Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation
School of the Americas
After 54 years, the US Army School of the Americas was closed on 15 Dec 2000, by National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2001, Section 2186. It was re-opened in the name of Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC).
Chartered by the US Congress, WHINSEC is a one-of-a-kind institute that provides professional education and training for civilian, military and law enforcement students from nations throughout the Western Hemisphere. In keeping with its mandate from Congress, the WHINSEC has formulated and implemented an ambitious and extensive policy on human rights instruction. The Human Rights Program was developed for the primary purpose of creating a culture of respect for human rights within the armed forces, law enforcement, and governmental and non-governmental agencies of this hemisphere.
Students receive formal instruction and discuss human rights issues that affect military and police participation in operations during war, conflict, and peace. Students receive theoretical training in the definition, concepts, and historical development of present-day human rights and international humanitarian law precepts. When appropriate, situational exercises are embedded in tactical training. All students must take a human rights written exam.
The Board of Visitors to the institute, much like those for the military service academies, maintains independent oversight of the institute. The Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2001, 10 USC, Sec 2166, established WHINSEC and called for a The 13-member BOV includes four members of Congress designated by the Senate and House Armed Services Committees' leadership; representatives from the State Department, U.S. Southern Command and the Army Training and Doctrine Command; and six members designated by the Secretary of Defense. These six will include representatives from the human rights, religious and academic communities. Its members oversee areas such as curriculum, fiscal affairs and academic methods. Each year, the BOV submits its report to the Secretary of Defense who then reports to Congress.
The U.S. Army School of the Americas is a bilingual Training and Doctrine Command service school that has trained over 56,000 military, police and government from 22 nations throughout the hemisphere.
The School was charged by Public Law 100-180 (10 USC 4415) with the mission to provide doctrinally sound, relevant military education and training to the nations of Latin America; promote democratic values and respect for human rights; and foster cooperation among the multinational military forces.
A highly qualified staff of 320 military and civilian instructors, and some 30 guest instructors from Latin America, prepare, support, and present more than 30 courses in Spanish to students representing over 125 nations.
SOA's professional program prepares the company- and field-grade officers, cadets, noncommissioned officers, police and civilian government personnel to face the ever increasing role of the armed forces in conducting non-traditional missions involved in Operations Other Than War.
Sensitive to that, SOA added new courses to include peace operations, resource management, border operations, democratic sustainment, medical assistance, counter-mine operations, and counter-drug operations. All of the instruction is designed to prepare the military forces of the Americas to be constructive and effective partners in the democratic processes of their nations.
Inherent in all the training and education programs, SOA systematically advocates human rights awareness and strives to graduate students whose respect for such values is both enlightened and solidified. Doctrinal training is supported by human rights instruction comprised of case studies, prominent guest lecturers, diverse informational programs, provocative seminars, and practical application in realistic field scenarios.
The School was established in 1946 at Fort Amador, Panama Canal Zone, as the Latin American Center - Ground Division (U.S. Training).
SOA occupies Building 35 at Fort Benning, a historic edifice which, from 1932 to 1964, headquartered the U.S. Army Infantry School. In April 1994, it was dedicated as Ridgway Hall in honor of General Matthew B. Ridgway whose work in Latin America won him honor and distinction.
About 1,000 people demonstrated on 03 April 2000 outside the White House, urging U.S. authorities to close a training center for Latin American military officers. The U.S. Army-run School of the Americas had trained more than 60,000 troops in counterinsurgency warfare over the last 50 years. Critics have long accused the school of training soldiers in questionable and abusive tactics, which are then used against populations in their home countries. Organizers of the demonstration cited recent reports released by Human Rights Watch and the U.S. State Department that linked graduates of the school to paramilitary killings in Colombia.
