Other Related Activities and Initiatives

Other Related Activities and Initiatives

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  During October 1999, the US Air Force participated in an Information Systems Telecommunication Committee meeting hosted by Venezuela within the framework of SICOFAA.
  
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  The US attended the annual Conference of the Chiefs of the American Air Forces (Spanish acronym, CONJEFAMER) held in Chile in 1999. CONJEFAMER is the annual conference of air chiefs that meets under SICOFAA.
  

July 31, 2000

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  The United States submitted information on military expenditures for fiscal year 1999, in accordance with the UN instrument for standardized international reporting.
  

CP/CSH-237/99 add. 4

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  The United States submitted a copy of the US report to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms for calendar year 1999.
  

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  The US Air Force has conducted the following activities:
  

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  The USAF participated in the System of Cooperation Among American Air Forces (SICOFAA, Spanish acronym for “Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas). SICOFAA is an inter-American Air Force organization that began in 1961. SICOFAA’s purpose is to strengthen the bonds of friendship that unite its members and the attainment of mutual support among them through the coordination and cooperation of their air forces when they need to act jointly by direction of their respective governments. SICOFAA is comprised of 18 member countries, 6 observer countries, and 2 observer organizations. Members are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, U.S., Uruguay, and Venezuela. Observers are Belize, Costa Rica, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico. The observer organizations are the Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA) and the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB). SICOFAA provides a forum for 8 committees to discuss cooperation between the air forces on specific air force subjects. There is also an annual Conference of Chiefs of American Air Forces (CONJEFAMER). The 8 committees are Aerospace Science and Technology, Accident Prevention, Control of Illegal Flights, Information Systems Telecommunications, Medicine, Mutual Logistics Support, Search and Rescue, and Human Resource, Education and Training.
  

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  Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Military Development Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE), 17-21 January 2000: SOUTHCOM funded a SMEE in Bolivia to exchange ideas and information regarding the roles, mission, and standards of the Bolivian NCO Corps. The forum provided the opportunity to discuss the structure and development of the Professional Military Education (PME) system and its importance in producing a professional NCO Corps.
  
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  USARSA Professional Military Development Orientation Visit to the Dominican Republic, 18-23 January, 2000: SOUTHCOM funded a SMEE to conduct liaison with decision-making officials at the highest levels of the defense and security institutions of the region to familiarize them with the opportunities available at USARSA and exchange information on military education and professionalism.
  
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  USARSA Human Rights SMEE, 22-26 February, 2000: SOUTHCOM funded a subject matter exchange between select USARSA faculty/staff and human rights experts at the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights in Costa Rica. The visit provided a forum for the exchange of information and ideas in the following areas: the American Convention on Human Rights; Human Rights instruction techniques and resource materials; current human rights leaders and potential lectures; the impact of regional constitutional law and political rights on human rights; the Pact of San José.
  
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  USARSA Command and General Staff Officer Course Unified Command Orientation Visit, 24-29 April 2000: SOUTHCOM funded the visit of 62 officers from the AOR to Hulburt Field, Eglin AFB, Patrick AFB, and MacDill AFB in order to familiarize the officers attending courses at USARSA with the U.S. involvement in the counter-narcotic effort. The officers also visited Central Command, and Special Operations Command in order to become familiar with the U.S. role in global commitments at the operational and strategic level.
  
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  USARSA Human Rights SUME, 30 April - 3 May 2000: SOUTHCOM funded subject matter exchange between select USARSA faculty/staff and human rights trainers in Bolivia. The visit provided a forum for the exchange of information and ideas on effective human rights training within the military environment.
  
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  USARSA 10th LATAM Conference on Democracy and Security, 27 - 11 August 2000: “The Armed Forces and Society” was a SOUTHCOM funded event that provided 62 field grade officers, 20 Western Hemisphere national security academicians and 3 senior officers (O-7 through O-10), with an in-depth look and productive dialogue on democracy, security, the armed forces, and society.
  
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  Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Military Development Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE,) 23 - 27 October 2000: SOUTHCOM funded a SMEE in the Dominican Republic to exchange ideas and information regarding the roles, missions, and standards of the Dominican NCO Corps. The forum provided the opportunity to discuss the structure and development of the Professional Military Education (PME) system and its importance in producing a professional NCO Corps.
  
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  USARSA Human Rights SMEE, 6 - 10 November 2000: SOUTHCOM funded a subject matter exchange between select USARSA faculty/staff and human rights experts in Paraguay. The visit provided 2 forums for the exchange of information and ideas. in the following areas: the American Convention on Human Rights; Human rights instruction techniques and resource materials; Current human rights leaders and potential lectures; the impact of regional constitutional law and political rights on human rights.
  

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  SOUTHCOM invites foreign military and civilian observers to conferences and New Horizons Exercises as part of CINCSO’s Reserve Component Initiative (RCI). It begins with a Traditional CINC Activity (TCA) Concept sent out to each U.S. MILGP in the countries SOUTHCOM seeks to include. The MILGP Commander can choose to send out invitations to the Host Nation to attend and the Host Nation usually provides a response accepting or rejecting the invitation. If the Host Nation accepts, they send a list of their participants and the MILGRP prepares Invitational Travel Orders and requests visas to the country where the event is taking place. In case of New Horizons Guatemala, each participating MILGP coordinated with the Exercise Country MILGRP who does all of the in-country coordination with the local military and government.
  
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  SOUTHCOM has three upcoming Familiarization Visits. Two of the visits are to Guatemala and one is to Honduras. Participating in the first visit were Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica. SOUTHCOM is encouraging Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador to participate in the next familiarization Visit (NH01-HO) on 23 - 25 March 2001 in Honduras. Additionally, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil are being encouraged to participate in the 19 - 22 April 2001 Familiarization Visit (NH01-GT) in Guatemala.
  
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  The Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS) offers security studies curricula tailored for diplomats and international civilian/military students and fosters the principles and processes of democratic defense and regional cooperation through academic study, research, and dialogue. Its mission includes support of the U.S. Southern Command regional engagement initiatives. To this end, teams of expert instructors are available to visit countries and to provide on-site seminars in Washington D.C. to representatives of countries within SOUTHCOM’s area of operations.
  

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  Seminar on Formulation of Defense Policy in a Democratic Society held 29 February - 4 March 2000: U.S. Southern Command funded (TCA) this on-site Seminar in Guatemala. The purpose of the seminar was: To bridge the gap between civilian and military professionals engaged in managing defense establishments; to open dialogue and discussion among participants of different nationalities; to create a free exchange of ideas about the role of the defense establishments in the participating nations, the region and the hemisphere; to develop rapport among participants that would support continued dialogue among them; to have an impact on defense debate in each participating country; to continue to dialogue among civilian and military policy makers. The Seminar included guest speakers from: Guatemala, Chile, Nicaragua, South Africa, Ecuador, and Argentina.
  
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  CHDS Annual Conference on Education and Defense held 9-15 March 2000: Southern Command funded this seminar in Washington D.C. The purpose of the seminar was to develop new thinking and consensus on defense education curricula and agenda in the Americas and to bridge the gap and promote dialogue between civilian and military professionals engaged in defense education, research and dialogue on defense issues in Latin America and the Caribbean. Participants included representatives from the 32 nations in the SOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR), Canada, and members of the U.S. Government.
  
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  SOUTHCOM Human Rights Division: The Human Rights Division develops U.S. SOUTHCOM human rights policies and procedures in order to enhance respect for internationally recognized human rights in the armed forces of the United States as well as the military and security forces of allied nations in the SOUTHCOM AOR. This is accomplished through awareness education, integration of Human Rights issues into operations, and advising and reporting.
  
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  Defense Institute of International Legal Studies Seminar on Human Rights and Military Penal System Reform held 18-22 September 00: The Human Rights Division participated in this seminar as a subject matter expert in the area of human rights and assisted in discussion on the role of human rights in the development of Rules of Engagement. Participants were from all branches of military service in Colombia.
  
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  Human Rights Seminar 2000 held 22-24 October 00: SOUTHCOM Human Rights Division sponsored the first of a three-part seminar to build consensus and criteria that would define progress in respect for human rights and to develop measurement criteria for human rights performance effectiveness for military and security forces in the AOR. The focus of the first seminar was on evaluating the Human Rights experiences of the AOR capitalizing on those that were the most effective in the areas of Doctrine, Education and Training, System of Internal Controls, and Cooperation with Civilian Authorities. The Seminar participants, which included representatives from almost all nations in the AOR, U.S. Government, as well as International and Non-governmental Human Rights Organizations, developed a Consensus Document and began work on developing measures of effectiveness.
  

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  During September 2000, the US Air Force participated in a SICOFAA committee meeting hosted by Ecuador to discuss accident-prevention procedures. The US Air Force provided presentation on Operational Risk Management (ORM) programs.
  
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  During November 2000, the US Air Force participated in an aeronautical medicine committee meeting hosted by Uruguay within the framework of SICOFAA. The US Air Force presented briefings on medical service, global medical coverage “vision of the future” and the deployable international course on trauma training.
  

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  SOUTHCOM’s military strategy is based on cooperative regional peacetime engagement with its partner nations (PN). SOUTHCOM shapes cooperative opportunities with its PNs through theater engagement to create conditions that support the advancement of democracy and regional stability. Although each PN is unique in its prosperity, stability, and ethnic background, regional commonalties of geography, economic environment, and shared region-specific threats link countries to regional approaches and security cooperation.
  

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  Nodal Analysis Development: Illicit drug trafficking is one of the major regional threats within SOUTHCOM’s AOR. From May-August 2000, SOUTHCOM’s and DEA conducted a Nodal Analysis consisting of a series of PN visits to identify key vulnerabilities of the illicit drug trafficking industry within each PN and throughout the Source Zone. During the Nodal Analysis, each PN and US Country Team discussed vulnerabilities, identified potential solutions to the drug trafficking problems, and discussed potential spillover from the counter-drug portion of Plan Colombia and other CD plans throughout the AOR.
  

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  Nodal Analysis Conference: SOUTHCOM and DEA hosted The Nodal Analysis Conference, in Miami on 14-15 August 2000, which brought together key source zone PN’s law enforcement and military officials. Based on a consensus generated during the conference, six regional counter-drug initiatives were developed to break the supply of drugs. These initiatives are: Regional Chemical Control Operations; Intelligence/Information sharing; Regional training; Plan Colombia updates to regional spillover nations; Containing production; Judicial Reform. SOUTHCOM efforts have focused on synchronizing and coordinating planning activities among the military and law enforcement agencies. The security environment within the AOR through the Nodal Analysis initiative has been enhanced through synchronizing and coordinating of PN and USG activities.
  
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  United Counter-drug: SOUTHCOM and the Organization of American States cosponsor United Counter-drug (UCD), a series of conferences, seminars, and working groups involving officials from 12 countries throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. Participants include individuals from law enforcement agencies, foreign ministries, the military, and policy decision-makers within the governments. UCD supports SOUTHCOM’s regional engagement, providing a unique forum for operational coordination with links to policy. Throughout the past year, UCD has concentrated heavily on improving information sharing among the various agencies associated with combating illegal narcotics trafficking. A laboratory for innovation, UCD sustains multilateral momentum in our engagement strategy.
  

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  During July 2000, the US Air Force participated in a Human Resources, Education and Training committee meeting hosted by Canada within the framework of SICOFAA. The USAF delegate 3 presented a briefing on Women as Pilots in the Air Force.
  
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  During September 2000, the US Air Force participated in a Search and Rescue committee meeting hosted by Argentina within the framework of SICOFAA. The US Air Force delegates participated in discussions on lessons learned from disaster relief operations, on combined search and rescue exercises and the planning for similar future exercises.
  
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  During November 2000, the US Air Force participated in a Logistics Committee meeting hosted by Brazil within the framework of SICOFAA. The US Air Force presented an update briefing on the problems and deficiencies of the FMS system and provided a second briefing on the Internet-based Global Warehouse.
  

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  Caribbean Nation Security Conference: SOUTHCOM annually sponsors a Defense Chief (CHOD) level meeting known as the Caribbean Nation Security Conference (CANSEC). It is held annually on a rotating basis among the nations of the Caribbean Basin, and was most recently held in Nassau, Bahamas 29 February - 2 March 2000. The emphasis of the conference was on SOUTHCOM engagement activities that have a particularly strong impact on the special security needs of small island nations including gathering support for the Caribbean Support Tender and enhancing the training value of Exercise Tradewinds.
  
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  Caribbean Support Tender: The Caribbean Support Tender is an USCG vessel dedicated to the maritime training and maintenance needs of the Caribbean nations. It is an offshoot of the Bridgetown Summit of May 1997 and represents a substantial national investment in the special security needs of small island nations.
  
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  Tradewinds: Exercise Tradewinds is historically rooted in connecting security shortfalls identified in the aftermath of Operation Urgent Fury in 1983, and is uniquely focused on Caribbean security needs. It is customarily coordinated by the Eastern Caribbean Regional Security System’s Central Liaison Office in Bridgetown Barbados, which has traditionally given the exercise a small island flavor.
  
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  Eastern Caribbean Coast Guard Commander’s Conference: SOUTHCOM supports the U.S. Coast Guard’s semiannual Eastern Caribbean Coast Guard Commander’s Conference in which senior U.S. and host nation coast guard commanders review a broad range of Maritime security issues, and explore opportunities for cooperative approaches. This conference focuses on addressing regional threats, disaster preparedness, counter-drug operations, Exercise Tradewinds, information sharing initiatives, the Caribbean Support Tender, customs, legal, and maintenance issues. This conference was most recently held in May 2000 in Tobago and in September in Puerto Rico.
  

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  SOUTHCOM International Military Education and Training (IMET) Program provides professional military education, management-related training, post graduate/degree training, flight training, technical training mobile training, teams, and in-country language laboratories. AOR nations participated in over 100 IMET funded schools that included: U.S. Army School of the Americas (now the Western Hemisphere Institute of Security Cooperation); the Inter-American Air Force Academy; the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School; Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies. These schools are vital to achieving the requisite skills required to sustain, strengthen, and expand multilateral security cooperation in the hemisphere. A key element of the instruction is cost-effective training without the added expense of English language instruction.
  

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  Central America Security Conference (CENTSEC): SOUTHCOM sponsors an annual meeting of the Chiefs of Defense from the seven nations of Central America known as the Central America Security Conference. It was most recently held at the SOUTHCOM Headquarters from 13-14 July 2000 with a focus on SOUTHCOM engagement activities that strengthen regional security cooperation in the areas of Humanitarian Assistance and Counter-drug Operations. CENTSEC also offers the Chiefs of Defense a neutral forum to discuss regional problems and to develop solutions. This informal contact has served to ease tensions which have risen from the numerous border conflicts in Central America.
  

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  The USAF participated in the Caribbean Long-Range Planning Conference in Antigua. Military chiefs of staff from CARICOM nations endorsed establishment of a regional organization -the Association of CARICOM Military Chiefs (ACMC) to facilitate coordinated military responses to drug trafficking other transnational threats and natural disasters.
  
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  SOUTHCOM addresses environmental issues in several ways. The small island nations of the Caribbean are uniquely vulnerable to environmental problems in that a problem that would be manageable in a larger nation can be catastrophic in an island nation. SOUTHCOM sponsors exercises, including Tradewinds and Fuerzas Alliadas Humanitarian, that have emphasis on mitigating the results of hurricanes, volcanoes, and other credible regional environmental disasters. On a day-to-day basis during military phases of both land-based and maritime training phases, emphasis is placed on adhering to U.S. standards in pollution control and in training host nation forces to comply with advanced pollution control protocols.
  
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  SOUTHCOM also stays cognizant of vital economic issues affecting the region, including U.S. - E.U. agricultural tariff disputes, the Caribbean Basin Initiatives, and OECD tax regime disputes.
  

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  The US hosted the annual Conference of the Chiefs of the American Air Forces (Spanish acronym: CONJEFAMER) held in San Antonio, TX in 2000. CONJEFAMER is the annual SICOFAA air chiefs meeting designed to strengthen the relations and cooperation among western-hemisphere air forces. Agenda covered items forwarded from the SICOFAA, committees. Chiefs heard approve committee reports and gave guidance for the next cycle. Uruguay will host CONJEFAMER in May 2001. Guatemala will host in 2002. The US will host this conference again in 2003.
  

CP/CSH-383/01 add. 7

August 14, 2001
1-Ch. Gradual adoption of agreements regarding advance notice of military exercises.

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  The U.S. conducted nearly three dozen bilateral and multilateral military exercises with other OAS member states during Fiscal Year 2000 (1 October 1999 - 30 September 2000). Details of United States Southern Command's exercise program were attached and appeared in the original document as Annex A.
  
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  All U.S. Navy exercises with the navies of the Americas are coordinated and approved via an advanced notice process.