USA School of The Americas

The United States Army School of the Americas (SOA) was established in 1946 in Panama to provide military training to Latin American armed forces, with the stated goal of promoting regional stability and strengthening military ties. Over the decades, SOA trained tens of thousands of soldiers, including many who later assumed prominent roles in their home countries. The school became controversial as some graduates were implicated in human rights abuses and coups across Latin America, drawing international criticism and calls for reform or closure. In 2001, the institution was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) and relocated to Fort Benning, Georgia, with a revised curriculum including human rights instruction.