El Salvadoran vice chief views Air Force training programs

  • Published
  • By Joe Bela
  • 502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  The vice chief of the Joint General Staff for the Republic of El Salvador visited Lackland AFB May 10 to 11 to gain insight on Air Force educational and training programs.

The two-day visit by El Salvadoran air force Brig. Gen. Jaime Parada fell under the auspice of the Air Force Chief of Staff's Counterpart Program, designed to facilitate bilateral relations and provide visiting air chiefs with a first-hand view of the Air Force while illustrating programs of mutual interest.

The Air Education and Training Command visit to Lackland included an overall mission brief from the 37th Training Wing and stops at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy.

"I am (here) to learn much more about the 37th TRW, (Defense Language Institute English Language Center) and (Inter-American Air Forces Academy), the hot bed of technical training for maintenance troops and mechanics in Latin American partner countries," General Parada said. "I hope to gain more knowledge about the work, the missions and the roles these institutions play in the development of our troops.

"Ultimately, our hope is to take advantage of these valuable training resources by sending more of our personnel to these institutions for training and education," he added.

With scheduled stops at other major command installations across the country, the general stressed the need for the AFCOS Counterpart Program and its importance to El Salvadorian officials and other Latin American partner nations.

"The mutual cooperation between the armed forces of both our countries has always been excellent and it continues today," he said. "Our countries continue to share common goals and objectives in the region and abroad. In fact, our relationship extends abroad."

As members of the multinational forces in Iraq, El Salvador committed 11 battalions to the war on terror, rotating forces every six months for five years from 2003 through 2008.

A graduate of the DLI English course 28 years ago, General Parada believes DLI's role in keeping El Salvadoran troops mission ready is vital to the mutual interests of both countries.

"The English I learned in the six months I was at Lackland (AFB) has continued to serve me well throughout my military career," he said. "This is essential to the development of our officer corps. We've recently sent officers, majors, to DLI who now serve as English professors in our country.

"Today, these officers continue to teach others in country," he said. "I consider DLI a force multiplier -- something that will continue to serve us and future generations of officers."

IAFFA's technical training of servicemembers from El Salvador and other Latin American partner countries is also a vital link to achieving common objects in Latin America, the general said.

"IAFFA trains our maintenance people and mechanics, along with (U.S. Mobile Training Teams)," General Parada said. "One of the lessons learned and what we consider an important training asset in El Salvador is the deployment of MTTs in our country."

These teams of U.S. specialists with a myriad of skills and training impart their knowledge to members of the El Salvadoran armed forces.

"The knowledge we gain is invaluable," he said. "It allows us to enhance our military readiness and to learn the new technical skills and processes necessary to better maintain our materiel and equipment. They are a valued commodity when it comes to the development of technical skills and the professional training of our servicemembers."

Looking to the future, General Parada expects El Salvador to have stronger ties and more opportunities to train with its U.S. counterparts.

"I am grateful to AETC for the opportunity to visit and learn more about U.S. Air Force training programs," the general said. "We trust that the United States and AETC will continue to provide us with sufficient vacancies in the DLI, IAFFA and its other training programs so that future servicemembers are afforded the opportunity to effectively train and learn from members of the most professional and proficient military force in the world."