Chat from El Salvador

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 · Mike Davis

Buenos Dias! This morning I am chatting with you from San Salvador, El Salvador. I am here supporting our state partnership that the New Hampshire National Guard has with El Salvador. The goal is to share our knowledge and experience to assist the El Salvadorian military as best we can. The challenges are many with lack of resources (money) being the greatest. The people are wonderful and truly desire to learn and improve but, there is much to overcome and it will take much time to develop. For us to help them it comes down more to developing relationships that will help us to understand their daily challenges. While it would be wonderful to say here, have all the money needed to set up a proper Supply Chain, which is not possible. Instead we must listen and try to understand their challenges and then use our experience and training to offer training and guidance that are plausible given their limitations. Not an easy task as comparatively we are abundantly blessed in the US military with technology and other resources that make it challenging to relate to a much less resourced circumstance. Trying to understand what all they do as well as their mission is the starting point and then offer practical guidance without insulting or challenging their dignity and knowledge. It is a challenge not because of our audience but, more because of their circumstances and lack of resources. The El Salvadorian’s are wonderful people that want to learn however, they are over tasked and are asked to accomplish much without proper tools. This is by no means the fault of anyone as this is a very poor country that is trying to develop. Our state partnership is intended to assist the El Salvadorian’s with our experience and knowledge while also developing relationships. For me it has definitely been challenging because I have so much going on between working issues with preparing for the new aircraft as well as my pending retirement but, it is very cool to be part of something that is about helping people. While I would like to be able to say I can add the streets of San Salvador to my list of places I have run, that is not possible. One it is very crazy out there but, more importantly it is very dangerous from a threat standpoint. Sadly this country is held somewhat hostage by gangs and there are no longer any green (safe) areas. However, I have run on a treadmill in El Salvador so technically I have run in the country. Actually this being my second visit, I have run multiple times here in the safe confines of my hotel. When I retire I may actually give some thought to all the various places I have run and list them out for fun. Last night I did my Tuesday interval workout and it wasn’t pretty! Unlike the previous weeks when I was outside and had a bit of a breeze, I had to deal with a small humid hotel gym. I battled and hung in there eventually meeting my goal of 9- 400 meter intervals and I was soaked! Despite looking like I just jumped into a pool with my running gear on, I felt amazing! It is so cool to not give in and earn a feeling of accomplishment. Hopefully I will get in an easy run either tonight or tomorrow before flying back to New Hampshire on Friday morning. Between a great long run with Doug this past Sunday and my repeats last night, I am feeling really good about my running. Thanks for having coffee with me this morning and I hope your day is spectacular! Que tengas un buen día! God Bless! Mike