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	U.S., Colombian senior NCOs conduct PISAJ 16 engagement
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        <h1 class="title">U.S., Colombian senior NCOs conduct PISAJ 16 engagement</h1>
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            <div class="image-title">PISAJ</div>
            <div class="image-caption">The Colombian Sgt. Maj. of the Army, William Cuellar Duarte (center), speaks to Colombian senior enlisted advisors while visiting the U.S. Army Armor and Calvary Collection during the 16th iteration of Programa Integral para Sub-Oficiales de Alta Jerarquía at Fort Benning, Georgia, April 28, 2022. PISAJ is a semi-annual military to military engagement with the Colombian military and their sergeants major academy focused on building upon senior leader competencies and instilling the necessity of joint operations in a complex world.</div>
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            <div class="image-title">Programa Integral para Sub-Oficiales de Alta Jerarquía</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Army South Senior Enlisted Advisor, Command Sgt. Maj Ronald J. Graves, speaks at a gender integration pannel during the 16th iteration of Programa Integral para Sub-Oficiales de Alta Jerarquía at Fort Benning, Ga., April 28, 2022. PISAJ is a semi-annual military to military engagement with the Colombian military and their sergeants major academy focused on building upon senior leader competencies and instilling the necessity of joint operations in a complex world.</div>
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            <div class="image-title">Programa Integral para Sub-Oficiales de Alta Jerarquía</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Senior enlisted advisors from the U.S., Colombian, Brazilian and Mexican militaries stand in front of the National Infantry museums during the Programa Integral para Sub-Oficiales de Alta Jerarquía. PISAJ is a semi-annual military to military engagement with the Colombian military and their sergeants major academy focused on building upon senior leader competencies and instilling the necessity of joint operations in a complex world.</div>
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    <div><b>By Spc. Joshua Taeckens</b> <span class="date">/ Published April 29, 2022</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">FORT BENNING, Georgia, </span>
    <p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Senior non-commissioned officers from U.S. Army South, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico gathered at Fort Benning, Ga. to strengthen partnerships during the 16th iteration of the “Programa Integral para Sub-Oficiales de Alta Jerarquía” or PISAJ taking place April 25 to May 6.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This semi-annual, military-to-military engagement with the Colombian army is part of a biannual agreed-to-action between the U.S. and Colombia and is designed to increase the capacity and regional collaboration between both militaries. This year's focus is to build upon senior leader competencies and instill the necessity of joint operations in a complex world.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So far, 47 senior non-commissioned officers from Colombia, Brazil and Mexico participated in command briefs with senior enlisted leaders from U.S. Southern Command components and took part in training focused on equal opportunity, sexual harassment/assault response and prevention and gender integration.</span></span></p>

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<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">“They have a similar gender integration program and they are trying to figure out how our program operates and what changes they want to make toward improving,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald J. Graves, Army South senior enlisted advisor. “They asked great questions, and I’m extremely impressed with the discussions that took place.”</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Sgt. Maj. of the Colombian Army, William Cuellar Duarte, said the engagement is valuable when it comes to building capacity.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">“This is a great opportunity and our enlisted leaders are privileged to come here and receive all of this training,” Cuellar said. “When they return to Colombia, they can pass on this knowledge to their soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers.”</span></span></p>

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<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Graves also encouraged Cuellar and other participants to come together in planning and possibly hosting future iterations of PISAJ in Colombia.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">“We want them to take the lead on their professional military education and explain to us how we can help them move forward,” Graves said.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Cuellar said this new level of involvement in the planning of PISAJ will be a big step in the strengthening of the U.S. and Colombian military partnership.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">“We are going to analyze, plan and then meet with Command Sgt. Maj. Graves about how we can develop this program so Colombia can host it in the future,” Cuellar said. “This is a big step in Colombia for our sergeant major and non-commissioned officer development.”</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">PISAJ 16 will continue with additional training, visits to the U.S. Army Armor School, a security forces assistance brigade, and a basic combat training graduation.</span></span></p>
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