Association of the Voice for the Army—Support for the Soldier October 2013 U.S. Army South Fostering Peace and Security in South America, Central America and the Caribbean When it comes to South America, Central America and the Caribbean, I cannot overstate the impor- tance of awareness, access and the enormous return on investment from personal, on-the-ground secu- rity relationships. As the United States turns its attention to the home front to address domestic econom- ic and budget issues, I firmly believe we must remain engaged with the nations in our shared home, the Western Hemisphere, for one very simple reason: proximity. Left unaddressed, security concerns in the region can quickly become security concerns in the homeland. General John F. Kelly, USMC, Commander, U.S. Southern Command1 U.S. Army South maintains over a half century of history with partner armies in Central America, South America and the Caribbean region. These strong relationships are essential to successfully meet unique challenges of illicit networks that threaten our nation’s security. Major General Joseph DiSalvo, USA, Commander, U.S. Army South2 Introduction Between the end of the and the 11 September 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks on the United States, the U.S. military was involved in three armed conflicts. Two of the three—Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada and Operation Just Cause in Pana- ma—occurred in the U.S. Southern Command (US- SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR). This area encompasses 31 countries and 15 special sov- ereignty areas across more than 15 million square miles, including all Central and South American landmass and adjacent waters south of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea and island nations. This environ- ment presents challenging conditions such as unequal As the United States, after more than a decade wealth distribution, social exclusion and corruption. of war, reprioritizes to operate within a complex, It also poses a unique combination of security issues: uncertain and resource-constrained environment, its U.S. Army South transnational organized crime, illicit networks, mass security depends on leveraging capabilities and for- migration, narco-terrorism and natural disasters. ward presence. The 2013 National Security Strategy outlines new priorities and emphasizes the nation’s Joint, interagency, intergovernmental and mul- ties to its allies: tinational commitment has quietly but effectively prevented additional armed conflict, but this environ- We must begin to reposition our worldwide ment remains influenced by persistent tensions, chal- force projection capabilities, defend critical lenging conditions and security issues that make it strategic resources, and promote stability in the international system through unilateral imperative to maintain an engaged, committed pres- 3 ence in the region. Conditions in the AOR, just a short strength and multilateral alliances. distance from the U.S. southern coast, present a real The U.S. Army, with a long history in the Caribbe- and present danger to the homeland. an and Central and South America, continues to share

1 Posture Statement of General John F. Kelly, United States Marine Corps, Commander, United States Southern Command, before the 113th Congress Senate Armed Services Committee, 19 March 2013. 2 Major General Joseph DiSalvo, Commander, United States Army South, remarks to staff, 30 July 2013. 3 National Security Strategy 2013 (Final Draft), http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/sites/default/files/file/news/National%20 Fostering Peace and SecurityFostering America, in South Central America and Caribbean the Security%20Strategy%202013%20(Final%20Draft).pdf. U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility: A Diverse Region

Challenges Area of Responsibility • Transnational Threats • 1/6th of Earth’s surface (7.3 million • Natural and Manmade Disasters square miles of land) • Regional Instabilities • 31 countries • 15 Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty Diversification of Illicit Networks • Drug Trafficking • Arms Trafficking Demographics • Money Laundering • More than 476 million people • Counterfeiting • More than 170 million Portuguese speakers • Human Smuggling • More than 45 million indigenous peoples

U.S. Army Opportunities Economics • U.S. Army Staff Talks • 9 of 19 U.S. Free Trade Agreements include • Conference of American Armies area of responsibility nations • State Partnership Program • Approximately 10% of U.S. trade • Regionally Aligned Forces • Approximately 30% of U.S. energy imports • More than $38 billion in remittances U.S. Army South Regional Cooperation • Joint and Multinational Exercises Cultural Ties • Interagency Contingency Plans • The U.S. has the 2nd largest Spanish-speaking population in the world (37 million people). • Humanitarian and Civic Assistance • It is estimated that the U.S. will be 30% • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Hispanic by 2050.

Source: United States Southern Command responsibility for fostering peace and security in the Western Title 10 and Executive Agent support to JTF-Bravo, 1/228th Hemisphere. From Hurricane Mitch humanitarian assistance Aviation and the 525th Military Police Battalion and pro- in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua (1998), to Operation vides Combatant Command Support Agent services to those Just Cause (1989), to the 2010 Haiti earthquake response, organizations, the Office of Military Commissions that fa- U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH), the Army’s land force in the cilitates detainee trials at JTF-GTMO and 26 Security Co- Caribbean and Central and South America, has supported operation Offices throughout the Western Hemisphere. AR- U.S. national security objectives in the region through pro- SOUTH is also the Headquarters, Department of the Army active engagement and enduring partnership. Executive Agent for worldwide Phase III Reintegration op- erations, providing medical and psychological care and oth- Background er transition services to help missing, captured or detained Since 1904, when the first U.S. Soldiers arrived in Pan- personnel resume stable professional and personal lives. ama to assist with the construction and defense of the Pan- The command maintains depth through regional align- ama Canal, through its present Army service component ment with active Army, and Army command (ASCC) status with headquarters at Joint Base Reserve units, including the Georgia National Guard’s San Antonio, Texas, ARSOUTH has continuously contrib- 48th Brigade Combat Team. ARSOUTH’s regional efforts uted to stability in the region. It continues to reinforce that are also integrated with and complemented by 19 National commitment through exercises, partnership events and nat- Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) units that maintain ural disaster response efforts that not only shape an alliance enduring relationships with 22 counterparts in the AOR. with partner nation militaries but also provide U.S. forces This combination of active and reserve forces provides a opportunities for realistic multinational contingency train- scalable, flexible, agile and responsive team with unique ing. The command fills multiple roles as ASCC, U.S. South- professional skills and unmatched experience. ern Command Land Component Command and, on order, a (JTF) or Coalition Force Land Component Current Initiatives Command (CFLCC). ARSOUTH maintains an active presence to prevent Approximately 1,550 Soldiers and civilians serve at conflict, shape security conditions and prepare U.S. and part- the main command post, the 1st Battlefield Coordina- ner forces to win in combat decisively by focusing on three tion Detachment in Arizona, JTF-Bravo in Honduras and main efforts: countering transnational threats, contingency JTF-Guantánamo (GTMO) in Cuba. ARSOUTH provides response preparedness and theater security cooperation.

2 www.ausa.org Countering Transnational Threats (CTT). Transnation- al threats are a growing U.S. national security concern warranting a whole-of-government approach, including Department of Defense (DoD) support as outlined in the President’s Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, released in July 2011. The President’s strategy rec- ognizes that Criminal networks are not only expanding their operations, but they are also diversifying their ac- tivities, resulting in a convergence of transnational threats that has evolved to become more complex, volatile and destabilizing.4 Drug trafficking represents the preponderance of illicit trafficking in the Western Hemisphere and is the principal means by which transnational criminal organizations obtain As the largest of the USSOUTHCOM components, funding and increased power and influence in the region. ARSOUTH is tasked to form the core of a joint task force Central America is also a conduit for a broader range of for contingency response in the AOR. It maintains a com- transnational threats—including human trafficking, migrant mand and control node capable of responding to short-term and weapons smuggling, gang violence, forgery and money contingency requirements. Within 72 hours, it can deploy laundering—which increasingly exceed the capacity of part- in response to natural disasters and catastrophic events ner nation police and security forces. Narco-organizations throughout the AOR. The initial deployment package can and related illicit trafficking present an unmistakable dan- be expanded to a larger contingency command post or joint ger not just to the AOR but also to the U.S. homeland. An task force, depending on the severity of the contingency estimated 17,500 foreign nationals, many from the Western event. ARSOUTH’s humanitarian response plans were Hemisphere, are trafficked in the United States each year.5 tested during Hurricane Mitch disaster relief in Central Additionally, supporters and sympathizers of Hezbollah America in 1998 and in Operation Unified Response in conduct illicit activities in the AOR to fund terrorism world- Haiti in 2010. wide and to support and harbor terrorists in the region.6 Fuerzas Aliadas–Humanitarius (Allied Forces–Hu- To counter these threats, USSOUTHCOM conducts op- manitarian, or FA-HUM) is the annual Joint Staff-approved, erations to support partner nation security forces and inter- regionally oriented disaster response exercise that includes agency and intergovernmental efforts. ARSOUTH provides ARSOUTH, partner nation forces and regional disaster planning, training and infrastructure development support management agencies. Capitalizing on contingency re- to partner nation military and security forces to improve sponse training events and exercises such as FA-HUM not their capabilities to conduct counternarcotic and counter-il- only prepares U.S. and partner forces to operate effectively licit networks efforts and border security missions. It leads in times of crisis but also promotes integration and interop- partner nations to a regional approach to security. If partner erability with other U.S. government agencies, among part- nations agree to burden-sharing, potential adversaries’ free- ner nations and within local communities. dom to proliferate will be contained. Theater Security Cooperation (TSC). Building partner Contingency Response Preparedness (CRP). Contingen- nation capacity for security and governance reduces the cy response represents the most likely venue for the deploy- likelihood of armed conflict, garners support for military ment of Army forces in the AOR. The unique geographical operations and extends presence and security into ungov- characteristics of the region make it vulnerable to devas- erned and under-governed areas. ARSOUTH integrates tating natural disasters which often require international theater security cooperation efforts with its sister services, support to save lives and mitigate suffering. In addition to regionally aligned forces and National Guard SPP units to frequent hurricanes and highly destructive earthquakes, the shape security conditions in the AOR. Its headquarters staff region is also affected by volcanoes, mud slides, flooding, includes senior foreign liaison officers from Chile, Colom- fire and tsunamis. bia and Brazil who not only coordinate activities between

4 President Barack Obama, Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, July 2011, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/ files/microsites/2011-strategy-combat-transnational-organized-crime.pdf. 5 Congressional Research Service, Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress, 23 December 2010. 6 Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012, Public Law 112-220–December 28, 2012, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ PLAW-112publ220/content-detail.html.

www.ausa.org 3 U.S. Army South Fostering Peace and Security in South America, Central America and the Caribbean activities tobuildinteroperabilityandcooperation. confirm to country partner each with meeting annual an in culminating engagements and sessions steering multiple includes program The partners. talks staff Salvador,El and Colombia four Chile, its Brazil, and Army U.S. the between cooperation security lateral bi- U.S. for the activity Staffsynchronize of to Army of Chief the of behalf on TalksProgram Staff South Army U.S. the conducts ARSOUTH engagements, developed areasintheregion. under to support engineering and veterinary dental, their professional skills by providing needed medical, opportunity for active and reserve Soldiers to practice ercises readinessandinteroperability and creates an ex- also BTH year. each countries two in conducted and infrastructure construction/repair operation, is assistance civic humanitarian engineer, four-month three-to- a (BTH), Horizon the Beyond nations. ner part- more or one and agencies services, other with together work to Soldiers reserve and active for ity interoperabil and readiness promote to designed es exercis are Advance Integrated and tions–Americas Opera- Peacekeeping FA-HUM,PANAMAX, 2013. to apartnernation-led event with19countriesin 1993 in inception its at countries participating three with exercise U.S.-led a from grown force—has task the exercise joint multinational a by Canal Panama the of defense to PANA designed - event cooperation. annual security MAX—the theater of nerstone observer organizations. An two international military and orga armies observer five armies, member 20 to Western Hemisphere security cooperation discussions expands (CAA) Armies American of Conference the armies, partner individual and ARSOUTH between 7 The Way Ahead term visionforcoordinatedarmy-to-armyinteraction. long- a include to grown has CAA the Hemisphere, Westernthe of armies the among efforts synchronize nization established in 1960 to build relationships and as anintegralpartofthecommand. their armiesandtheUnitedStatesbutalsoparticipate return on the nation’s small investment in this AOR this in investment small nation’s the on return law.of The rule and rights security,human public of areas the in progress tremendous made have nations partner America’s interests. common to challenges address and security and peace foster to Caribbean the and America Central America, South in partners with relationships building to commitment its strated

Western Hemisphere DefensePolicyStatement In addition toexercises,exchangesandsustained In ROT’ rbs eecs porm s cor a is program exercise robust ARSOUTH’s For more than a century, the Army has demon- has Army the century, a than more For While thestaff talksareaplatformforcooperation , October2012, - - - - - nations butalsoprovidesacost-effective opportuni partner supports only not Hemisphere Western the in component Army U.S. engaged an of investment local populations. readiness, renewcriticalskillsandprovidesupportto maintain together, operate to learn region the to ing deploy security.units enhancing reserve and Active and access promoting interoperability, building for model a are SPP Long-standing relationships Guard National Army forces. reserve and active of mix a among activities and objectives shared integrating by U.S. region The the in presence maximizes Army forces’U.S. exercise to ty readiness. and capabilities achieve securityobjectives. advisory capabilities aslow-cost,small-footprintmeansto and engagements exercises, ARSOUTH rity challengesbeforetheymatureintodirectthreats. secu- confront to required commitment the and bility capa the both building to paramount is cooperation security regional Focused fill. to actors nonstate and these achievements and creating a void for other state maintain strong regional partnerships, it risks eroding United Statesdoesnotinvestthetime and effort to the If cooperation. multinational greater and olence helped promote a more stable region with reduced vi- of has roles, many its in use resources, ARSOUTH, limited effective the Through substantial. been has and security in thisvitalregion. ner nations’ militaries are keys tofosteringpeace relationships betweentheU.S. Army anditspart- gether withleveraging half-century-old enduring Hemisphere. for improved security and stability in the Western course a chart and threats transnational of challenges the face to postured are its Army and tions, America organiza intergovernmental and of interagency support joint, the and nations partner with gagement http://www.defense.gov/news/WHDPS-English.pdf oehr truh esset n efcie en- effective and persistent through Together, on depend Army U.S. the and USSOUTHCOM Timelypredictable and to- funding 7 anann te small the Maintaining . - - - -