Chile and Texas review planning for military exchange and training agreements

By Nicolás García

Representatives of the Chilean Joint Chiefs of Staff (Emco) participated in the XIV Planning Meeting of the Chile-Texas Associated States Program in Austin from April 4 to 6 to review the activities scheduled for this year and plan and protocolize the exchange and training agreements for 2024.

Chile and Texas signed in 2009 a State Partnership Program (SPP) to generate initiatives in the field of armed forces, civil-military activities, protection of the national territory, military support to the civil authority, response in case of disasters and emergencies, and management after a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Chilean delegation was headed by the Deputy Chief of Emco, Vice Admiral Alberto Ahrens, and included:

• the Army delegate, Colonel Aldo Vergara;
• the head of Emco’s International Affairs Department, Colonel Charles Mc Carthy;
• the FACh delegate, Aviation Colonel Ismael Barrenechea;
• and the Cybersecurity representative of Emco’s Intelligence Directorate, Captain Alvaro Cáceres.

According to Emco, along with the review of planned activities and protocolization of exchanges and training with the Texas Military Department for 2024, a visit and presentation were made to the Emergency Operations Center of that state, which coordinates the response to disasters and emergencies affecting Texas.

FRUITFUL COOPERATION

The activities currently carried out by Chile and Texas within the framework of the SPP are:

• the exchange of experiences regarding air capabilities,
• exchange of military engineering capabilities and medical support to the population in the event of natural disasters,
• evaluation of methods of operation and maintenance of air material for common use,
• interoperability of Special Forces;
• exercises of medical support in situations of massive immigration of refugees;
• exchange of experiences in pre-deployment, deployment, withdrawal, and reintegration of military personnel participating in peace operations;
• and participation in exercises of care for wounded in combat (C4).

The Chilean Army and the Texas National Guard have built a close relationship since the 2009 signing of the SPP.

Each year they conduct technical and professional exchange activities between units, including professional visits, military training exercises, and emergency response.

In this area, the Chilean Army Mountain School has conducted training courses in the country in the winter mountain environment for US troops.

The Army Aviation Brigade (Bave) received a delegation from the Combat Aviation Brigade of the Texas National Guard in 2016 to train rescue procedures in disaster situations and the engineering field.

The Military Labor Corps has presented to Texas personnel its experience and capabilities for constructing roads and bridges in the south of the country.

Another exchange activity is the Best Warrior competition at Camp Swift, Bastrop County.

The Chilean Army and Navy have participated since 2016 in this event that measures the endurance, intelligence, physical condition, and military knowledge of corporals and sergeants in highly demanding tactical-technical tests.

With information from Infodefensa