Union Panamericana de Oficiales de Reserva de las Fuerzas Armadas (UPORFA) is an organization of associations located in the Western Hemisphere. It is open for membership to all democratic countries located in North, Central and South America, including the island nations of the Caribbean.
UPORFA supports the principles of democracy and promote the values of using citizen Reservists to support the armed forces of their respective nations.
Participation in UPORFA is open to all ROA members along with their spouses, significant others and guest of an ROA member.
2022 Update
Due to the worldwide COVID Pandemic, UPORFA has not held a Congress previously scheduled for Paraguay in 2020 and Peru in 2021. For 2022, the UPORFA Congress is scheduled for scheduled for Sept. 15-17, 2022 in the Capital of Paraguay-Asuncion.
This Congress in Paraguay has received the approval of their Minister of Defense. Additionally, the Argentine Officer will receive the ROA International Medal if present.
The theme of the Congress will be “Reservist Contributions during the Worldwide COVID Pandemic.” Registration cost and lodging details are forthcoming. Both myself and the UPORFA International President, Brig Gen. Fernando Fernandes, retired USA have had a prior visit to the Capital of Asuncion.
To date, the UPORFA President has received confirmation of attendance interest from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has been kept appraised of our Congress. Formal invitations are being made for Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Including myself, four other former ROA Presidents have attended several UPORFA Congresses.
In December 2021, the UPORFA President and I visited Quito, Ecuador and met with the leadership of the Ecuadorian ROA, senior military leadership to include their Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and an introduction to their Minister of Defense. Ecuador then expressed a desire to host an UPORFA Congress in the very near future.
In March 2022, as Chief U.S. Delegate to UPORFA, I signed a congratulatory letter to the 1st Mission Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve in Puerto Rico for its 100 years of service to the United States of America. The President of ROA also penned a letter to the U.S. Army Reserve of Puerto Rico.
In June 2022, UPORFA leadership from member countries have been invited to Peru for some special celebrations which had been cancelled during the COVID pandemic.
Robert W. Smith III
Major General, U.S. Army, Retired
UPORFA, Chief U.S. Delegate