U.S. Army, Colombian senior military leaders conclude Fort Bragg engagements
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A Colombian joint-service senior enlisted delegation concluded a series of professional engagements here Oct. 20-23, gaining firsthand exposure to U.S. Army approaches to noncommissioned officer development, airborne readiness, Soldier fitness and innovation. The 12-member delegation visited as part of the 23rd iteration of the Programa Integral para Suboficiales de Alta Jerarquía (Comprehensive Program for Senior Noncommissioned Officers), or PISAJ, a recurring engagement led by U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command that strengthens the professional relationship between the United States and Colombian armed forces.
“We have to work together, as one. You can’t accomplish the mission alone, and neither can I. But if we stand together and work in the same direction, believe me, it becomes much easier,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Wilfredo Quiñones Banguera, joint command sergeant major of the Colombian Military Forces. “As the sergeant major of the Colombian Military Forces, my message to Americans is simple: You have a friend and a partner in this hemisphere, and that is the Colombians.”
Following an opening engagement with U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command senior enlisted leaders, the delegation spent three days with organizations across Fort Bragg.
At the Fort Bragg Noncommissioned Officer Academy, the Colombian delegation toured the facility and observed classroom instruction. The visit offered participants an opportunity to see how the U.S. Army’s professional military education system prepares noncommissioned officers for increasing levels of responsibility.
They later observed an airborne pre-jump briefing, providing a close look at the detailed planning, safety procedures and disciplined execution required before paratroopers conduct airborne operations. The engagement highlighted the role noncommissioned officers play in preparing Soldiers, enforcing standards and maintaining readiness across airborne formations.
“Our goal was to give the delegation a firsthand look at how noncommissioned officers contribute to readiness across the force, from professional military education and combat operations to Soldier fitness, maintenance and daily unit leadership,” said Sgt. Maj. Timothy Barr, U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command.
The following day, the group joined leaders from the 82nd Airborne Division for a Holistic Health and Fitness session and then participated in an immersion with the division. Colombian leaders observed battalion and company operations, motor pool maintenance, dining facility and barracks management, and junior noncommissioned officer leadership development. At the 82nd’s Advanced Airborne School, the delegation received an overview of the school’s mission and observed demonstrations of advanced airborne training. The visit highlighted the specialized training and technical proficiency required to build airborne capability and prepare Soldiers for complex operational environments.
The final engagement took the delegation to the Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost, where participants received a tour and briefing on how the Army identifies, develops and applies practical solutions to readiness and operational challenges.
“This week gave our Colombian partners a firsthand look at how our noncommissioned officers build readiness, from developing Soldiers in the classroom to preparing formations for airborne operations and identifying innovative solutions to everyday challenges,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Nema Mobar, senior enlisted leader for U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command.
The visits were part of a weeklong series of professional engagements focused on leader development, readiness and interoperability. Led by U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, PISAJ is a premier geostrategic engagement designed to foster professional development and interoperability between the two nations’ NCO corps. The program began in 2015, and this is the 23rd iteration of the bi-annual engagement. For more information or imagery from PISAJ, go to www.dvidshub.net/feature/PISAJ.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
