SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Keith Davids, Commander of Special Operations Command South, met with U.S. Ambassador Ronald D. Johnson, Salvadoran Minister of Defense Rear Adm. Rene Merino Monroy, Chief of Defense Brig. Gen. Carlos Alberto Tejada, Chief of Naval Operations, Capt. Exon Oswaldo Ascencio and Salvadoran Special Operations military leaders at the brigade level in San Salvador, El Salvador, Dec. 10-11. During his visit, Davids discussed SOCSOUTH’s role in the U.S.-El Salvador strong security partnership where both nations focus on countering transnational criminal organizations such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street gang.
Each fiscal year, partnered security operations disrupt more than $4 billion worth of drug trafficking operations. This strong security cooperation significantly enhances the ability of the U.S. and partner nations to patrol Eastern Pacific smuggling corridors, through which more than half of the drugs heading for the U.S. transit – often in multi-ton shipments.
While in El Salvador, Davids participated in the graduation ceremony for the Military Occupational Specialty Instructor Course (MOSIC) at the Comando Especial Anti-Terrorista (CEAT) in Ilopango, El Salvador. The course was conducted by a Special Forces Operational Detachment –Alpha (SF-ODA) team assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) over a period of three months. SOCSOUTH sponsors and operates MOSIC, which focuses on building the capacity of Salvadoran Special Operations Forces, working together to protect both countries’ shared neighborhood and develop interoperability between both nations to respond to emergent threats, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief quickly.
El Salvador is a critical partner in bringing stability to the region and is one of more than 20 nations collaborating with the U.S. in cooperative efforts to detect and dismantle transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere. All nations in this hemisphere share the air, land, sea, space, cyberspace, and values while seeking a mutually beneficial security environment.
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Keith Davids, Commander of Special Operations Command South, exchanges gifts with Salvadoran Chief of Naval Operations, Capt. Exon Oswaldo Ascencio in San Salvador, El Salvador, Dec. 10. Both nations work together to counter illicit drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street gang as part of security cooperations in the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Keith Davids, Commander of Special Operations Command South, exchanges gifts with Salvadoran Minister of Defense Rear Adm. Rene Merino Monroy in San Salvador, El Salvador, Dec. 10. Both nations continue their longstanding partnership to maintain interoperability and reinforce mutually beneficial security cooperation.
Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) is one of the seven sub-unified commands in the Department of Defense (DoD) and operationally assigned to U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). SOCSOUTH is a joint special operations headquarters that plans and executes special operations in Central & South America and the Caribbean. SOCSOUTH principally employs Special Operations Forces (SOF) provided by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Services' Special Operations Forces component commands. The Area of Responsibility (AOR) encompasses 31 countries & ten overseas territories of other nations, such as the U.K., France, and the Netherlands. More than 410 million people from varying cultures live in the region, with 25 languages and ten religions.
Salvadoran Minister of Defense Rear Adm. Rene Merino Monroy, Chief of Defense Brig. Gen. Carlos Alberto Tejada, Chief of Naval Operations, Capt. Exon Oswaldo Ascencio, U.S. Ambassador Ronald D. Johnson, and Commander of Special Operations Command South U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Keith Davids presents Military Occupational Specialty Instructor Course graduation certificate to Salvadoran Special Operations Forces soldier assigned to the Comando Especial Anti-Terrorista (CEAT) in Ilopango, El Salvador, Dec. 11. The U.S. collaborates with many nations to share responsibility as defenders of the Inter-American values, including freedom, human rights, adherence to the rule of law, and a commitment to peace and security for our citizens.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Keith Davids, Commander of Special Operations Command South, along with U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Ronald D. Johnson, Salvadoran Minister of Defense Rear Adm. Rene Merino Monroy, Chief of Defense Brig. Gen. Carlos Alberto Tejada, and Senior Defense Official Col. Brian S. Blackstone observe joint training in San Salvador, El Salvador, Dec. 11. The Western Hemisphere is a shared home that requires partnering with regional nations to develop mutually beneficial security cooperation and a safe neighborhood.
