REVISED: TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR 6TH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000379

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC KBEAMER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2033
TAGS: PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA
SUBJECT: REVISED: TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR 6TH
SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON COUNTER NARCO-TERRORISM
DEPLOYMENT

REF: SOUTHCOM 061200Z

Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) The Ambassador, Office of Defense Cooperation Paraguay
(ODC),Drug Enforcement Agency Attache, and the Paraguayan
Military Forces Commander concur with the 6th Special
Operations Squadron (6th SOS) Counter Narco-Terrorism Terms
of Reference (TOR) and deployment as outlined here (reftel).
In accordance with the TOR, the following information is
provided:


A. (U) Chief of Mission (COM) James Cason, ODC Chief Colonel
Arie Bogaard, and General Bernardino Soto Estigarribia,
commander of the Paraguayan Armed Forces, have concurred and
approved this deployment.


B. (U) MISSION: Upon order, Air Force Special Operations
Command (AFSOC) deploys one Operational Aviation Detachment
(OAD)-A Team and one OAD-B Team to conduct CNT training with
elements of the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP),in order to
enhance the Paraguayan Air Force unit's ability to support
ground-based law enforcement operations to fix, close with,
and neutralize narco-terrorists. This supports Special
Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH),ODC Chief, and Country
Team Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) objectives.


C. (C) CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS:

Pre-deployment Site Survey (PDSS): AFSOC will deploy a
five-person team on or about June 21-23 to assess the FAP's
aviation assets and make recommendations if discrepanices are
found.

Advance Eschelon (ADVON): AFSOC will deploy a four-person
ADVON element on or about August 12-17 to Asuncion to
finalize prior coordination, establish a presence with the
Paraguayan Armed Forces, and facilitate the arrival of
mainbody.

Mainbody: AFSOC will deploy on or about August 26 -
September 8 a 16-person mainbody (team) to Asuncion, Paraguay
to link up with ADVON personnel and initiate execution of CNT
mission.

Redeployment: All team members will depart Paraguay on or
about September 26, or upon mission completion.

Training focus: Operations will include improving FAP
maintenance's ability to support and sustain FAP aviation
operations in support of CNT; day/night tactical operations;
day/night infiltrations and exfiltrations; tactical landings
to marked landing zones; personnel and equipment drops;
air-to-ground integration; airborne command and control;
formation; communications interoperability; and life support
equipment training. Operations will be in support of fixed-
and rotary-wing aircraft operations. Maintenance training
and operations will be conducted under the guidance of and in
coordination with the ODC Air Force section chief to
compliment and enhance the existing maintenance program.
Communications interoperability with the Paraguayan Armed
Forces' rapid response unit (DCEI, or Destacamento Conjunto
de Empleo Inmediato) will be conducted under the guidance of
and in coordination with Special Operations Command Forward
(SOC FWD) utilizing partner nation organic equipment. Each
facet of training, when feasible, will incorporate respect
for human rights principles and procedures by practical
application. The mission will conclude with Paraguayan
forces conducting a field training exercise (FTX) with
designated ground-force elements. This mission will enhance
the 6th SOS' capabilities to respond to challenges and
contingencies in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area
of responsibility and further the USG's national strategic
objectives. Additionally, CNT activities encourage regional
security forces to remain subordinate to civil authority,
adhere to the rules of law, support human rights and promote,
and support democratic institutions. All CNT operations with
Paraguayan forces will be conducted safely and in a manner
that conveys military professionalism, democratic ideals, and
fosters joint combined readiness and interoperability.


D. (U) CNT Justification: This CNT mission was requested by
the Country Team at the Fiscal Year 2007 Conference and is
one of the Country Team's TSC objectives -- to provide
training to Paraguayan military and civilian units involved
in CNT operations. This deployment also provides an
excellent opportunity to improve the Paraguayan Armed Forces'
interoperability with U.S. Armed Forces and supports
Commander USSOUTHCOM Theater Objectives for CNT.


E. (C) Coordination Requirements: ODC will meet and assist
at airport with customs inspections, and other concerns for
PDSS, ADVON, and mainbody; coordinate initial meetings with
Paraguay personnel during PDSS and ADVON, if necessary;
coordinate lodging and food for PDSS, ADVON, and mainbody
personnel; provide local area and national level threat and
intelligence briefs for Paraguay to PDSS, ADVON, and mainbody
upon arrival; provide information on Paraguayan holidays that
could impact mainbody; provide a movement plan to move
necessary equipment and personnel to survey locations;
provide storage for sensitive items; and provide escort and
transportation throughout deployment. Additionally, ODC will
coordinate with the Paraguayan Armed Forces to ensure that
all trainees are assigned to a training location in Asuncion
for the duration of the deployment; coordinate with the
Paraguayan Armed Forces to ensure that all helicopters and
support crews are positioned at training locations for the
duration of training; and conduct follow-up coordination with
the Paraguayan Armed Forces after the site survey to ensure
assets and personnel are on-line for ADVON and mainbody
arrival. SOC FWD conducts Reception, Staging, Onward
Movement and Integration (RSOI) activities in support of
mission (SPA2008CNT051F) and 6th SOS. Once 6th SOS elements
arrive in country, direct line of authority (DIRLAUTH)
between 6th SOS, ODC, host nation, Paraguayan Armed Forces,
and the Country Team is authorized. PDSS personnel will
coordinate details of the evacuation and recovery (E/R) plan
with the Joint Staff Support (J-2),SOCSOUTH, and ODC.


2. (U) Approximately 30 personnel will be trained from the
Helicopter Group and approximately 30 personnel from the
Transport Group.


A. (U) The FAP has the only aviation assets available in
Paraguay to support CNT missions. The Helicopter Group and
Transport Group are authorized to support law enforcement
missions involving CNT operations within Paraguay.


B. (U) Expected interruptions: None.


C. (U) The COM and ODC authorize airborne operations.


3. (U) Command and Control: The SOC FWD commander will have
operational control (OPCON),and ODC Chief Bogaard will be
the Combatant Commander South designated risk determination
authority and have tactical control (TACON) for Force
Protection over deployed forces. The ODC chief's assessment
is that contact with hostile elements is unlikely and the
area is secure and adequately protected.


4. (U) ODC provides the following force protection
assessments for Paraguay:


A. (C) There are no indigenous terrorist organizations in
Paraguay. There are no political groups or parties that are
currently active in this country that are specifically
targeting U.S. interests. However, given the presence of
sympathizers and support for extremist terrorist groups in
the Tri-Border Area of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil (Alto
Parana and Itapua departments),visitors here cannot discount
the possibility of terrorist activity, to include random acts
of anti-American violence. The general threat in the
designated training areas in and around Asuncion is low for
domestic terrorism and high for crime. In addition, the
threat is medium for transnational terrorism throughout the
country. There is no known targeting of U.S. personnel.


B. (U) The ODC will continue with force protection
assessments and will advise of any changes that could impact
the training.


5. (C) Country Team concurs with the deployment dates of June
21-29 and August 12 - September 26.

(U) Main location of this deployment will be Asuncion with
additional locations as authorized by the SOC FWD commander
and ODC chief in conjunction with Embassy Asuncion and the
Paraguayan Armed Forces.


6. (U) A SOC FWD operations non-commissioned officer (NCO)
will provide threat update upon arrival; however, deploying
forces will need to conduct their own force protection threat
assessment upon arrival. This will be tasked to the ADVON.


7. (U) All personnel and equipment will arrive via commerical
air or contracted freight. Personnel will not arrive via
military air (MILAIR) without prior coordination. Country
clearance approval will only be authorized if the Department
of States' e-Country Clearance (eCC) system is used;
clearances sent via the DOD APACS system will not be
approved. Any questions about the eCC can be answered by
going to the following web site:
https://ecc.state.gov/security/EccLogin.aspx.


8. (U) Deploying equipment: Personnel are not authorized to
deploy with weapons and must deploy with organic equipment
minus weapons. Any weapons needed for Force Protection
reasons will be provided by the SOC FWD after approval from
the ODC CDR and in accordance with the Embassy Weapons Policy.


9. ODC POC for this deployment is Air Force Section Chief
Major Michelle Artolachipe, tel: COM (301)985-9395,
extension 114; DSN 294-9000 then dial 59395, extension 114;
cell phone 011-595-971-377-123; NIPR e-mail
michelle.artolachipe@tcsc.southcom.mil; SIPR e-mail
michelle.artolachipe@tcsc.southcom.smil.mil;
SOC FWD POC is Lieutenant Coronel Michael Ball, SOC FWD operations
officer; tel: COM 011-595-2121-3715, extension 2046; cell phone
011-595-981-300-178; NIPR e-mail
michael.ball@socso.southcom.mil; and SIPR e-mail
michael.ball@socso.southcom.smil.mil.

Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion

Cason