Chilean army officers visit Black Jack brigade

By Sgt. Quentin Johnson, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div.August 4, 2010

Training with Chilean Army
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas- Staff Sgt. Shirlee Burton (upper left), from Oakland, Calif., an evacuation platoon sergeant and Sgt. Chancey Doyle, a Port Arthur, Texas native and a medical specialist, both with C Company, 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brig... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Training with Chilean Army
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas - Sgt. Charles Ward, the receiving noncommissioned officer-in-charge for A Company, 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, shows Chilean Army Col. Luis Alegria, Chilean Army Col. Luis Rojas, an... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Training with Chilean Army
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas - Soldiers from the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and officers from the Chilean Army observe a demonstration on the capabilities of the Atlas II 10k forklift in the 15th BSB motorpool,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas- It was a day-long tour, complete with equipment displays and a tour of a field site, for Chilean Army officers who visited the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, July 30, 2010.

The Chilean officers, all part of the General Support Command, Chilean Army, were on a first ever fact finding tour through sections of the 15th BSB motorpool and a Expert Field Medical Badge training site to see the battalion's logistical capabilities.

The purpose of the visit highlighted what skill sets are necessary for a brigade's logistical battalion to maintain current and modern standards while becoming more robust, said Capt. Jamie Culbreath, operations officer for the 15th BSB.

With a growing Chilean Army, support and new materials are the keys for modernization, said Chilean Army Col. Luis Alegria, chief of the logistical management department.

Modernization in the Chilean army extends past basic logistical support for its military as it offers increased capability for the army to help the people of Chile during a natural disaster, supporting defense and ensures proper united nation support, said Alegria.

Revamping the logistical support structure in Chile is possible because of experiences gained firsthand from the visit to the 15th BSB, said Lt. Col. Guillermo Ventura, a U.S. Army liaison to the Chilean army.

Visits like these are very effective because it allows the visitor to have a better understanding of what equipment is needed and what is on hand, thus gaining knowledge of how to increase their own logistical force, said Culbreath.

According to Alegria, a prepared unit, like the 15th BSB, will allow the Chilean army to use the knowledge learned in theory and practice.