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	Colombian army counter-narcotics brigade honors U.S. Special Forces
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        <h1 class="title">Colombian army counter-narcotics brigade honors U.S. Special Forces</h1>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2017/Jan/10/2001685662/1920/1080/0/161207-A-KD443-103.JPG"
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                 alt="U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers present their unit’s guidon December 7, 2016 during an award ceremony in Florencia, Colombia. A Colombian Army Counter-narcotics Brigade, known as BRCNA, honored the U.S. Special Forces unit with the unit's “Bandera de Guerra” military medal. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite)"
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            <div class="image-title">Colombian army counter-narcotics brigade honors U.S. Special Forces</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers present their unit’s guidon December 7, 2016 during an award ceremony in Florencia, Colombia. A Colombian Army Counter-narcotics Brigade, known as BRCNA, honored the U.S. Special Forces unit with the unit's “Bandera de Guerra” military medal. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite)</div>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2017/Jan/10/2001685663/1920/1080/0/161207-A-KD443-110.JPG"
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                 alt="Colombian army Col. Walther G. Jimenez, right, salutes as a Colombian general officer places the “Bandera de Guerra” military medal onto the U.S. Army’s B. Co., 3rd Bn., 7th Special Forces Group’s guidon December 7, 2016 during a ceremony in Florencia, Colombia. Jimenez is Colombia’s National Army Counter-narcotics Brigade commander. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite) 
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            <div class="image-title">Colombian army counter-narcotics brigade honors U.S. Special Forces</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Colombian army Col. Walther G. Jimenez, right, salutes as a Colombian general officer places the “Bandera de Guerra” military medal onto the U.S. Army’s B. Co., 3rd Bn., 7th Special Forces Group’s guidon December 7, 2016 during a ceremony in Florencia, Colombia. Jimenez is Colombia’s National Army Counter-narcotics Brigade commander. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite) 
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    <div><b>By Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite</b> <span class="date">/ Published Dec. 19, 2016</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">FLORENCIA, Colombia , </span>
    <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">FLORENCIA, Colombia – Every December 7 for the past sixteen years, Colombian soldiers from the National Army’s Special Anti-drug Brigade (BRCNA) have gathered in Larandia, Florencia for an end-of-year ceremony to celebrate the unit’s anniversary and recognize distinguished service.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Unlike past award ceremonies, this year’s hot December day marked the first time U.S. Special Operations Command South assigned Green Berets marched their unit’s colors across the parade field. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Waving high beside its partner nations’ colors was B. Co., 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group’s (Airborne) guidon, representing years of U.S. Special Operations Forces’ commitment to BRCNA’s counter narcotics mission. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">“Today we commemorate sixteen years of a permanent fight against drugs in a ceremony where all Colombians can recognize the special counternarcotic brigade’s hard work against drug trafficking,” said BRCNA Commander Colombian army Col. Walther G. Jimenez. “However, the ceremony is also an opportunity to thank all the people who have helped this brigade develop in its operations.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Operations that for sixteen years have weakened drug trafficking along the foothills of the Andes mountain range in Colombia’s eastern cordillera. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Although USSOF worked with the unit during exchange training since its creation in December 2000, it was not until 2014 when the Green Berets began to train the BRCNA to meet operational needs, said a U.S. Special Forces team leader currently working with the Colombian special unit. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Since then, four Operational Detachment Alpha teams have made training recommendations to improve the BRCNA’s effectiveness based on planning observations and while monitoring the unit’s operations from miles away. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">“They bring us that differential training that’s so important to us,” said the BRCNA commander. “Our soldiers are proud to receive the American Soldiers’ training and support that continues to make us better and better.” </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">According to a Colombian military report, since the unit’s activation 890 thousand hectares of coca cultivation have been destroyed, 107 tons of finished or in-process cocaine have been seized and destroyed, and 854 narco-terrorists of different illegal groups have been killed in combat or placed in the hands of authorities. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">“Every time we do an operation we do better with the training and the assistance that the [7th SFG (A)] detachments give us,” said the BRCNA commander. “For those reasons, we decided to give them the medal that we receive when we go to combat.” </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Fittingly, several general officers attended the ceremony and conferred the military medal, which is detailed with each of the Colombian army’s military branch colors, for "Distinguished Services in Operations against Drug Trafficking" onto the B. Co., 3rd Bn., 7th SFG’s (A) guidon.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">“For us the award is in recognition of 7th group’s commitment to the unit,” said the ODA team leader, who has led the unit’s training in Larandia three times since 2014. “It signifies the importance of the relationship we have and solidifies that relationship going forward.” </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">“The 7th Special Forces Group Soldiers have always left the BRCNA unit in high regard,” said the BRCNA commander. “That is why all Colombian special forces soldiers recognize them, admire them, and respect them for all the work they do here.” </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Notably, the BRCNA also individually recognized seven State Department members from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota with the same award, known in Spanish as the “Bandera de Guerra,” for their contributions to the unit.</span></p><br />
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