Leia o texto para responder à questão.

1     Brazilian Army Colonel Sergio Reis Matos serves as one of four United States Army South’s (USARSOUTH) partner nation liaison officers, or PNLO. Since July 2023, Matos has worked to strengthen the historic partnership between Brazil and the United States (US), focusing on enhancing military collaboration and interoperability.

    Matos’ journey into the military began with two key influences: his father, a decorated non-commissioned officer in the Brazilian Navy, and his own early experience at a military middle school. “My father earned the rank of sergeant major and was able to travel the world to 23 countries,” said Matos. “He was a brilliant example of the opportunities to be had by serving my homeland.”

    In 1987, Matos was accepted into a military middle school which was overseen by the Brazilian Army, which Matos said is very similar to the junior reserve officers’ training corps. His experience there laid the foundation for values and discipline needed for a career in the army.

    Matos began his military career in 1993 at the Brazilian Army Cadets’ Preparatory School in São Paulo. Over nearly 32 years, he has held several distinguished roles, including commanding a border detachment in the Amazon, securing military venues during the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and leading an infantry battalion steeped in historical ties to the US Fifth Army. “The most memorable period of my career was when I commanded the 11th Mountain Infantry Battalion,” he reflected. “It was one of the units that integrated with US forces during World War II.”

5     His assignment as the Brazilian PNLO at USARSOUTH is not his first encounter with the US Army. In 2007, he attended the Captain’s Career Course at Fort Moore (US) where he earned the Distinguished International Honor Graduate award for excellence in academics and the Order of Saint Maurice Medallion in the rank of Peregrinus, for his notable contributions to the US infantry.

    During his tenure at USARSOUTH, he facilitated military coordination between the Brazilian and US armies, focusing on combined operations, joint exercises and strategic engagements. His efforts as the Brazilian PNLO have been central to enhancing interoperability and fostering deeper collaboration.

(Joshua Taeckens. www.army.mil, 11.01.2025. Adaptado.)