Schulmeister returns from overseas work

On June 30, a familiar face with the Wyoming Highway Patrol returned to Thermopolis, following a nine-month deployment to Lima, Peru. In addition to being a trooper with the highway patrol, Regina Schulmeister is a chief petty officer and hospital corpsman with the Navy Reserve.

On Oct. 1, she headed to Billings to prepare for her trip. Her destination was Lima, Peru, to work with the U.S. Embassy as the humanitarian assistance program coordinator. She noted the Department of Defense has some funds and she applied to get them from the Overseas Humanitarian and Civic Aid. In the grand scheme of the American budget, she said, it's less than one percent, "but when you are there it seems a lot, especially for these areas where they have so many needs."

Schulmeister emphasized this is not just giving money away; there is a strategic goal every time supplies are donated, such as school supplies, to make countries self-sufficient. Here in Wyoming, she works toward fighting drugs, and when this opportunity arose she realized it was the same work, just on a bigger level.

"I'm in another country, helping them fight the drugs," she said, noting in Peru it is still legal to grow coca plants, though the manufacture of cocaine is illegal. There is also illegal gold mining happening there, she said, and when that happens there is also human trafficking. Not only are adults used as labor, but children as well; children are also prostituted.

She's a firm believer that education brings not only advantages to a person but to the community. "That's why I was passionate about what I was doing. You give education to somebody, to finish primary school or high school, they have another big goal."

Another aspect to Schulmeister's work, she noted, is the Department of Defense is very supportive of women in the military. Appearing before the younger students in uniform, she said, helps them realize they can grow up to be law enforcement or military officers.

Peru is a country that has opened its doors to Venezuela, Schulmeister said, and the resulting migration has stretched their resources. But with a little bit of paperwork, Venezuelans are given permission to work. The impact is felt at the schools, she said, as afternoon sessions and teachers had to be added to accommodate the hundreds of new students.

"It was a full-time job," Schulmeister said. "I was coordinating the purchases of schoolbooks and supplies and medicines. And they had to fit what they need." There were some who didn't even speak Spanish and speak Quechua instead, so special books in their language have to be found.

There are also a number of people there who are still members of the Sendero Luminoso terrorist group, she said, and they try to get farmers to sell them the coca leaves and produce cocaine, so they work to gain the people's trust in the help they are providing. Schulmeister noted they also help the Peruvian military and police, having those officers hand supplies to children, to help earn their trust and respect.

Of course it's not all work for her, as Schulmeister had a chance to visit Machu Picchu and Cajamarca. The people were unbelievably humble and nice she said, and that along with the scenery and buildings reminded her of Thermopolis.

This isn't Schulmeister's first overseas deployment. She was in Kuwait in 2004 and in Germany in 2012 in medical capacities. Of the Germany trip, she noted she travelled to 17 different countries when she had a break in her work, knowing she might not get the opportunity later in life.

She's appreciative of the support she received from the Navy and Wyoming Highway Patrol, as well as her family, friends and neighbors. She noted Beverly Ward watched her house and dog while she was gone and sent her the paper, and other neighbors and friends sent her letters.

"That's a peace of mind," Schulmeister said of Ward's help, "especially being by myself. In fact, she was the first one I asked." She added that having the paper meant she was able to keep up on what was happening back home.

The deployment didn't mean a loss in seniority or pay with the highway patrol, Schulmeister said, and she was able to keep the slick top patrol unit she had. Whether here or half a world away, Schulmeister is certainly making a positive impact in her work.