U.S. Embassy-Bogota to Deploy 'Casualty Extraction' Aviation Advisor

The U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, last week launched its search for a COLAR (Colombian Army) Aviation UH-1N Program Manager, a slot that must be filled by a U.S. citizen who has or can obtain a secret clearance. According to a personnel services contract-document discovered during a search of the federal Electronic Posting System database, the individual whom the Narcotics Affairs Section selects for the job will oversee multinational and multi-cultural aircrews “on missions that include air assault/air movement, force protection for aerial eradication, aerial interdiction, and forward, area aerial resupply, replenishment and sustainment activities.” Working in conjunction with other privately hired administrators and approximately 50 additional "contractor personnel," the new advisor will develop “air assault/air movement tactics and new training procedures” to enhance the counter-drug mission spelled out by Plan Colombia, the document says. Though based in Bogota, the advisor will "engage in frequent in-country travel to remote locations."

Reflecting the nature of this high threat environment, combat-advisement position is the level of "extensive operational experience" that the candidate must have related to:

-- Orchestrating complex joint aviation and ground operations/training activities involving battalion- or larger-sized Military/law enforcement organizations; and:

-- Planning and managing multi-million dollar budgets, in the acquisition/procurement process and in advising Latin American military organizations regarding the integration of aviation and ground units in [counternarcotics] operations.

As previously reported in NarcoSphere, State Dept-based, private-contractor supported counterdrug operations in Colombia and the surrounding region clearly are on the rise, evident by the ongoing creation of additional military style advisor positions (also see recent but unreported campaigns to hire a COLAR Aviation Log/Facilities Advisor
and a COLAR Aviation Safety Advisor) plus the heightened acquisition of combat supplies that the department funnels through the Ft. Bragg, N.C.-based Delta Force or via Florida-based “exporters” who deliver the good directly to the Colombian military and national police.

For further background information on the role of Huey helicopters in U.S. combat ops, see:

GlobalSecurity.org

U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet

Federation of American Scientists