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# US, Colombian armies hold bilateral staff talks

By Robert R. RamonU.S. Army South Public Affairs

                Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston  –              
Readiness U.S. Army Chief Of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley hasmade it clear this is the No. 1 priority. Active engagement with partner nationarmies is key in remaining ready to meet the ever-changing challenges of todayand tomorrow.

U.S. Army South, the Army service component command to U.S.Southern Command, knows well the benefits of strong partnerships as displayedduring the 7th annual U.S.- Colombia bilateral army-to-army staff talks inBogota, Colombia April 11-14.

“The most important aspect of these talks is therelationships that we’ve built and fostered between our two great armies,” saidU.S. Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, U.S. Army South commander. “I’m always excited tocome down here, not only because of the friendship, but more importantly to seeall the good things the Colombian army is doing for its nation, its soldiersand for its army overall.”

The U.S. Army Staff Talks Program serves as a bilateralforum for strategic-level discussion between respective armies. The programseeks to promote bilateral efforts in order to develop professionalpartnerships and increase interaction between partner nation armies. 

U.S. Army South’s engagement focus with the Colombian armyat the operational level includes four primary areas: strengtheningcapabilities to defeat terrorist threats, countering transnational organizedcrime, enabling key capabilities to facilitate the transition of the Colombianarmy to an enduring post-conflict environment and supporting its transformationto an interoperable global strategic partner.

“This was a very good opportunity for the Colombian army,”said Colombian Gen. Alberto Jose Mejia, army commander. “It’s an honor to hostthese staff talks, especially during this precise point in our history in whichour army is going through many changes.”

Army South, as the Army’s executive agent, engages in annualbilateral staff talks with Colombia, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador and Peru.During these talks, the U.S. Army works to develop agreed-to-actions with ourstaff talks partners in an effort to work together in the future toward commongoals. Army-to-army staff talks can include anything from joint engineerprojects, exchange programs between elite military schools, subject matterexpert exchanges, doctrine exchanges, research and development cooperation andworking together in simulated exercises.

After signing the official agreement, Chinn said he waspleased with the end result.

“These army-to-army staff talks are a testament ofColombia’s strong, professional army that is capable and has continued toprotect the people of Colombia,” Chinn said. “The Colombian army providesstability and economic growth, allowing it to be a role model as a professionalarmy and an example for the region in defeating emerging threats, exportingsecurity, transformation, working with interagency, humanitarian assistance anddisaster relief and leader development.”

Though the agreed-to-actions are the focus of the meetings,Chinn said the staff talks are about something much bigger.

“It’s an opportunity for us to build relationships and trustwith each other as we look at emerging challenges and threats throughout theregion,” Chinn said. “What’s important is that if an emerging challenge occurs,we feel comfortable enough to pick up the phone and call each other, and wehave a teammate or friend on the other side of the phone who asks ‘how can wehelp?’”

According to Mejia, trust with your partners is key toensuring the staff talks process is successful in making better Armies for bothnations.

“Throughout these talks, I’m very candid in expressing myviews and sharing our knowledge,” Mejia said. “Presenting not only ourstrengths, but also our weaknesses is the only way you can identify ways tohelp each other. If I pretend that everything is fantastic in our army, wewouldn’t achieve our goal of excellence.”

Taking part in this year’s bilateral staff talks withColombia was Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., adjutant general of the SouthCarolina National Guard that routinely partners with the Colombian military aspart of the state partnership program.

Livingston said the exchange of information is truly atwo-way street, as the U.S. Army has much it can learn from its Colombiancounterpart.

“We enjoyed the exchange of information,” Livingston said.“We have a lot to learn from their great successes and there are some thingsthat we may be able to share. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our two armiesto continue to make history for this region of the world.”

After the closing ceremony for these 7th annual bilateralstaff talks, leaders from each army shared handshakes and hugs with theirpartner nation counterparts. Mejia closed out with a few parting remarks as theroom stood silent, hinged on his every word.

“The formality of this meeting and the active participationthat you’ve seen here is a demonstration of respect, a demonstration of how wehonor the U.S. Army and U.S. Army South, but especially the level of friendshipand confidence that we all have in Major General Chinn and his great team,”Mejia said. “When you think of the hemisphere, remember that here in thiscorner of South America, in Colombia, you have a trusted partner, a trustedarmy and trusted Soldiers who would go with you any place, anytime.”

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JBSA-FT SAM HOUSTONUS Army SouthColombian armies