THE US Southern Command (Southcom) donated 45 Harris radios to the TT Defence Force to help with operations and to underlie co-operation between the two countries' military forces.

Southcom's Major General Julian Cheater did the handover at a function at Coast Guard headquarters at Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas, where Ministry of National Security permanent secretary Natasha Barrow was formally presented with a radio set.

Also present were Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel, and TT Coast Guard commanding officer Capt Don Polo, whom Cheater hailed as a fellow graduate of the Inter American Defense College.

Cheater said the radios were "a significant contribution."

"These radios represent US$653,000 worth of cutting-edge military radios to the TT Defence Force."

He said the donation was made via the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a security collaboration between the US and Caribbean nations.

"This contribution embodies our unwavering support for your dedication to safeguarding our shared values of peace, stability, and security."

Cheater said the radios were a critical investment in the Defence Force.

The radios would "improve communications, boost situational awareness, and enhance interoperability."

He said secure and reliable communications were critical for any military force.

"These Harris Radios will provide the Defence Force with crystal-clear and dependable communications channels, ensuring seamless coordination during operations and exercises."

Advocating real-time information sharing, he said the radios will allow a fuller understanding of developing situations, so enabling faster decision-making that was better-informed.

"These radios will also facilitate smoother communications, not only within the Defence Force, but also with regional and international partners.

"This enhanced interoperability will strengthen co-operation and collective security efforts throughout the Caribbean."

Cheater reflected on his earlier days as a combat pilot.

"I recall many times while flying combat mission when I had to rely on secure communications to locate enemy forces attacking friendlies. The importance of passing critical information quickly across long distances cannot be overstated.

"I am confident that these Harris Radios will serve the Defence Force well for years to come, and I look forward to visiting again later this year."

Cheater is Southcom's director of strategy, policy and plans and former assistant deputy under secretary of the Air Force, at Arlington, Virginia. He has commanded at the squadron, group, wing and headquarters levels and is a command pilot with 3,700 hours of flying time.

His resume, distributed to reporters, showed he had combat experience in Iraq (Operation Southern Watch), Libya (Operation Jukebox Lotus) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) among other operations.

[caption id="attachment_1097590" align="alignnone" width="1024"] From left, Chief of Defense Staff, Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel, Ministry of National