2006.09.11: September 11, 2006: Headlines: COS - Paraguay: Engineering: Iraq: Military: Marriage: Black Anthem: Paraguay RPCV Scott Krushinski works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq
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2006.09.11: September 11, 2006: Headlines: COS - Paraguay: Engineering: Iraq: Military: Marriage: Black Anthem: Paraguay RPCV Scott Krushinski works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq
Paraguay RPCV Scott Krushinski works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq
During his two and a half years in Paraguay he worked with local communities successfully helping them to organize, build and operate running water systems. (Here in Iraq such efforts fall under the rubric of Capacity Development!) In his second year he met Blanca, a petite young lady who was both working and attending university full-time in Asuncion, the country’s capital. Two years later they were married and, after returning to live in Alexandria, VA, he continued in the construction management arena – this time working on the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum annex located at Dulles Airport.
Paraguay RPCV Scott Krushinski works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq
The Challenges of Helping Others
By Tom Clarkson, Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sep 11, 2006, 16:31
Blackanthem Military News, BAGHDAD, Iraq - How did the country of Paraguay, the United States Peace Corps and a young man and woman who met in a tropical capital become a married couple sweating through 120 degree plus days, deeply involved in rebuilding Iraq . . . and loving every minute of it?
Scott Krushinski had long felt there was an important role to be played for him in the challenging opportunities of the U.S. Peace Corps. So, in 1997, five years after graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Civil Engineering and a substantially wide range of construction management experience, he was accepted into the Corps, looking forward to new, farther reaching challenges in Latin America.
During his two and a half years in Paraguay he worked with local communities successfully helping them to organize, build and operate running water systems. (Here in Iraq such efforts fall under the rubric of Capacity Development!)
In his second year he met Blanca, a petite young lady who was both working and attending university full-time in Asuncion, the country’s capital. Two years later they were married and, after returning to live in Alexandria, VA, he continued in the construction management arena – this time working on the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum annex located at Dulles Airport.
Next came opportunities in Texas where, first in Austin, where Scott worked on his MBA while Blanca supported him by working for the State of Texas. After his graduation in 2003, they moved to Dallas and reversed roles as Blanca finished her finance degree at the University of Texas as Dallas and Scott worked. During this time a new and exciting challenge arose a new and exciting challenge arose . . . helping the Iraqis build and rebuild their country.
Scott came to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division/Project and Contracting Office in May of 2005. He joined the Facilities and Transportation (F&T) sector on a contract basis and is now Manager of the Program Support Group. This area is comprised of the Reporting, Project Controls, Document Controls, Closeout, and HR functions. The F&T Sector consists of four sub-sectors with over 1,500 construction projects, over 1,000 non-construction contracts, and an overall budget of $2.2 Billion.
Blanca arrived in June of this year, following her graduation. She now also works in F&T finance - though in a separate division - contributing to the overall program finances. Both plan on staying until at least March of 2007.
“There is lots of good going on over here,” Scott exclaims, “and I have the very greatest of respect for our Iraqi co-workers for their contributions and persistence in overcoming daily adversities as they work with us to make this a safer, better place. In fact, when one looks at all that we’ve accomplished together in such a short period it’s simply amazing!
Their plans? With a smile, Blanca responds “A joint assignment in Latin America would be nice . . . Then maybe a MBA for me. Of course, before long, we’ll settle down to raise a family!”
When this story was posted in October 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
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| History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help. |
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Story Source: Black Anthem
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Paraguay; Engineering; Iraq; Military; Marriage
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