Update on WHINSEC activities

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