On Thursday (23), a ceremony commemorating the 13th anniversary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces (Emcfa) took place at the Higher Defense School. On the occasion, the Emcfa Merit and Military Service medals were awarded to authorities and organizations that have distinguished themselves in providing relevant services to the agency. Emcfa was created on August 25, 2010 and is responsible for strategic planning and the joint and individual employment of the Brazilian Armed Forces.
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Fleet Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, highlighted some of the actions carried out throughout 2023, such as Operation Yanomami and the missions to support populations affected by extreme weather events in various regions of the country.
“Over the past year, there has been no shortage of examples of how successful the integration of our Navy, our Army and our Air Force can be, dialoguing through the Ministry of Defense and Emcfa, and how much this articulation can collaborate in the challenges and desires of our nation, strengthening the presence of the Brazilian State and supporting our fellow citizens in times of greatest need,” he said.
This year, under the coordination of the agency, 23 exercises and training sessions were held in Brazil and abroad, with the aim of improving the knowledge and skills of around 10,000 military personnel. In support of public security agencies, four “Ágata” operations – in the Amazon and in the north, south and west of the country – totaled around R$305 million in seizures of drugs and illicit goods, and fines.
Of the 12 UN peacekeeping operations in force, Brazil is present in 8, also under the coordination of Emcfa. In addition, in the area of international cooperation, Defense participated in 31 bilateral activities and advanced initiatives with 24 countries on strategic themes such as cyber defense; science, technology and innovation; defense industry; space; and military education. The results are the fruit of the work of the four subordinate departments: Choc (Head of Joint Operations), Chelog (Head of Logistics and Mobilization), Cae (Head of Strategic Affairs) and Chec (Head of Education and Culture).
The ceremony was attended by the Commander of the Navy, Fleet Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen; the Chief of the Joint Command of the Peruvian Armed Forces, Army General Manuel Jesús Martin Gómez de La Torre Araníbar; the former Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, Fleet Admiral (RM1) Ademar Sobrinho and Air Brigadier Raul Botelho; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, Luiz Henrique Pochyly da Costa; the Chief of Staff of the Army, Army General Fernando José Sant’ Ana Soares e Silva, among other authorities.