In the past two weeks, WHINSEC has had four courses complete and their students go back to their jobs. Two courses are still in session, and one begins Mon., Mar. 30.
The Counterdrug Operations Course graduated 59 students on Wed., Mar. 18, after a course that included a week at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where they worked with a class at the Navy Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School on the riverine part of their training. Because so many Counterdrug missions require crossing rivers and streams, police or Soldiers on those missions need to learn crossing techniques. Nobody does it better than the US Navy.
On Tuesday, Mar. 24, three courses completed their training and received their diplomas.
First, the Counter Narco-Terrorism Information Analyst Course students graduated, with a speech at the ceremony by Mr. David Taylor, the DEA Resident Agent in Charge in Columbus, Ga. Taylor has had experience in operations in several nations in this hemisphere plus Afghanistan, so his remarks about the necessity of different organizations working together were powerful.
The NCO Professional Development Course graduated next, with a Command Sergeant Major from Colombia talking about their leadership roles as Sergeants. Developing young Sergeants into responsible leaders is enhanced at this course, with its emphasis on Soldier skills and doing the right thing in crisis situations. That's important because often the sergeant is the senior person on the ground who is faced with such challenges.
Finally, the Information Operations Course graduated with a lieutenant colonel from the Ecuadoran Army sending them off. This course helps military and police in communicating with the civilians who may live, work or be in an area where military operations are taking place.
Of the courses still going on, the Command and General Staff Officer Course, our only year-long course, will graduate its 52 students on May 28. The students in this course include 36 US military officers, one Canadian, and 15 from six Latin American partner nations.
The Captains Career Course, based on the Army Infantry School's course of the same name, completes its 18 week course in early June.
As always, visitors are welcome to see WHINSEC. Fort Benning requires a photo ID for entrance, and I will personally show you around.
Sincerely,
Lee
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
'Official' site still to come
There are many exciting things going on at WHINSEC, and you will hear about them on this blog. However, we are still working on a blog that will be found on our web site. That will be the one that the commandant of WHINSEC will monitor and contribute from time to time.
Tomorrow the Counterdrug Operations Class graduates. This seven-week course gives its students some additional skills in carrying the drug fight to the bad guys. 59 students are in this course, some military, some police, but all professionals already fighting drug cartels. Students in past courses have gone back and been involved in significant drug interdictions and seizures.
The course completing their work tomorrow were at Stennis Space Center, Miss, the first week of March, working with the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School. NAVSCIATTS provided the boats and crews using their own students from all around the globe. The WHINSEC students got to practice joint operations with another team as they moved to their objective. As they came to a river, the NAVSCIATTS students manned the boats that carried the WHINSEC students to a landing site near their objective. Both WHINSEC and NAVSCIATTS instructors were proud of the results of working together, and plan to do so again with the next Counterdrug Operations Course.
Tomorrow the Counterdrug Operations Class graduates. This seven-week course gives its students some additional skills in carrying the drug fight to the bad guys. 59 students are in this course, some military, some police, but all professionals already fighting drug cartels. Students in past courses have gone back and been involved in significant drug interdictions and seizures.
The course completing their work tomorrow were at Stennis Space Center, Miss, the first week of March, working with the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School. NAVSCIATTS provided the boats and crews using their own students from all around the globe. The WHINSEC students got to practice joint operations with another team as they moved to their objective. As they came to a river, the NAVSCIATTS students manned the boats that carried the WHINSEC students to a landing site near their objective. Both WHINSEC and NAVSCIATTS instructors were proud of the results of working together, and plan to do so again with the next Counterdrug Operations Course.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Meet Robo-Rials
In opening this blog for people interested in the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, I use the title given to me by an opposition blogger who didn't understand how someone associated with the government could find blogs!
I am the Public Affairs Officer for WHINSEC, so I enjoy engagement with friends, foes, and those who just don't know.
You should find future blogs here from the Commandant of WHINSEC, and from others who work here. We are proud of what we do and willing to share it with you.
Blogs are OK, but if you get the chance, come on in. A photo ID will get you on Fort Benning, and we are easy to find.
Lee A. Rials
WHINSEC PAO
I am the Public Affairs Officer for WHINSEC, so I enjoy engagement with friends, foes, and those who just don't know.
You should find future blogs here from the Commandant of WHINSEC, and from others who work here. We are proud of what we do and willing to share it with you.
Blogs are OK, but if you get the chance, come on in. A photo ID will get you on Fort Benning, and we are easy to find.
Lee A. Rials
WHINSEC PAO
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