DVIDS – News – Georgia NG Advisors Builds Relationships in Colombia

Fort Benning-based Georgia National Guard Team 6120, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 54th Security Forces Brigade, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade deployed October 30 to November 18, 2022 to Tolemaida Army Base, in Colombia, to support and participate in Exercise Southern Vanguard 23.

Southern Vanguard 23 is an annual exercise conducted by U.S. Army South in the U.S. Southern Command area of ​​responsibility that trains units at the operational and tactical levels to increase coordination between U.S. forces and those in the Western Hemisphere, l occurrence Colombia.

A Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) is a specialized United States Army unit trained to conduct Security Force Assistance (SFA) missions: to conduct advisory, support, level liaison and assessment to enable operations with allied and partner nations. SFABs are intended to reduce the burden of these operations on U.S. Special Forces organizations after extensive SFA missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, allowing them to focus on training and operations with elite national allied and partner units. .

“The objective of the 6120 team for the southern vanguard is to increase the capacity of the Colombian army and the ability to conduct mission command at the operational and tactical level of the battalion,” said the Major Chris Dumais, Commanding Officer and Team Leader, Team 6120. “Our advisor developed a combined staff training plan focused on NATO’s seven-step operational planning process and direct support during of a joint task force exercise.

Following the Advisor’s Security Force Assistance effort to build institutional knowledge of the Colombian military to support future multinational, regional and combined/joint interoperability at the tactical level between Colombian allies and partner nations . Overall, consistent with the U.S. Embassy Bogota’s integrated national strategy, the 6120 Team’s goal is for U.S. forces to be the partner of choice in future training and potential operations of the Colombian army.

SFAB Team 6120 is a 12-soldier team comprised of maneuver, fire, intelligence, explosive hazard, and support experts who are integrated into the Colombian military to increase their ability to work with the United States, NATO and partner countries.

The primary objective of the SFAB during the exercise is to assist Colombia’s ability to perform command and control tasks for their force to conduct operations throughout the exercise.

“Our combined level of experience working in advanced environments and our level of training provide Colombians with subject matter experts that enhance their ability to focus their forces,” said Sgt. 1st Class Hector Umaña, Operations NCO, Team 6120.”

In addition, the SFAB validates the Colombian soldier’s communication plan at the tactical level and uses new command and control devices such as the CivTak (Civilian Tactical Awareness Kit) to improve the situational awareness of platoon leaders and commanders. squad. The ability to understand and anticipate the operating picture helps leaders understand the operating picture and can exercise disciplined initiative in the absence of higher orders.

“The ability to use the CivTak and validate their communication procedures ensures that commanders at all levels have the correct information,” said Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Davant, Fire Support Advisor, Team 6120. “It ensures they have a common operational picture.”

The partnership between the U.S. and Colombian military dates back nearly 70 years to the Korean War when the Colombian Battalion, (a Colombian army infantry battalion that served under United Nations command during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954) the first Colombian military unit to serve in Asia, was attached to the US 7th Infantry Division and the 25th Infantry Division under the 8th Army. There we fought and sacrificed to defend the freedom of our ally. The Colombian battalion suffered 163 killed in action, 448 wounded, 60 missing and 30 captured during the conflict.

One of Team 6120’s most important missions is to ensure tactical-level partnerships and improve relations between the U.S. military and Colombian forces. Team 6120 inserted team-level members from the Colombian Army to achieve this.

“Colombian soldiers are definitely interested in our operational experiences over the past twenty years, and we learn how they operate in decentralized environments at the tactical level,” said Master Sgt. Jose Hernandez, Explosive Hazard Advisor, Team 6120. “They are some of the most professional and dedicated partner forces I have had the pleasure of working with.”