreign Office.  At the request of the
Russians, they were to explore ways to help the 50,000 ex-officers
projected to return to their homeland within the next year.
   "Unfortunately," Gerry comments, "these officers and their
families have neither housing nor jobs awaiting upon their return.
   "If the U.S. does not help, if this repatriation is not
sccessful, there is real potential for discontent among
ex-servicemen and exploitation of their plight by anti-democratic
elements.  The case for enlisted soldiers is not as dramatic since
they are temporary conscripts who normally will return to the
communities from whence they came."
   Gerry writes that the program is consistent with NATO policies.
He said that a Russian Foreign office spokesman "enjoined ROA to
consider ways to assist in the retraining of Russian officers for
civilian careers.  He wanted to know if qualified ROA members
would be willing to come to Russia to teach subjects and skills
required in the reconversion of the Russian officer to civilian
careers.
   "Furthermore, he asked if members might be willing to receive in
their homes a Russian officer for a semester of studies in community
colleges or trade schools.  The Russian student would study a subject
of his choice, such as small business, banking, business law,
marketing, or agriculture to name a few possibilities.
   "After four or six months the Russian guest would return home
better prepared to integrate into the democratic free market
society."
   Complimentary copies of the article and details of the program can
be obtained from Gerry at ROA, 1 Constitution Ave., N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20002, phone 202-479-2200.
   Capitol Hill-based ROA was founded in 1922 at the suggestion of
General of the Armies John J. Pershing to support an adequate
national security.  Its 110,000 members include officers of all
branches of service: reserve, regular and retired.
 -30-
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.soviet