U.S. military helping develop senior enlisted corps.

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It’s a cliche, but it’s true: The U.S. military, by and large, is run by its senior enlisted -- those sergeants and senior chiefs who know how to carry out the officers’ orders without undermining their authority.

Now the U.S military is helping the armies of Caribbean, Latin and South American countries develop noncommissioned officer corps.

In June, the U.S. Southern Command will sponsor a conference for senior enlisted leaders in Santiago, Chile. The U.S. Air Force has been working with military units from Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago and Honduras, including a training session recently in Honduras.

The Colombian military, U.S. officials said, has shown that strong noncommissioned officers and a strong officer corps can work in tandem. Colombia looked to the U.S. on how to develop the senior enlisted ranks earlier this decade.

Now the Colombians run two 11-week sessions every year. Also, the Colombians are working with U.S. Army Special Forces on a new sergeants-major course.

-- Tony Perry, San Diego