El Salvadorian army officers visit 82nd Sustainment Brigade

82nd Sustainment Bde. PAO

July 7, 2011

	Photo by Spc. David J. McCarthy/82nd Sust. Bde. PAO Capt. Julio Escobar inspects a vehicle transmission at the 659th Maintenance Shop as Lt. Col. Donar Carballo, Lt. Col. Victor Ramirez, and Master Sgt. Jose Colon observe.

Officers from the El Salvadorian Army visited the 82nd Sustainment Brigade last week, visiting various brigade units with a focus on maintenance and water purification operations.

Over the past several years El Salvador has increased it’s role in providing forces for U.N. Peace Keeping Operations and has deployed forces in support of the International Security Assistance Force–Afghanistan. Their ability to deploy forces in support of these types of operations is a key developmental step for their Armed Forces and greatly enhances regional stability. In order to continue the development of these capabilities both El Salvador and the U.S. Army are focused on positive military to military staff talks and information exchanges.

The visit is the result of the 2010 bi-lateral Agreed to Action event staff talks between the El Salvador armed forces and the U.S. Army.

The goal of the multi-functional logistics assessment visit to the 82nd Sustainment Brigade was to observe best practices used by U.S. Army sustainment units. During the visit the El Salvador officers were able to observe water purification operations in the field, tour a supply support activity, and tour a maintenance facility. The Salvadorian delegation was impressed with the professionalism and knowledge of the Soldiers leading them through their tours and was able to gain a much greater understanding of each activity.

The 82nd Sustainment Brigade was selected as the lead sustainment organization for United States Souther Command to enhance its relationship with El Salvador. The officers from El Salvador, Lt. Col. Victor Abel Rodriguez Ramirez, Lt. Col. Donar Manfredo Guzman Carballo, and Capt. Julio Cesar Alfaro Escobar, were greeted by Col. Christopher J. Sharpsten, commander of the 82nd Sustainment Bde.

Sharpsten hosted an interactive discussion with the officers to review the brigade task organization, logistical operations in a garrison versus a deployed environment, and the effectiveness of diligent, collaborative and innovative leadership within the brigade.

Ramirez, the leader of the delegation, reiterated numerous times how he really felt like part of the team when taking part in the round table and stated that “I really enjoyed the roundtable discussion with Sharpsten and the staff, it was a very interesting moment, and they made us feel like we are part of the team.”

The 82nd Sustainment Bde. met the SOUTHCOM objectives of improving Army-to-Army relations and garnering support for the SOUTHCOM initiatives in the U.S. its area of focus.

Completing the roundtable discussion, the officers, escorted by Capt. Carlos Cruz, 82nd Sustainment Bde. plans officer, traveled to the 659th Maintenance Company area where Capt. Jonathan Kalczynski, 659th Maint. Co. commander, provided a tour of the maintenance facility and discussed the units daily operations.

Master Sgt. Jose Colon provided expert answers to the visiting officer’s questions and explained the best practices used to maintain the units vehicle fleet as well as repair of supported customers equipment.

The second day of their visit included a water purification field site visit. Capt. Daniel Clark, commander of the 364th Quartermaster Co., and Sgt. 1st Class Lyndell West walked the officers through the water purification process with other members of the unit providing descriptions of each of the different operational areas.

The visiting officers were impressed with the high production rate of clean water from a nearby lake. After asking additional questions of the support staff, the officers were shown how the purified water is treated and kept safe for drinking while out in the field.

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