Mexico, because of its strategic geographical position and its status as a close partner of the United States, actively participates in security cooperation programs through bilateral agreements between the governments. U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), as the body responsible for security cooperation in the northern region of the hemisphere, develops these activities to fulfill the objectives established within its area of responsibility.
In this regard, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) is a vital U.S. Department of War security cooperation tool with a mission to train, educate and develop ethical leaders to strengthen democratic alliances in the Americas. WHINSEC receives students and instructors from various countries, including members of the Mexican Armed Forces.
According to WHINSEC’s International Student Military Office, from 2001 to 2025, 458 Mexican students and instructors belonging to the Secretariat of National Defense (DEFENSA), Secretariat of the Navy (MARINA) and other organizations, including some civilian personnel, graduated from WHINSEC courses. Additionally, several foreign guest instructors (FGI) have taught in WHINSEC’s schools, mainly the School of Professional Military Education (SPME), the DeLeon-Gonzalez School of Leadership and Tactics (DGSLT), the Center for Human Rights and Democracy and the Roy Benavidez Non-Commissioned Officer Academy. WHINSEC has trained Mexican officers and noncommissioned officers (NCO) belonging mainly to DEFENSA and MARINA, including many who earned master’s degrees in operational studies or military art and science through the Command and General Staff Officer Course (CGSOC). Mexican students also graduated from the Medical Assistance (MEDAC), Cadet Leadership Development (CLD), and Senior Enlisted Advisors courses. As part of the curriculum, all were trained in key areas such as human rights and international humanitarian law and democracy through WHINSEC’s Center for Human Rights and Democracy.
In the case of the FGIs, Mexico sends captains to lieutenant colonels of the Mexican Army and lieutenants to commanders of the Mexican Navy. These instructors complete the Common Faculty Development Instructors Course to teach, train and facilitate learning in an adult learning environment. This certifies instructors to teach, but they can continue to advance through the three levels of Army instructor badges: basic, senior and master. In this, the Mexican Armed Forces not only receives officers and noncommissioned officers ready to serve in any general staff and other areas but also instructors certified by the United States Army University. These WHINSEC activities involving Mexican personnel contribute directly to the achievement of USNORTHCOM’s security cooperation objectives.
As a strong partner, Mexico collaborates with WHINSEC as the Mexican Army and Navy have sent officers from the different corps and services to serve as FGIs, participating mainly in the schools of SPME (CGSOC, Joint Planning Course, Maneuver Captains Career Course) and DGSLT (MEDAC, CLD).
Mexican instructors possess a broad background, since most have extensive operational experience. This, together with the wide variety of U.S. and international instructors from different branches and services of their countries’ armed forces, helps WHINSEC’s team meet the highest standards of professional military education.
WHINSEC’s motto is Liberty, Peace and Fraternity, and the bonds created among Mexican officers and NCOs and their counterparts strengthen fraternity among students and instructors, new friends and comrades in arms. This fraternity goes beyond classes and instruction in terms of its impact. Since WHINSEC’s opening in 2001, it has trained and educated more than 26,000 students (military, police and civilians) from 36 countries, fostering influential multinational networks. These relationships allow U.S. and partner nation personnel, when assigned to areas of multinational coordination, to act in an agile and effective manner for the benefit of all countries involved. In this way, WHINSEC not only educates and trains officers but also fosters the creation of networks of colleagues who will effectively coordinate the response to regional threats.
Mexico, and particularly its Armed Forces, participates in a relationship of reciprocal cooperation with WHINSEC through the Joint Security Cooperation Education and Training framework, which is the system used by the U.S. Department of War to coordinate education and training related to security cooperation. These initiatives strengthen both national capabilities and interoperability with the U.S. Army, while promoting knowledge sharing and training of certified instructors to teach, train and facilitate learning.
By working with Mexican Armed Forces personnel in its programs, WHINSEC contributes to the achievement of USNORTHCOM’s regional objectives around security cooperation. Similarly, the Mexican Armed Forces demonstrates its commitment and willingness to USNORTHCOM and the bilateral relationship by sending and rotating military personnel as international military students and foreign guest instructors.
Finally, a key benefit WHINSEC provides in terms of security cooperation is the consolidation of a network of colleagues from the different armed forces of the hemisphere. This network allows the U.S. to more expeditiously and efficiently address common regional challenges.
Capt. Víctor H. Roldán González of the Mexican Navy is a foreign guest instructor for the Command and General Staff Officer Course at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in Fort Benning, Georgia.