2023-06-16 10:06:39
The Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), a subcomponent of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), together with the Chilean Armed Forces, carried out the Fused Response exercise in the Valparaíso and Metropolitan regions.
“With this exercise, the goal is to work together to strengthen ourselves and also to increase interoperability,” said US Army General Laura J. Richardson, commander of SOUTHCOM, the Chilean Army reported. “It is very important that we can communicate, that we work so close that we can even finish each other’s sentences. That’s how close we want to understand each other.”
“This exercise can be seen from three aspects,” he told Dialogue on May 25 Guillermo Holzmann, defense analyst and academic at the University of Valparaíso, Chile. “First, from access to command and communications protocols for planning and deployment of forces [optimizando] resources; secondly, from the care of specialized human resources and their permanent training in communication systems, weapons and coordination capacity in tactical and strategic commands; and thirdly from the coordination and training in concepts of international security under the umbrella of the United Nations Organization and the interests of each State”.
Fused Response 2023, held April 17-26, is an ongoing, annual effort to improve readiness and interoperability between SOUTHCOM components and various partner nations and agencies, to effectively and rapidly respond to regional security challenges. . In its version in Chile, various skills and abilities were put to the test in key areas such as strategic planning, logistics, communication and decision-making in highly demanding situations in the face of asymmetric threats.
The exercise was carried out at the invitation of Chile through its Joint Chiefs of Staff. Coordination for its execution was the responsibility of the Special Operations Command (COPE) of the Chilean Army, who arranged from the arrival of foreign military personnel to the deployment of motorized and air means, the Chilean Army reported on its website.
In addition to COPE, the Chilean Navy participated in its Naval Aviation and its Boarding and Search Group, an elite group that includes the Special Forces Command and the Immediate Response Group. Aviation commandos from the Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, Special Forces from the Quintero Tactical School, and Aviation Group No. 9 of the II participated in the Chilean Air Force. th Air Brigade, reported both forces in Facebook.
The command posts for the development of the exercise were located on the land of Colina, Metropolitan Region, of the Lautaro Special Operations Brigade, belonging to COPE. From there, the forces of both nations monitored and controlled its development. General Richardson arrived at that military facility, who met with General Javier Iturriaga, Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army, to tour the command posts.
“That SOUTHCOM has decided to carry out the exercise in Chile is due to the characteristics it sees of our country: we are a friendly country and with a strategic impact,” said Chilean Army Lieutenant Colonel Davor Versalovic, head of the COPE Planning Department and exercise liaison officer. “The US trusts the professionalism of our military and our special forces.”
The exercise developed a simulated scenario involving a national emergency situation. The participating forces had to face complex challenges and threats such as natural disasters, civil unrest and humanitarian crisis situations.
This fictional environment allowed participants to practice their skills and knowledge in a realistic and challenging context, which included activities and maneuvers such as field operations, rapid reaction exercises, rescue and evacuation drills, and humanitarian support missions. In addition, communication and coordination exercises were carried out between the different levels of command, highlighting the importance of synergy and collaboration between the participating forces.
“Fused Response is not only important, but it is essential to be able to maintain operational capabilities at a level of excellence,” Holzmann said. “The interests of the US coincide with those of Chile in terms of oceanic and terrestrial projection, assurance of sovereignty and support for the operational continuity of the State.”
“By carrying out this exercise in Chile, the US is carrying out a greater integration of the Chilean troops in its different instances,” concluded Lt. Col. Versalovic. “This type of exercise positions us in a place of reference compared to other countries in the region.”
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