Page 6 - Davis-Monthan AFB Desert Lightning News 7-10-15

6 July 10, 2015 Desert Lightning News

www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb

Facebook.com/DesertLightningNews

Western hemisphere Air Chiefs meet at CONJEFAMER

Capt. Bryan Bouchard realm of humanitarian assistance This year, SICOFAA leaders nations send participants and air-
and disaster relief.” signed a memorandum of under- craft to practice working together
12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Public Affairs standing improving how member to prepare for what most coun-
Throughout the year, repre- nations will organize in the event tries see as an inevitable HA/DR
MEXICO CITY -- United-Al- sentatives from each nation meet one of the nations experiences challenge in the future.
lied. This is the motto of the Sys- at various locations in the hemi- a humanitarian or disaster relief
tem of Cooperation Among the sphere to map out interoperability crisis. Previous agreements stated “I expect this system of cooper-
American Air Forces, or SICO- agreements, update doctrine and that each country’s air force will ation to become stronger and that
FAA. The organization is a col- propose future plans for the air help where it can to assist any it comes together as an entity that
lection of more than 20 air force chiefs to discuss at CONJEFAMER, other SICOFAA member nation can respond to any contingency,”
leaders from across the West- which is the Spanish acronym for in times of need. Additionally, the said the Commander of the Mexi-
ern Hemisphere. They met June the annual conference. Since 2010, nations’ air force leaders also up- can Air Force Gen. Carlos Antonio
22-26 in Mexico City for a sum- Moreno said that SICOFAA has dated part of its charter, stream- Rodriguez Munguia . “Its capabili-
mit known as the Conference of been almost singularly-focused on lining how decisions are voted on, ties will become more efficient in
American Air Chiefs to confer Humanitarian Assistance and Di- and ultimately ratified into the its responses, especially to natural
new agreements, discuss the di- saster Relief, or HA/DR. The Haiti fabric of the organization. disasters but also to risks faced by
rection of the organization, agree earthquake that year led to this de- participant nations.”
to future exercises, and continue velopment and has congealed the “The greatest thing about SI-
to build upon a 50-plus year his- organization’s efforts and resolve. COFAA is that it’s an opportunity Each year, SICOFAA holds
tory of cooperation and good will. for countries who are neighbors, this annual conference in a dif-
“We don’t do anything in this who are partners, to become bet- ferent nation. Last year, lead-
“In 1961, former Chief of Staff world alone,” said U.S. Air Force ter friends,” Welsh said. “We also ers met in Medellin, Colombia,
of the Air Force Gen. Thomas Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh develop even more trust in our col- and Colorado Springs, Colo., will
D. White, had great foresight in III. “Coalitions that form to sup- lective future, which allows us to host next year’s event. In addi-
bringing together the air chiefs of port everything from humanitari- do bigger and better things to ben- tion to the countries represented
the Western Hemisphere to dis- an relief to contingency operations efit the citizens of our countries.” by the aforementioned air chiefs,
cuss issues of mutual concern,” require organizations, especially this year’s attendees included Air
said U.S. Air Force Col. Alberto military organizations, that know In 2010, SICOFAA started exer- Chiefs from Argentina, Brazil,
Moreno-Bonet, SICOFAA Secre- how to integrate and work togeth- cising together in an HA/DR sce- Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay,
tary General, who organizes the er under tough conditions. That nario known as COOPERACION, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
group’s efforts from its office at is much easier if those organiza- with the first iteration taking place Jamaica, U.S., Canada, Mexico,
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, tions and the people in them have in Chile. Last year, Peru hosted Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, El
Ariz. “Now, 55 years later, 20 na- learned to trust each other before COOPERACION III, with Argen- Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana,
tions, along with several observ- crises begin. SICOFAA helps us tina hosting the fourth iteration Honduras, Paraguay and the Do-
ing nations, openly share tactics, develop that trust.” next year. Majority of SICOFAA minican Republic.
techniques, and procedures in the

$20 off Schmidtke Dental
Custom Framing
With Military ID Dr. Gabriel Schmidtke is an experienced general dentist
who treats patients of all ages. At Schmidtke Dental,
McGoldrick’s you will see familiar faces at every visit!
Dr. Schmidtke performs all dental treatment in the office,
4523 East Speedway Blvd ranging from a simple cleaning to full dentures. Here are
some in-between services offered:
520.323.7711 r3PVUJOF)ZHJFOF$MFBOJOHr1FSJP5SFBUNFOU
r'JMMJOHTr7FOFFSTr$SPXOT#SJEHFTr-VNJOFFST
www.azpictureandframe.com r3PPU$BOBMTr8IJUFOJOHr&YUSBDUJPOT
r%FOUBM*NQMBOUTr1BSUJBMT%FOUVSFT
Gentle Dental Care 0GàDF)PVST.POEBZ5IVSTEBZrBNQN

t2VBMJUZ$BSFGPS:PVS
&OUJSF'BNJMZ
t.JMJUBSZ%FOUBM1MBO
t-PDBUFENJOVUFTGSPN
%."'# $SBZDSPGUUI

%*4$06/50/
5&&5)8)*5&/*/(
8*5).*-*5"3:*%

"NZ.JOJFS
%%4
1$ /$BNJOP1SJODJQBMr5VDTPO
";

Amy Minier & Daughters FREE SECOND OPINION (520) 885-9977
WITH MENTION OF THIS AD
www.SchmidtkeDental.com
&5)45(t