Family whom you've never met

Charleston District
Published Sept. 9, 2016
Michael Glasch is deployed to Afghanistan, serving as the USACE public affairs officer. He doesn't work for USACE normally, so the Charleston District supports him and his family since they live in South Carolina.

Michael Glasch is deployed to Afghanistan, serving as the USACE public affairs officer. He doesn't work for USACE normally, so the Charleston District supports him and his family since they live in South Carolina.

Michael Glasch is deployed to Afghanistan, serving as the USACE public affairs officer. He doesn't work for USACE normally, so the Charleston District supports him and his family since they live in South Carolina.

Michael Glasch is deployed to Afghanistan, serving as the USACE public affairs officer. He doesn't work for USACE normally, so the Charleston District supports him and his family since they live in South Carolina.

The Charleston District boasts about our civilian workforce being a family. We don’t just talk about it, we live it. Michael Glasch can attest to this truth. Glasch is currently deployed in Afghanistan as the Public Affairs Officer for the USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District and recently came home on a break. Glasch is from the Columbia area and works at Fort Jackson when he is not deployed, but not for USACE. During his brief break, he and his wife Elizabeth made it a point to travel to Charleston to meet the Family Readiness Coordinator from the District that supports him on a continuous basis even though they have never met him.

“Several agencies speak of their civilian workforce being a family,” said Glasch. “The Corps actually lives it.”

Michael is no rookie when it comes to deployment. He has deployed two other times, once as a soldier during the Gulf War and once as a civilian to Afghanistan for six months as a public affairs officer for the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. The support he received during this deployment has proven to be quite different than deployments in the past.

“The biggest benefit of having family readiness support is the peace of mind that it brings,” said Glasch. “Knowing that someone is here for Elizabeth is one less thing that I have to worry about. You can’t put a price tag on that.”

While deployed, Glasch gets to visit unique projects such as Kajaki Dam, in the Southern Helmand Province. Until his trip there in March, no U.S. personnel had been allowed access to the site, due to security concerns. Special permission had to be given from the US Ambassador to be able to go to the work site. The dam controls irrigation for the farmers downstream. By controlling irrigation, farmers can rely on their own crops and not rely on that of the Taliban. Glasch’s role as the Public Affairs Officer allows him to make sure that the work of the employees does not go unnoticed.

“I make sure to showcase the quality of their work, the sacrifices they are making and the dedication that they have to the mission as they work to build a more secure and safe environment for Afghanistan and the world,” said Glasch.

Glasch feels that the sacrifice that he makes is nothing compared to that of his wife Elizabeth. She looks forward to Sundays when they can talk. It is by far the best part of her week.

“It is not easy,” said Elizabeth. “Michael is my best friend and my rock, and without him being at home, I have to step it up a notch. I have to do what I have to do.”

Elizabeth is extremely proud of her husband because he is doing what he loves to do. He is an inspiration to her and she has so much respect for the work that he does and his love of the job. Both Glasch and his wife are thankful and grateful for everything the Charleston District has done.

It is one thing to support someone you know and work with every day, but it takes a special group of people to support someone that they have never met. That goes back to the Corps not just talking about being a family, but actually caring for all those deployed.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division serves as USACE’s tip of the spear in one of the most dynamic construction environments in the world, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING CAPACITY, and ENHANCING SECURITY for our nation, allies, and partners. 

We deliver agile, responsive, and innovative, design, construction, engineering and contingency solutions in support of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and other global partners to advance national security interests.

Transatlantic Division News

  • February

    USACE Transatlantic Division: Setting Extraordinary Standards as ‘Partner of Choice’ in CENTCOM AOR

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division stands as a pivotal force in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility. Since the 1950s, the Division has actively shaped the landscape of engineering, design, and construction across the Middle East. Transforming from its initial focus on basic military construction, the Division now leads sophisticated, large-scale infrastructure projects, demonstrating a deep commitment to building capacity and enhancing security in the region. By setting and consistently upholding extraordinary operational standards, it has established itself as the ‘partner of choice.’
  • January

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division Commander Promoted to Brigadier General

    Col. William C. Hannan, Jr., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division commander, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General during a ceremony here Jan. 16.
  • October

    On Solid Ground: Army Values are the Foundation of USACE Transatlantic Division’s Mission

    With a history of more than 70 years in the region, the Transatlantic Division oversees more than $5 billion in projects including military construction programs, force protection innovations, and security cooperation initiatives, strengthening Army readiness, enhancing vital infrastructure, and deepening global partnerships. Each action reinforces the Army's unwavering commitment to its service members and global partners.
  • USACE Innovation: The Key to 'Building Strong' in the CENTCOM AOR

    For the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division, innovation is the essential energy that drives success. From the initial development phase of a project, through the design and construction, and well into the operational phase, innovation drives the relentless pursuit of excellence, supporting sustainable strategies and fostering the development of long-lasting, reliable solutions.
  • September

    USACE Transatlantic Division supports Typhoon Mawar disaster relief

    A staff member assigned to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division was activated and sent to Guam from June until July to assist FEMA, federal partners and territorial officials’ response to the typhoon which caused significant impacts to essential services throughout portions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, including water, energy and transportation.
  • ‘Go Army, Beat Navy’: A Time-honored Rivalry Transformed into Integrated Partnership in Bahrain

    In a series of key leader engagements, U.S. Army Col. William C. Hannan, Jr., Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division commander, visited Bahrain on Sept. 11, to fortify the already strong inter-service partnerships with the Naval Forces Central Command and Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
  • August

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division participates in Eagle Resolve 2023

    Two staff members assigned U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, May 21- 25, 2023 to participate in Eagle Resolve 2023, a Combined Joint All-Domain exercise which improves interoperability on land, in the air, at sea, in space, and in cyberspace with the U.S. military and partner nations, enhances the ability to respond to contingencies, and underscores USCENTCOM's commitment to the Middle East.
  • June

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division welcomes individual mobilization augmentees for annual training

    Soldiers arrived here this month to participate in a variety of training and readiness events as part of their duties as individual mobilization augmentees assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division.
  • Being All We Can Be – The Transatlantic Division’s 70+ year legacy remains an integral part of the U.S. Army's enduring story

    As the nation commemorates the U.S. Army's 248th birthday on June 14th, the Army Corps of Engineers stands as a strong pillar of support, reaffirming its indispensable role in fortifying the Army's mission. With a rich and storied history dating back to the Revolutionary War, the Army Corps of Engineers has steadfastly provided a strong foundation, showcasing its significance in diverse operations, infrastructure development, and disaster response efforts. The Army's enduring motto, "Be all you can be," resonates deeply with the Army Corps of Engineers and our collective commitment to Building Strong as we march forward to the shout of “Essayons! (Let us try).
  • Safety at the Tip of the Spear – USACE Transatlantic Division highlights Safety program across the CENTCOM AOR

    The Transatlantic Division serves as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ tip of the spear in one of the most dynamic construction environments in the world. Ensuring that building strong is synonymous with building safely, the Transatlantic Division’s Safety Office maintains an unwavering dedication to the well-being of the service members and civilians who execute the nearly $5 billion dollar program in support of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Forces Command and other global partners across the Middle East and Central Asia. The CENTCOM AOR presents unique and varied safety challenges, from diverse environments like deserts, seaports, and urban areas, to wide ranging cultural considerations and diversity of languages, as well as security considerations surrounding ongoing military operations. The Transatlantic Division and its Districts overcomes all of this and continues to set the standard for Safety programs in the region.