One CISM BoD Session

1st CISM Board of Directors meeting 2010, Washington D.C., 29 March to 1 April.
The CISM Board of Directors hit the land of George Washington last March to hold in the Officers Club of the Bolling Air Force base its first meeting of the year 2010.

At the heart of Washington D.C.
Once an important airfield in the Air Force's inventory, Bolling was made into the headquarters for all Air Force operations in the National Capital Region in 1985. The "military district" concept had already been employed by the Army and Navy, with the Military District of Washington and Naval District of Washington, respectively. Today, Bolling AFB provides a base support structure though the 11th Wing for Air Force units in the Washington D.C area and the Pentagon, with the exception of those supported though Andrews AFB. It supports units from base-level offices to Headquarters for the Office of Special investigations, the Air Force Surgeon General and the Air Force Chief of Chaplains. Bolling also serves as a diverse military community, housing families of all services and hosting one of the largest defense organizations, the Defense Intelligence Agency Center.
The CISM USA Delegation can be considered as one of the most active organizers of the CISM events; they organize almost one CISM World Championship every year and have been organizing several CISM Symposia (the most recent one in Springfield in 2006) and different meetings. The US Armed Forces Sports Office’s functions are :

• To promote goodwill among the Armed Services through sports.
• To promote the positive image of the Armed Services through sports.
• To provide the incentive and encourage physical fitness by promoting a highly competitive sports program.
• To provide the avenue for military athletes to participate and create Goodwill in National and international Military competitions (CISM).

Major General Dr Gola and Major General Megid signed the official invitation file for the 5th CISM Military World Games 2011 in Rio.

A well-packed Agenda
The first CISM BoD meeting of the year traditionally serves to prepare the coming General Assembly & Congress and to approve several strategic choices for the rest of the year. Our Directors did so and also could come back on the great success of the first CISM Winter Military World Games. Major General Jamil Megid, president of the Organizing committee of the 5th CISM Military World Games in Rio was also present in Washington to give a very detailed report on the situation of the preparations of the fifth edition of our Games next year. Everyone was once again positively amazed to see the very high level of organization for our Games in Brazil. Next year, you won’t believe your eyes! The official invitation file was also signed on that occasion by MGen Megid and MGen Gola.

CISM Order of Merit awards for Major General DARREN MCDEW (right), and Lieutenant General RICHARD NEWTON III (middle)

US authorities at the rendezvous
On the occasion of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, our leaders could exchanges ideas and concepts with Major General DARREN MCDEW, Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff and Chief of the USA Delegation to CISM and also with Lieutenant General Richard Newton III, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel, US Air Force and Senior Military Sports Advisor Armed Forces Sports Council.

Our CISM President was also invited to meet at the Pentagon Offices Dr. Clifford Stanley (Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness) to discuss about the future commitments of the US Armed Forces in CISM. A Good Dialogue was exchange between Dr. Stanley an Maj Gen Gola.

A group picture at Bolling Air Force Officer’s club

“Semper Fidelis”
On the occasion of the Cultural visit, our BoD members visited the US National Marine Corpse Museum in Quantico. This museum is considered by most us Soldiers as the best one in the territory. This unique interactive environment takes any visitor to the real life of the Marines. The National Museum of the Marine Corps is an American history museum. But it's American history seen through the eyes of individual Marines across nearly 235 years. Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington then enchanted our leaders.

All our appreciation and gratitude are to be addressed to the USA Delegation and especially one of the “oldest CISM player”, retired Lt-Colonel Suba Satyanarayan, for having organized in the best conditions our first BoD session of the year, and also to all the military personnel of the Bolling Air Force Base for having so warmly welcomed us!