Common Rodolfo Pereyra took over as head of the Uruguayan Protection Common Workers (ESMADE) in April 2022. Since then, his focus has been on consolidating strategic and organizational tips to chart a brand new course for ESMADE.
A graduate of the Aeronautic Army Faculty in December 1987 as a Second Lieutenant and with 35 years of army profession, Gen. Pereyra has held a number of management positions, reminiscent of nationwide director of Civil Aviation and Aeronautical Infrastructure, and chief of Workers of the Air Pressure.
Pereyra spoke with Diálogo about his priorities and actions towards organized crime, amongst different matters.
Diálogo: What’s your precedence as head of ESMADE?
Common Rodolfo Pereyra, chief of the Uruguayan Protection Common Workers: In complying with the minister of Protection’s orders relating to the necessity to strengthen and posture ESMADE, my precedence centered on establishing bases for the development and improvement of the group and administrative and operational functioning, which is incumbent by legislation on the Protection Common Workers, as an advisory physique to the Armed Forces’ Superior Command and, particularly, of the Ministry of Protection in issues of planning and coordinating the actions of the forces, in addition to figuring out the logistical wants, and the coaching and planning for joint operability. We additionally mustn’t overlook the purely operational half, because it depends upon the ESMADE chief, the joint or mixed joint operations’ Common Command, and the Joint Cyber Protection Command.
This has been the spine of our work, organizational and operational rules, management improvement, creation of joint instructions, which require the approval by decree of the chief energy, and which has allowed us up to now to have 90 % of the laws authorised by the Ministry of Protection. What I’ve mentioned to date was carried out with out detriment to the achievement of so many different duties entrusted to ESMADE by the Minister of Protection.
Diálogo: How do the Army, Navy, and Air Pressure army personnel coordinate their actions to hold out border patrols as a part of Operation Safe Border?
Gen. Pereyra: To date, we’ve carried out the coordination, based on the circumstances, from conferences to coordinate actions or replace rules and procedures with the totally different companies we assist, the issuance of operational plans, to being current on web site the place operational actions are carried out. What’s lacking is an operational command that will enable for the joint administration of the operation, which we intend to handle with the Joint Operations Command.
Diálogo: Uruguay has dealt arduous blows to narcotrafficking and drug dealing. How do the Armed Forces cooperate on this struggle?
Gen. Pereyra: We act inside the framework of Regulation No. 19.677 “Authorization for the Armed Forces to hold out surveillance and assist duties for companies with jurisdiction in border areas” and its Regulatory Decree, which defines the 20-kilometer strip of nationwide territory as a border space. On this zone, the Armed Forces perform patrols on land, river, and air area, establish individuals and autos and detain individuals caught within the act, with rapid intervention from the competent prosecutor. This job has given the nation a brand new, efficient software to mitigate the crimes that happen in border areas, reminiscent of narcotrafficking and drug dealing, that are among the many many crimes detected, together with items and weapons smuggling, unlawful entry of individuals into the nation, livestock theft, switch of cargo in violation of well being rules, unlawful searching and fishing, and unlawful carrying of firearms.
Diálogo: What progress has been made within the professionalization of the Armed Forces’ noncommissioned officers (NCOs)?
Gen. Pereyra: Aside from specialised technical personnel, who require a earlier stage of research to serve within the Armed Forces, which makes it doable to advance their information and apply for promotions or attain the rank of officer; for the remainder of the personnel, I’m referring to these devoted to basic companies, the rules solely require major training to fill vacancies within the first rank and if their need and efficiency enable them to proceed within the Forces, earlier than making use of for promotion, they should have accomplished primary training, and if their intention is to be an officer, they have to, amongst different necessities, graduate with a bachelor’s diploma. What I’ve expressed demonstrates the good curiosity of the Armed Forces within the mental improvement of its members, a course of that goals to have amongst its ranks more and more extra skilled NCOs.
Diálogo: What’s the significance of the Joint Mixed Alternate Coaching (JCET) that the Uruguayan Armed Forces perform with their U.S. counterparts?
Gen. Pereyra: What higher alternative might the Uruguayan Armed Forces have to extend their information, assimilate new methods of planning, study new ways and procedures, in addition to strengthen ties of friendship, when the joint mixed coaching is carried out with a pressure the place the effectiveness of its capabilities has been efficiently examined within the area.
Diálogo: Why is it essential for Uruguay to take part in United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping missions?
Gen. Pereyra: The rules of our nation’s international coverage are non-intervention within the inner affairs of different nations, respect for the self-determination of peoples, and the peaceable settlement of disputes. As such, Uruguay is strongly dedicated to peace and stability on the earth, which is materialized by means of our presence in U.N. peacekeeping missions. We’re the 18th nation on the earth to contribute troops and the second with respect to inhabitants/forces engaged ratio. Our peacekeeping forces get pleasure from good worldwide recognition, largely because of the professionalism demonstrated in every mission and to the traits of our individuals — Uruguayans are supportive individuals and rapidly empathize with the native populations.
Diálogo: What progress is the Uruguayan Navy making in its fleet modernization plan with the switch of three Protector-class river patrol vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard?
Gen. Pereyra: Our Nationwide Navy goes by means of a vital second relating to its gear, most of it’s out of service as a consequence of size of service, spare elements not being accessible, and the prices of repairs and upkeep being very excessive. The inclusion of latest fluvial and oceanic models is crucial. The three Protector-class ships arrive on the proper time to cowl a part of these wants: the river patrol capabilities required for surveillance duties within the border space.
Diálogo: What steps are the Uruguayan Armed Forces taking with the USA to coordinate efforts towards cyberthreats?
Gen. Pereyra: With U.S. Southern Command, the Division of Protection, the Connecticut Nationwide Guard, and U.S. authorities companies reminiscent of CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency], we feature out joint workout routines with nationwide entities, reminiscent of AGESIC [Agency for Electronic Government and the Information and Knowledge Society], the Ministry of the Inside, and the Ministry of International Affairs to change experiences, in addition to cybersecurity and cyberdefense information.
