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