URUGUAY - Seventeen United Nations peacekeeping operations are being conducted worldwide, including the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti where 12 Latin American countries led by Brazil participate. There is a strong desire in the armed forces of the Western Hemisphere to be more interoperable and share lessons learned during peace keeping Operations (PKO's).
US Army South seeks different venues to facilitate coalition operations with partner nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Peacekeeping Operation South, scheduled in September 2008, is a training event whose goal includes interoperability as well as preparing the participants for very demanding challenges encountered during PKOs.
"We have more than 11 representatives from various countries of Latin America as well as representatives from the United Nations and the Organization of American States at this initial planning conference for Peacekeeping Operation South," said Maj. Jon Young, a plans officer with US Army South.
"The purpose of this initial planning conference is to plan, organize and coordinate Peacekeeping Operation South 2008 amongst the various participating nations and organizations," said Army of Uruguay Gen. Felicio de los Santos Moreira, co-director for Peacekeeping Operation South. "We are here in this multi-national and interdisciplinary forum to share experiences and ideas that will benefit the participants of PKO South," said de los Santos Moreira.
During his welcoming remarks to the participants, U.S. Army South deputy commander Brig. Gen. Manuel Ortiz, the co-director for PKO South, highlighted the importance of the operation in improving the capability of the participating nations to function more efficiently as a multi-national peacekeeping force through doctrine and procedures in interoperability.
The operation will consist of a series of relevant subject matter expert presentations, relevant decision making sessions and small unit situational training lanes.
"Some of the challenges for this operation will be organizing this event in two separate locations in order to conduct the squad level training lanes which are focused on deploying and conducting worldwide peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance missions," said Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Gomez, plans NCO, US Army South.
"Working together with our partner nation counterparts, we will find solutions to anything that needs to be fixed," added Gomez.
Peacekeeping Operation South 2008 is one event in a broad range of activities that U.S. Army South conducts and co-sponsors with partner nations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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