The Diálogo magazine had the opportunity to interview Colombian Army Colonel Raúl Perilla Monroy, liaison officer of the Colombian Military Forces to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), during the Senior Leader Logistics Symposium held at SOUTHCOM’s headquarters in early June 2024. Col. Perilla shared his thoughts on the importance of logistics, the challenges facing the hemisphere’s armed forces, and the future of military logistics in Colombia and the region, among other topics.
Diálogo: What is the importance for regional logistics leaders to come together to exchange views at an event like the SOUTHCOM-sponsored Senior Leader Logistics Symposium?
Colombian Army Colonel Raúl Perilla Monroy, liaison officer of the Colombian Military Forces to SOUTHCOM: First of all, I would like to thank SOUTHCOM for this initiative, which I think is very important. Of all the issues that we highlight in this symposium, one of them is the issue of [logistics] integration, of improving our relations between partner countries, because despite the common borders, this is a space to exchange experiences, to know who is on the other side of that border, being this one of the first outstanding points.
The second point, which I think is very useful, is to be able to exchange these lessons learned that each of the countries have. We are different in some ways, the customs, the terrain, our geography, but this space is very important, because we can make this exchange, we can get to know each other a little better.
And the third point of this symposium is to be able to seek improvement of these capabilities that each country has, and how by complementing them we can have a very great capacity in all our processes. I think that these are some of the many outstanding themes of this symposium.
Diálogo: Based on your years of experience in the Colombian Army, what do you think are the most important logistics challenges facing the Colombian Military Forces in the region?
Col. Perilla: The Military Forces have many logistics challenges; one of them is the issue of resources. Resources are limited; therefore, the first challenge is how to optimize those resources that are bound to support all the logistics issue of our Military Forces including the infrastructure, the modernization of our equipment and systems since technology evolves every day.
We must adapt these processes to these technological changes, but we also must be very flexible. Another important challenge is how to reach the end user who is the soldier on the front line and deliver what he or she really needs to perform his or her task. In the specific case of Colombia, we face illegal organizations; these terrorist groups that in some way or another limit or restrict the supply chain process. Geographical conditions during a deployment are another challenge to face with very variable terrain, mountainous, desert, and jungle. Finally, I think that it is also planning, procedures, the step-by-step approach that, if there is good planning in each of the stages that are carried out in the logistics process, allows for a satisfactory result.
Diálogo: Climate change and weather events pose an increasing risk to the readiness and security of armed forces. Colombia recently faced an unprecedented fire season at the beginning of the year. What were the lessons learned that you were able to share with your peers during this symposium? What successes did you achieve in terms of regional collaboration during the fires?
Col. Perilla: The issue of humanitarian assistance is a fundamental task of the armed forces, which have managed to develop this capability with some specialized units, particularly in the attention and prevention of humanitarian disasters. In the specific case of the fires that unfortunately occurred in the capital, a series of mechanisms were activated. From very early on contingency and reaction plans had been established, integrating different organizations that, at a certain moment, could support events such as these; basically, it was the availability of all the means, personnel, and equipment to confront this crisis, with the support of other institutions, such as [Colombia’s] Risk Management Unit, which also played a very important role.
A key element was the use of technology, the use of satellites that allowed us to provide precise information on where these outbreaks were concentrated and where units could act immediately to prevent the fire from spreading. Finally, the concept of interoperability that is being developed, not only by the armed forces, but also by civilian institutions, has been key to manage crisis situations both in Colombia and in other countries in the region. Our Military Forces have shared these experiences, but they have also contributed support, as other countries have done in certain situations. We are also grateful for the support that the United States has given us with its platforms, its equipment, its systems, through the means and information provided.
Diálogo: Logistics can be described as the basis for the success of military operations on many occasions. What’s new in logistics for the Colombian Military Forces?
Col. Perilla: A decisive factor that has been established in the Military Forces is that we have achieved an integration of the forces and that work and planning have been done on systems that operate jointly, that is, not independently for each force, but rather that these systems guarantee interoperability, good communication, and exploitation of the differential capabilities that each force has, but that in turn integrate those of the national police and other civilian institutions.
Another crucial aspect is that some equipment, depots, and machinery have been updated and modernized. The Military Forces have a great logistics support capability for what the soldier requires, which are basic elements to be able to fulfill his or her mission. Within this same process, we have also managed to pre-position this logistics for which, due to the conditions of the terrain of our country, logistics operators have always encountered limitations and restrictions. We have been able to close the gap between the main distribution points and the secondary points, which are the ones that guarantee that the support reaches the soldier.
In terms of innovation, improvement of the infrastructure, and transparency of the contracting processes, very good results have also been achieved; likewise, the training of personnel and professionalization have ensured that we have qualified specialists dedicated to planning and advising and to everything that refers to the logistics chain.
Diálogo: What do you think will be crucial topics for upcoming symposiums and events for the logistics forces?
Col. Perilla: The first thing is how to ensure that our countries in the region can integrate capabilities, that is, to speak a common language on the subject of logistics, to take advantage of the resources, knowledge, and experiences that one country has to improve the capabilities of the other.
Second, the participation of private enterprise in all these processes must continue to be crucial. They provide advanced technology, resources, trained personnel, and can improve processes — innovation plays an important role in logistics.
The other issue must undoubtedly be regional integration to deal with crisis situations. Logistics in responding to humanitarian disasters is going to be very important because our region has many natural events in which many people are affected, and that’s where everyone’s support will be needed.
Diálogo: SOUTHCOM and Colombia have been important partners in security and humanitarian assistance. Could you elaborate on specific ways in which cooperation with SOUTHCOM has benefited the logistics capabilities of the Colombian Military Forces? How do you see this relationship in the future?
Col. Perilla: There are several important points. The first has been the support and backing we have had not only in terms of advice, but also with resources that have allowed our Military Forces to have a better performance, a greater capacity in the operation of modern systems to be able to face threats. In turn, the role that SOUTHCOM plays in this relationship with our Military Forces, and that we see in the future, is that of the Theater Maintenance Partnership Initiatives (TMPI) that SOUTHCOM is currently promoting and that will help countries in the area of sustainability; initiatives that guarantee the autonomy of the armed forces and that in the future will allow them to continue to develop these logistics capabilities while maintaining operable systems, but also guarantee that, in the specific case of Colombia, they can transfer that experience, that training and maintenance capacity that they have to other countries, strengthening the regional leadership that the Colombian Military Forces seek. We wish to be a benchmark in aviation, communications, military engineering, naval capability, since we have developed very significant capabilities.
