Victoria Starks Class of 2008 United States Mission to NATO, Brussels, Belgium

During this past summer I had the privilege to work for the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium, as an intern for the Department of Defense.  NATO is a military alliance consisting of 26 countries.  Its aim is to fulfill the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty signed on April 4, 1949.  The member countries work together politically and militarily to ensure their individual protection. NATO currently has operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Darfur, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iraq, Kosovo, and the Mediterranean.  (More information about NATO can be found at http://www.nato.int/.)

I served as a primary action officer in the Defense Operations Division during my ten weeks at NATO.  My main responsibility was to write a weekly point paper and give a weekly briefing update to the U.S. ambassador to NATO on NATO's current missions in Iraq, Darfur, and Somalia.  The U.S. ambassador would then use this information to prepare for the weekly North Atlantic Council meeting between representatives from the 26 member countries.  I also assisted on writing a brief on fulfilling helicopter requirements in Afghanistan, which was later used by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, whom I had the pleasure of meeting during my time at NATO, and on researching the background of the NATO Response Force.  I had the opportunity to work alongside active duty officers in the United States Army, Air Force, and Navy and to work with individuals from the other member countries of NATO.

Not only was I able to work with great people and do substantive work, being in Brussels allowed me the chance to easily travel throughout Europe.  Other NATO interns and I were able to travel to
Ireland, England, Luxembourg, Germany, and Czech Republic.  My mother was even able to fly over and travel with me to France, Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, and Italy.  In addition, working with the United States government overseas provided a home away from home where I was
able to participate in competitive sports, learn line dancing, and buy American food that I craved from the commissary.  All of these perks combined made my summer internship with NATO the best it could be. 

I would not have had such a wonderful experience if it had not been for the Public Service Fund, which awarded me a public service fellowship; Barbara and Bob Glacel, who coordinated the internships; Steve Mirr, my boss, and others in the Defense Operations Division; and finally, Maggie Mayall and Todd Dodson, the wonderful couple who took me into their home for three months.

Nato interns in the North Atlantic Council meeting room.

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