US and Chilean Marines share operational experiences

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero | Marine Capt. Blaine Barby, a member of the Coordination Liaison and Assessment Team, Latin America at Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group, leads a discussion on staff planning with Marines from Second Marine Detachment “Miller” of the Republic of Chile’s Marine Corps (Cuerpo de Infanteria Marina de Chile), during a subject matter expert exchange at Fuerte Aguayo in Concón Chile, Dec. 12–16. Subject matter expert exchanges such as this one are part of a long-term regional engagement plan by U.S Southern Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, towards increasing service partnerships and improving each country’s capabilities and interoperability.  

CONCON, VS, CHILE

12.20.2011

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero 

Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command

CONCON, Chile -- Two Marines from Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group conducted a Subject Matter Expert Exchange with Marines from the Second Marine Detachment “Miller” of the Republic of Chile’s Marine Corps (Cuerpo de Infanteria Marina de Chile) at Fuerte Aguayo in Concón, Chile, Dec. 12–16, 2011.

During the exchange, U.S. Marine Capt. Darby Mee and Capt. Blaine Barby of the Coordination, Liaison and Assessment Team, Latin America at MCSCG and the Chilean counterparts shared each countries service experience in staff planning concepts during war time, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

“The Chilean Marine Corps shares similar institutional values and warrior culture as our own Marine Corps,” said Lt. Col. Samuel Carrasco, a native of Chicago who is a Marine Corps exchange officer in Chile. “The Chilean Marine Corps has been deeply involved and committed in being in the front lines to assist in global challenges; most recently in Haiti. With this background, it is clear to me that the Chilean Marine Corps brings a lot to the table. Increasing our (U.S. and Chilean) partnership through professional military education and exchange programs will pay huge dividends for all of us in meeting common objectives for peace and stability of our hemisphere.”

Subject Matter Expert Exchanges such as this one are part of a long-term regional engagement plan by U.S Southern Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, to increase service partnerships and improve each country’s capabilities and interoperability.

“This planning SMEE was a great experience,” said Mee who is a native of Raleigh, N.C. “The Chilean Marines are true professionals. They are motivated and are eager to learn as much as they can from U.S. Marines. They value every opportunity to engage with us and I could not be more pleased with the SMEEs outcome. Important information was exchanged and relationships were built. This was a win for both countries.”

Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group is a unit in the Marine Corps that coordinates, manages, executes, and evaluates United States Marine Corps Security Cooperation programs and activities, to include assessment, planning, related education and training, and advisor support to ensure unity of effort in building Partner Nation Security Forces capacity and capability in order to facilitate USMC and regional Marine Forces component support to combatant commanders security cooperation objectives.

• Date Taken: 12.20.2011
• Date Posted: 12.20.2011 14:16
• Story ID: 81617
• Location: CONCON, VS, CL