MORAZAN, El Salvador - Members from the New Hampshire Army National Guard participated in a subject matter expert exchange on mountain operations tactics and procedures here, March 18 to 24.
Five soldiers from Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) demonstrated basic fixed ropes installation and mountain casualty evacuation procedures with twenty members of El Salvador's newly formed Mountain Commando Unit.
The Mountain Commando Unit is expanding its mission capabilities to counter illicit drug trafficking and transnational organized crime activities.
"I've been very impressed with the Salvadoran soldiers. They are very willing to learn, they are asking good questions, and they are engaged," said Army Capt. Jose Mendez, U.S. military group bilateral affairs officer.
This visit is the foundation for an ongoing, professional relationship between the two units, with five exchanges scheduled for the coming year.
This critical military-to-military engagement was coordinated through the annual bilateral staff talks between U.S. Army South and the El Salvadoran Army.
The U.S. Army Staff Talks Program serves as a bilateral forum for strategic-level discussions between respective armies. The program seeks to promote bilateral efforts in order to develop professional partnerships and assist partner nation armies in building capacity.
The New Hampshire National Guard was hand-picked to conduct the exchange because of its 12-year relationship with El Salvador through the National Guard State Partnership Program.
"One of the unique attributes of the Guard is our ability to develop trusting relationships with our partners," said Air Force Lt. Col. Diane Roberts, New Hampshire National Guard international affairs officer. "Valuable relationships cultivated over time between soldiers that will someday be leaders of their respective Armies."
The New Hampshire - El Salvador partnership is a mature one and has flourished beyond military engagements to include civic, educational and business opportunities. Other exchanges scheduled for this year will focus on Air Traffic Control, Hazardous Materiel procedures, Urban Search and Rescue techniques and Emergency Management Command and Control.