DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) hosted the South American Air Chiefs conference with participants from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
The seven South American countries participated in the three day event that focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
“We’ve found that this is an area where our air forces can really cooperate,” said U.S. Air Force Col. James Breck, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) director of plans. We’re able to work together, share ideas, share best practices, and synchronize our efforts during this conference.”
The South American countries shared their Air Forces’ unique capabilities and past challenges.
“These types of meetings facilitate conversations about problems we have and, logically, from here we can come up with answers and solutions that allow the coordination of humanitarian aid between our countries to become much more effective,” said Ecuador Air Chief Brig. Gen. Patricio Mora Escobar.
The Air Chiefs or their representatives received information on the System of Cooperation among the American Air Forces (SICOFAA) and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA) opportunities. Representatives from State Air National Guards that are partnered with South American Air Forces through the State Partnership Program also attended the conference.
“These meetings are important because we get to know each other, we come to understand different experiences,” said Argentinian Air Force Brigadier Mayor Oscar Charadia, Air Chief representative. “It’s been very important hearing about the different organizations in the United States and how they work. Many of these ways of doing things can be taken back and used in our own countries.”
On the final day the conference participants spoke about the enlisted force with Command Chief Master Sgt. Alexander del Valle, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), and visited the 612th Air Operations Center Command and the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.