The next commandant spent time meeting the leaders of some of the world's other marine corps at a conference in Colombia this week.

Lt. Gen. Robert Neller attended the annual Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference Aug. 24 and 25th on behalf of Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford. His attendance, said officials with Marine Forces South, emphasizes the significance of the region and the priority the Marine Corps is placing on developing relationships with military counterparts there.

"This is tremendously valuable so our next commandant can meet all his counterparts in this [area of operations]," Brig. Gen. Eric Smith, the commander of MARFORSOUTH, said in an interview. "This is predominantly where the marine corps of the world exist, in this region."

Leaders from 15 other marine corps in Central and South America were represented at the conference.

The Marines took a series of unprecedented steps this year to build presence and relationships in that region. This June, the Corps established Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force South, a 300-man unit poised to provide hurricane season relief, train military counterparts and complete infrastructure projects within Central American nations. Shortly afterward, Smith became the first dedicated commanded of MARFORSOUTH, a position that was previously held by the deputy commander of Marine Forces Command, out of Norfolk, Virginia.

Smith, who took command June 30, said he has spent much of his time meeting with military leaders in the region to establish relationships and determine ways they can collaborate on training and building projects to mutual benefit. Neller's presence at the conference, which was attended by , would help the Marine Corps better plan a way forward in the coming year.

"We could not be happier to have him down there to meet his counterparts early, before he even becomes the commandant, and set whatever goals and expectations he has for us," Smith said. "He'll let us know, and then we'll carry that out as best we can."

The event also offered Neller an opportunity to reconnect with an old acquaintance: the commandant of the Argentine Marines, Rear Adm. Pedro Eugenio Galardi. Neller and Galardi served together years ago when Neller commanded 6th Marine Regiment, Smith said. Galardi was an exchange officer at the time.

"They both served together; now they're both commandants of their respective Marine Corps. So, small world," Smith said.

In remarks on the first day of the conference, Neller spoke of the bond the countries shared.

"Recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and storms that come across the oceans remind us that it is only a matter of time before we have to operate together in this hemisphere as friends," Neller said, according to a news release. "We need to be ready to respond in support of each other."

Neller will take command of the Marine Corps in late September as Dunford prepares to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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