Dear Friends of U.S. Army South, We hope this latest update finds you doing well. The U.S. Army South team remains flexible, agile and responsive as the complexity of global security threa ts continues to increase. It s becoming more important than ever that we work in concert with our Partner Nation Armies as "Trusted Professionals" to ensure our collective security a nd defense t hrough shared responsibility. Currently, the U.S. Army sources 46% of demand for Joint U.S. Forces globally and demand is projected to increase. This is why it s so important that we continue to work hard building capacity in the hemisphere and pursuing opportunities that clearly demonstrate a significant impact to the force. Last summer we told you about our first -ever visit to Argentina where we met with Lt. Gen. Diego L. Suñer, the Argentinian Chief of General Staff. Since then, our Armies have made great strides in strengthening our relationship and finding ways we can work together to strengthen our collective security and defense against trans -regional threats. With this in mind we accompanied Lt. Gen. Suñer April 3-6 as he traveled to Fort Benning, Ga. where he visited the Maneuver Center of Excellence, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation School, and Henry Caro Noncommissioned Officer A cademy. F o l lowing, w e t ra v e l e d t o Marietta, Ga. to visit the Georgia National Guard headquarters for a tour alongside Maj. Gen. Joe Garrard, the Adjutant General of the Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales (right), visits with Brig. Gen. Richard Torres (left) during Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias 2017 in Guatemala City, Guatemala April 28th. Lt. Gen. Diego L. Suñer (left), the Argentinian Chief of General Staff, looks at equipment that the Georgia National Guard uses in support of disaster response during his visit to Marietta, Ga. April 5th. With Lt. Gen. Diego L. Suñer (front, center), Maj. Gen. Joe Garrard (front, 3rd from left), Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard, Col. Keith Anthony (front, right), WHINSEC commandant, at Fort Benning, Ga. April 5th. 1
Georgia National Guard, that is partnered with the Argentinian military as part of the State Partnership Program. We ll continue to update you on our ever -strengthening relationship with the Argentine Army as we move forward. April 6-8 we traveled to Belize where we engaged with partners including Belizean Minister of Defense, the Honorable John Saldivar and Brig. Gen. David Jones, Belize Defense Force commander. This was an opportunity to strengthen relationships and determine avenues for further cooperation. As we mentioned in our last update, Brig. Gen. Jones was at our headquarters recently to participate in the 2017 Central American Regional Leaders Conference and it was great to catch up with him as he accompanied us to various engineer project sites throughout the country as part of the Army South -led 2017 Beyond the Horizon (BTH) exercise. We saw firsthand the hard work done by regular U.S. Army, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers alongside members of the Belize Defense Force and civic agencies, as they increase readiness and improve lives by bringing vital services and resources to rural communities. We joined leaders representing 14 nations in Salvador, Brazil for the Conference of the American Armies Specialized Conference on Interagency Operations April 10-13. Hosted by the Brazilian Army, the forum focused on interagency operations and border monitoring systems. There was much to learn from our partners as each shared their wisdom on best practices and lessons learned. Brazil's With Brig. Gen. David Jones (left), Belize Defense Force commander, and Col. John Simma (right), Joint Task Force Jaguar commander, at an engineer construction site during Beyond the Horizon 2017 in Belize April 7th. Brig. Gen. Alberto C. Rosende (left), commander of the 1st Mission Support Command, speaks to his Soldiers of the importance of the Beyond the Horizon exercise in building partnerships during their mission in Belize April 5th. With Lt. Gen. Georges Abrahão, conference president and Brazilian Army chief of foreign affairs, during the Conference of the American Armies Specialized Conference on Interagency Operations in Salvador, Brazil April 11th. 2
experience w it h interagency operations during the 2016 Olympics in Rio proved to be invaluable. Lt. Gen. Georges Abrahão, conference president and Brazilian Army chief of foreign affairs, said it best when he explained there s no problem that one Army force can solve alone so we must work closely with interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational Partner Nations. April 17-19 we hosted Gen. Luis H. Ramos - Hume, Peruvian Army commander, at our headquarters. We maintain close ties with our Peruvian partners as evidenced by the full - time Peruvian partner nation liaison officer on the Army South team, Lt. Col. Jose Espinoza. It was an opportunity for Gen. Ramos-Hume to explore ways to further professionalize the Peruvian Army and witness firsthand the importance of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps to the success of the U.S. Army. We provided an overview of U.S. Army capabilities, highlights of the Army South NCO Professional Development Program, and patient recovery during visits to the U.S. Army Medical Command NCO Academy and Center for the Intrepid at Fort Sam Houston. In addition, we toured III Corps Headquarters at Fort Hood, Texas with Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, the III Corps commander. Gen. Ramos -Hume s visit made strides toward advancing our mutually strategic partnership that will continue to enhance regional security. April 12-30 U.S. Army South conducted Fuerzas Alia das Humanitarias 2017, a r e g i o n a l l y - o r i e n t e d h u manitar i a n / d i s a s t e r Gen. Luis H. Ramos-Hume (right), Peruvian Army Commander, and Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II (center), III Corps commander, at Fort Hood, Texas April 19th. Lt. Gen. Nadja West (right), the 44th U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command, visits with Brig. Gen. Richard Torres (center) and Col. Angel Mysliwiec, M.D. (left), Army South command surgeon, at our headquarters April 18th. El Salvador Army Captain Rafael A. Monterrosa, an Instructor at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation School in Fort Benning, Ga., was recently named the 2016 U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command's Officer Instructor of the Year. 3
relief table-top exercise which took place in G u a t e m a l a C i t y, G u a t e m a l a. T h i s multinational exercise promotes regional partnerships among military organizations, governments and non -governmental agencies to improve regional interoperability and coordination for conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations. Recent mudslides and flooding in Colombia and Peru exemplify the importance of this training. By working with our partners we improve our ability to more effectively conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to mitigate negative effects and save lives during emergencies. Here in Military City, U.S.A., April means it s time for Fiesta San Antonio. We were honored to attend many of these great events in a city that is always such a huge supporter of our service members. The month of May is when the Army joins the nation in honoring Americans of Asian and Pacific Island descent for their military and civilian service within the department. These individuals have proudly served in America s Army from the Civil War to current operations all around the world. We ll be marking the occasion with an event where we ll welcome Lt. Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, commander of U.S. Army Cyber Command, who will serve as our keynote speaker. We ll tell you more about it in our next update. Thank you for your continued support! Brig. Gen. James Wong (left) visits with Maj. Gen. Juan Manuel Perez Ramirez, the Guatemalan chief of the National Defense Staff, at the start of Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias 2017 in Guatemala City, Guatemala April 19th. The 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment rides across Fort Sam Houston s MacArthur Field conducting a Cavalry Charge near the end of the 2017 Fiesta Retreat Ceremony, April 23rd. K.K. Chinn Major General, USA Commander, U.S. Army South With Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Olvera at the Monument of the Battle of Hill 882 South at Veterans Plaza in San Antonio April 30th during the Fiesta All Veterans Memorial Service. 4
Maj. Gen. Stephen E. Farmen (right), commander of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, speaks with Col. Rocky Burrell, Army South chief of Regional Affairs, at our headquarters April 21st. Maj. Gen. David Conboy, U.S. Army Reserve Deputy Commanding General-Operations, watches as a Soldier from the 372nd Engineer Battalion demonstrates his job at a construction site in Belize April 26th during Beyond the Horizon 2017. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Simeon Trombitas (left), former U.S. Army South commander, presents a letter from the U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff to Col. Brian S. McNaughton (right), Permanent Executive Secretary of the Conference of the American Armies, and his wife, Shelleye, during a retirement ceremony at the Army South headquarters April 28th. Brian retired after more than 29 years of service to our nation. Chief Warrant Officer Four Olga Elliott (left), Army South Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, with Chaplain (Maj.) John Sedwick, Army South Plans and Operations Chaplain, at the Joint Base San Antonio Half Marathon April 30th at Randolph AFB, Texas. Congratulations to Chief Elliott for achieving first place in her age division. Receiving the guidon from the 512th Engineer Detachment s outgoing commander, Maj. Jessica Goffena, during a ceremony at our headquarters April 26th as command was relinquished to incoming commander Cpt. Christopher Hunter. Lt. Col. Dallas A. Powell Jr. (left) receives the guidon as he takes command of the 56th Signal Battalion during a ceremony at Fort Sam Houston April 28th where Lt. Col. Allen Walker relinquished command. 5
Brig. Gen. Richard Torres (center) celebrated the U.S. Army Reserve birthday during a ceremony at our headquarters April 21st. The Army Reserve marked 109 years April 23rd. Reserve Soldiers have participated in every major military campaign to include; World War I, World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Desert Shield/Desert Storm and the Global War on Terrorism. Today, approximately 200,000 Army Reserve Soldiers serve around the globe. Sgt. Christopher A. Carter (left), Army South commander s Communication noncommissioned officer, and Staff Sgt. Michael A. Castoro, commanding general's driver, reenlisted in the U.S. Army during a ceremony at the Alamo in San Antonio April 21st. Rear Adm. Edward B. Cashman (left) assumed command of Joint Task Force Guantanamo from Rear Adm. Peter J. Clarke (right) in a ceremony April 7th on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Pfc. Christopher Johns of the 56th Signal Battalion sets up communications with his local command group in support of operation Beyond the Horizon 2017 in Belize City, Belize April 9th. 6