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People ask me what I do, and for a long time I simply stated, "I work at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC)." However, after receiving consistent blank looks I now reply, "I train men to go into the jungles of Colombia and fight." It registers. Simple in nature, but undeniably true, the men I train either pull triggers or support those who do.
We train soldiers and police from almost every country in the Western Hemisphere. The majority of the foreigners we train are Colombians. Most Americans have no idea of the brutal nature or the consistency of killing in this country. In comparison to the Colombian Army, our losses in Iraq are small.
I was the Director of Tactics and Special Operations (DTSO). This department has the mission to train soldiers in combat and combat support operations. We conduct all the high-risk operations within the institute: airborne, fast rope, close quarters battle (CQB), special demolitions and others. There are three main divisions in DTSO: the Special Operations Detachment, Combat Services Support Division, and the Military Intelligence Detachment. These three units are responsible for their particular areas, which are described below.
Special Operations:
This division is responsible for our Counter Drug Operations Course (TAC-6). TAC-6 is designed for mid-level NCOs and junior officers. It is an interagency course which combines infantry, military police, and Drug Enforcement Agency training. However, the meat of the course is infantry training. We teach operational planning and skills such as: advanced marksmanship, land navigation, infiltration/exfiltration techniques, first aid and patrolling. Think of it as a specialized Ranger course and you are pretty close to the mark.
Agraduate of TAC-6 will have the skills necessary for planning, leading, and executing a tactical operation. This planning focuses on the platoon level and below. We emphasize individual skills and squad operations. Graduates will be able to do the following: select and engage targets from ranges 50 to 200 meters, navigate using map and compass on legs of 200 to 6000 meters, and operate as a member of a fire team, squad and platoon. We teach and reinforce skill sets from the simple (camouflage, basic radio communications) to the complicated (insert by air assault and FAST rope operations). This individual has...