Local army logistics experts recently joined their counterparts from the United States Southern Command for a four-day Strategic Logistics Conference in order to enhance their techniques.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the sessions were headed by US Southern Command Strategic Planner Wayne Henry and sought to facilitate the exchange of perspectives and a comparison of logistics systems used by both teams.
Colonel Administering and Quartering, Captain John Flores highlighted the timeliness of the conference. In giving an overview of the GDF’s current logistics and sustainment practices he said this subject was of crucial importance to the Guyana Defence Force particularly in the context of its re-engineering.
Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) are essentially a process involving interaction between personnel from both sides where they compare different procedures, tactics and standing orders related to a number of issues. As such both teams become familiar with each other’s practices and can garner ideas that can be used to boost their systems.
According to GINA, Staff Officer One, Operations and Training Lieutenant Colonel Clement Baird said the exchange of information between the two militaries has brought the GDF in compliance with 21st Century military procedures. “We derive maximum benefits from the SMEEs. In the past we sent one person to be trained but now we have the in-country interactions between our team and the team from the US, so a larger pool of persons benefit,” he said.
Baird said the US team, “also learn from us, our peculiar conditions and our way of doing things. So the SMEEs bring benefit for both sides.” He said the Air Corps, the Coast Guard and the Special Forces Squadron are some units that have benefited from these interactions.
SMEEs have also been conducted on Intelligence, Motor Life Boat Engine Operations, and Small Arms maintenance. Two such interactions are set for this month: a vehicle maintenance professional exchange and a leadership seminar for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. The GDF will continue to make full use of its partnership with the US Southern Command to ensure that its operations are enhanced at all levels.
