Category: Southern Command

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

The multinational military exercise Resolute Sentinel 2024 officially began May 27, 2024, at Grupo 4 in La Joya, Peru, after an opening ceremony and unveiling of the 2024 exercise partnership emblem. RS24, which will continue through the next three weeks, is sponsored by U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) and marks the beginning of a comprehensive joint training opportunity aimed at enhancing regional security and interoperability among Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, France and the United States.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

MIAMI (May 24, 2024) — U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, returned today from official visits to Brazil and Panama this week.

Richardson’s visited Brazil May 20-23 to meet with Brazilian authorities and leaders and join celebrating the bicentennial of U.S.-Brazil diplomatic relations aboard the visiting USS George Washington (CVN 73). The aircraft carrier was in Brazil as part of the Southern Seas 2024 deployment in the region.

In São Paulo May 21, the general joined Brazilian military and industry leaders at Boeing Brasil for a Women, Peace and Security panel discussion on the integration of women in peacekeeping, defense, and security missions and emphasizing the importance of inclusion and diversity in global security. Also in São Paulo, Richardson visited Embraer headquarters to discuss aerospace & defense partnerships.

In Rio de Janeiro May 22, Richardson and U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Elizabeth Frawley Bagley joined Brazilian government and military leaders aboard the George Washington to celebrate 200 years of Brazil-U.S. relations.

“We have fought together,” said Richardson during remarks at celebration. She hailed the enduring legacy of a U.S.-Brazil defense partnership that goes back to World War II and reaffirmed commitment to the continued cooperation of our “like-minded democracies.”

Richardson also expressed condolences to Brazilians affected by the recent floods and praised the efforts of Brazil’s military and response agencies who are working around the clock to alleviate suffering.

The general arrived in Panama May 23. Richardson visited the nation to take part in the closing ceremony for the multinational Fuerzas Comando 2024 training exercise and Special Forces competition held May 12-24 in Panama.

Teams from 17 countries, including the United States, took part in the contest, which promotes military-to-military relationships, increases training knowledge and improves regional security.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III emphasized the close ties between the U.S. and Kenya today as he met with Kenyan President William S. Ruto.

The two leaders met following President Joe Biden’s announcement of his intention to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO U.S. ally. The announcement came during Ruto’s official state visit yesterday at the White House.  

Austin welcomed the elevation of the U.S.-Kenya relationship today, noting the strategic working relationships between the two countries’ militaries and defense civilians.  

“This designation underscores our close relationship,” Austin said. “And it demonstrates our deep appreciation for your contributions to peace and security in Africa and beyond.” 

The designation marks the strong ties between the U.S. and Kenya spanning six decades. 

Ruto echoed Austin’s praise and thanked the secretary for his efforts to deepen ties between the two militaries. 

The president added that Kenya’s friendship with the U.S. is based on a strong foundation of shared values.  

“We both believe in freedom,” Ruto said. “We believe in democracy. We believe in the rule of law. We believe in inclusivity, equality and, of course, in shared prosperity that is guaranteed by peace and security.” 

Kenya has been a close U.S. partner in countering al-Shabab, an Islamist militant group based in neighboring Somalia.

The militant group is responsible for multiple attacks in Nairobi, including a multiday attack on the Westgate shopping mall in which al-Shabab militants killed 67 people in 2013. 

In 2019, gunmen associated with al-Shabab attacked DusitD2 Hotel complex in Nairobi, killing at least 21 people. A U.S. citizen was among the dead.   

Kenya is also leading the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti in response to Haiti’s request for international support to address insecurity in the Caribbean nation.   

Kenya has pledged to send 1,000 police to Haiti to restore safety and security to the country beset by widespread violence and civil unrest. The U.S. plans to provide $300 million in assistance and in-kind support to the mission.   

Austin said today that Kenya’s leadership of the mission “shows the important role that Kenya plays in global security.” 

“We also appreciate Kenya’s contributions to U.N. international peace and stability operations,” Austin said. “And of course, we’re also grateful for Kenya’s generous support in hosting U.S. forces at Manda Bay.” 

This week, the U.S. and Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the Manda Bay airfield. Austin said the agreement was a “testament to the strength of our partnership and to our commitment to strengthen Kenya’s counterterrorism capability.”

In September, Austin met with Kenyan Defense Minister Aden Bare Duale in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, to mark the United States’ commitment to a lasting partnership between the two countries’ militaries.  

During that visit, the defense counterparts signed a five-year framework for defense cooperation and enhancing interoperability between the two militaries. 

“It was important for me to travel to Kenya last year because it is a critical partner for regional security and a key partner for global security,” Austin said today during his meeting with Ruto.  

Austin announced today that three Kenyan cadets have been admitted to U.S. military service academies as further evidence of the close partnership between the two countries.  

“They will be the first Kenyan cadets to attend these outstanding schools — and I’m confident that they won’t be the last,” Austin said.  

“Mr. President, thanks again for visiting the Pentagon,” he said. “And I look forward to continuing our close cooperation.”

 

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras   –  

A female firefighter from the Fire Department of El Salvador was the first to participate in CENTAM SMOKE at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, from April 22-26, 2024. 

El Salvador has been participating in CENTAM SMOKE since 2007, but this iteration El Salvador sent a female firefighter increasing female participation in the multinational exercise to 18%.  

Yoselin Alejandra Orellana Ramos, a Salvadoran Firefighter II, whose firefighting experience started just under three years ago expressed her gratitude to the department for the opportunity.  

“I am extremely grateful to God and the institution for the enormous privilege of being the first woman to participate in such activity,” said Orellana.  

Orellana represented female firefighters along with two other Guatemalan and three Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 612th Air Base Squadron female firefighters at CENTAM SMOKE. 

During CENTAM SMOKE, Orellana additionally trained with firefighters from Jamaica, Colombia and Honduras on vehicle extrication, rescue tactics, techniques and procedures, and structural live fire training.  

Throughout the training, Orellana supported her fellow Salvadoran firefighters during training and recalls the overwhelming support she received in return.  

“They are extremely supportive, and they trust in my ability to be able to carry out such activities,” said Orellana.

Not only were her teammates supportive, so was the female firefighters of the 612th ABS.  

“Orellana was a great ambassador – one of the hardest working people in the class,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ashley Eisenbarth, a firefighter assigned to the 612th ABS. “It’s fantastic to see such a strong female presence like her during our exercises.”  

Females in firefighting are bringing different perspectives, skills and experiences to departments creating a more inclusive and supportive work environment for everyone.  

Orellana urges women who are interested to join the firefighter career field and in future, they too will get the opportunity to attend CENTAM SMOKE.  

Along with gratefulness and motivation, Orellana embodied dedication to this career field and to this training. 

“Self-denial” is one of the Fire Department of El Salvador’s values, and she perfectly captured her thoughts on her selfless service.  

“My story as a firefighter is the satisfaction to be able to help people and serve them with all my heart in any need that arises,” Orellana said. “Without a doubt, I love my job.” 

She attested the CENTAM SMOKE training as motivation as she knows whatever she learns, she will be able to take back to El Salvador and serve her people.  

In El Salvador, the number of fire emergencies attended by the Tactical Intervention Team of the Department of Emergencies of the Directorate-General for Civil Protection was 352 this year alone.  

The knowledge learned during this exercise will allow her to aide her department and to be able to rapidly respond to fires and rescue emergencies like these.  

A safe, stable Central America is dependent on multinational exercises like CENTAM SMOKE that increases interoperability and builds combined partner capabilities. 

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

Joint Task Force-Bravo with the support from Arkansas National Guard’s 188th Air Wing and the Guatemalan military, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food conducted a Global Health Engagement in remote villages near Livingston, Guatemala, May 13-16, 2024. During the 4-day GHE, JTF-Bravo and its partners delivered care to over 500 patients and 1,500 animals. Services provided were medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, public health and surgery.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

SAN ANTONIO, Texas  –  

U.S. Army South hosted Joint Force planners and military representatives from five South American countries for a crisis planning conference at the Estancia del Norte San Antonio Hotel from April 22-26 in preparation for Exercise PANAMAX 2024.

Exercise PANAMAX is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, multinational and biannual exercise that provides training opportunities for Western Hemisphere nations to work together and build upon their capability to plan and conduct complex, multi-domain operations. The exercise scenario involves security and stability operations and focuses on a multinational and whole-of-government response under a United Nations Security Council resolution to counter security threats and ensure a free flow of commerce through the Panama Canal.

As the land component to U.S. Southern Command, Army South has the capability to transition to a joint task force headquarters. During exercise PANAMAX, the Fort Sam Houston-based organization will serve as Multinational Forces-South (MNFS). The crisis planning conference enabled MNFS planners to exercise the Joint Planning Process and collaborate side-by-side to produce an operations order and wargame for the command post exercise, slated for August.

“This is a very important exercise,” said Maj. Gen. William L. Thigpen, Army South and MNFS commander. “It really is a great opportunity to bring nations together for a common cause of partnership and planning, to understand each other, and really build on interoperability.”

Interoperability and partnership resonated throughout the crisis planning conference, which involved a diverse spectrum of military forces and Department of Defense civilians. Multinational representatives from Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, and Peru were in attendance, as well as combined joint force augmentation from the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command and other active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members.

“I think the most interesting thing here is that our [MNFS] chief of staff is from Peru, the operations officer is from Chile, and we have advisors from Brazil, Ecuador and Argentina,” said Chilean Army Col. Mauricio Rojo, the MNFS deputy J3 operations advisor. “So, this is a very good opportunity to share and learn from each other’s unique experiences. Each country has its own way to do its own things, but we are here to learn to work together, communicate with each other, and understand each other.”

The MNFS Chief of Staff, Peruvian Navy Capt. Humberto Martinez, led the staff in their planning efforts throughout the week, which included identifying any issues or information gaps.

“The chief of staff is sort of an orchestra director,” explained Martinez. “I have to ensure that every team is synchronized with each other in order to do the complex planning that we have to do. The outcome of all of our efforts will be the main ingredient for each [subordinate] component to do their own planning processes.”

The MNFS staff worked together to conduct mission analysis, then each warfighting function developed courses of action to address the simulated threats.

“The MNFS PIC’s output is an order and a concept for how the Multinational Forces will protect the Panama Canal,” explained Lt. Col. Matthew Wilkinson, the combined joint G35 future operations chief for the exercise.

Wilkinson added that the result of this planning conference will inform the following events– a component-level planning in crisis conference in May and the PANAMAX24 command post exercise in August.

“This exercise is also how we learn to incorporate multinational forces and joint forces,” he said. “So, as an Army headquarters, we are broadening ourselves so that we can be a joint capable headquarters if tasked by SOUTHCOM.”

Exercise PANAMAX began in 2003, with initial participants from Chile, Panama and the United States. Since its inception, the exercise has evolved to become the region’s largest coalition command post-exercise.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

See originally posted release on U.S. Embassy Guyana website

U.S. Marine Corps Major General (Maj. Gen.) Julie Nethercot, U.S. Southern Command Strategy, Policy, and Plans Director, visited Guyana May 6-8.  The Strategy, Policy, and Plans Directorate at U.S. Southern Command oversees strategic planning, policy development, and security cooperation coordination for Latin America and the Caribbean.  The Directorate directly supports U.S. Southern Command’s goals and objectives in deterring aggression, defeating threats, rapidly responding to crises, and working with allies and partner nations to strengthen the region’s capacity to ensure a secure, free, and prosperous Western Hemisphere.  Maj. Gen. Nethercot’s visit to Guyana underscores the continued importance and unwavering commitment the United States places on the U.S.-Guyana bilateral defense and security partnership.

During her visit, Maj. Gen. Nethercot met with Brigadier Omar Khan, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, to discuss ongoing security cooperation and security assistance initiatives to advance technology platforms.  This visit is her second trip to Guyana and signifies the U.S. commitment to partnering with the GDF as it continues to increase its capabilities and expand its force.

The United States continues to work closely with its partners around the world to strengthen alliances and partnerships by improving interoperability, deepening information-sharing and planning, and conducting complex joint and combined exercises.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

ATLANTIC OCEAN  –  

The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), has made multiple drug interdictions in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of operations (AOR).

In March, while on patrol in the Atlantic Ocean, the crew detected a self-propelled semi-submersible drug smuggling vessel (SPSS). With assistance from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50, the crew acquired the location of the SPSS and LEDET members launched a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to intercept the vessel. The LEDET detained the individuals aboard the SPSS and seized approximately 2,370 kilograms of cocaine. Then the crew conducted a sinking exercise (SINKEX) on the SPSS.

“Spotting this vessel was like finding a needle in the haystack,” said Lt. Commander Travis Lee, Leyte Gulf’s senior aviator. “I’ve been doing this for seven years and not once been able to find and acquire such an asset until now.”

Taking down the SPSS was only the latest success for USS Leyte Gulf on this deployment.

In February, while on patrol in the Caribbean Sea, the ship intercepted three different vessels using coordinated air and surface operations involving both U.S. and partner nation forces.

During the interdictions, the LEDET boarded and took positive control of each vessel. On Feb. 6, the ship recovered 520 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $12.8 million. On Feb. 15, they recovered 600 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $15.25 million. Then on Feb. 28, the crew recovered another 600 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $15 million.

“Our Leyte Gulf team was ready when called upon to execute all three interdictions,” said Commanding Officer Capt. Nathan Diaz. “The successful seizure of more than $42 million in illicit drugs is a testament to the interoperability of our partner nations, the Coast Guard and the Leyte Gulf team.”

“It was an exciting day to be the Officer of the Deck running the bridge for one of our interdiction operations,” said Lt. j.g. Jayden Hodgson, an officer of the deck and public affairs officer aboard the ship. “Leyte Gulf prevented the illicit importation of drugs that day and we are only getting started.”

USS Leyte Gulf is currently deployed in the USSOUTHCOM AOR to support bilateral and multinational maritime operations with partners in the region, conduct Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) port visits, and to support JIATF-South in countering illicit-drug trafficking.

LEDETs are deployable specialized forces of the U.S. Coast Guard that enforce U.S. laws and treaties in the maritime domain.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

Learn more about USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet at https://www.fourthfleet.navy.mil, https://www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

LATACUNGA, Ecuador – The Ecuadorian Air Force welcomed a C-130H Hercules into its inventory during a ceremony attended by Kentucky Air National Guard leaders who were on hand to congratulate their State Partnership Program colleagues on the new capability.

The Department of Defense State Partnership Program is a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau that facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and foreign allies, fostering enhanced understanding across all aspects of civil and military affairs. The Kentucky National Guard has been partners with Ecuador since 1996.

“The arrival of this C-130H marks not only a tremendous increase to Ecuador’s air mobility capability but also a tangible representation of the commitment of the United States to a very close partner in pursuit of the values of democracy and the dignity of human rights around the world,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Mounkes, the Kentucky National Guard’s assistant adjutant general for Air.

“We look forward to a continued strong partnership with Ecuador in the years ahead,“ Mounkes said. “I am very honored, at a professional and personal level, to be a part of this momentous event today. It is a pleasure to work with such a dedicated organization of the caliber of the Ecuadorian military.”

Also in attendance at the March 25 ceremony were Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa; U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador Michael Fitzpatrick; Ecuadorian Minister of Defense Giancarlo Loffred; Brig. Gen. Geovanny Espinel, commander of the Ecuadorian Air Force; and many other civilian and military officials.

First Lt. Jason Sanderson, director of plans and requirements for the Kentucky Air National Guard, said Kentucky’s partnership with Ecuador is a good match, especially in the area of airlift.

“The fact that our partner nation is receiving a C-130H and we have a flying wing that also flew the C-130H means we have subject matter expertise,” Sanderson said. “One of the things I think we can help with is using our experience from our scheduled maintenance programs and how to manage that along with a viable flying schedule.”

The C-130H was delivered by a private company from Portugal and is a retired U.S. Air Force aircraft built in 1974. This will be the first C-130 for Ecuador, which currently flies the L-100, a civilian variant. The aircraft was part of the DOD’s Excess Defense Articles program, which transfers unused equipment to foreign governments to help modernize partner forces.

Ecuador plans to deploy the aircraft for domestic operations and humanitarian assistance, including counter-narcotics, control of illegal fishing, troop drops, and resupply missions employing aerial delivery to remote jungle settings.

Ecuador has its own aircrew and maintenance training program and partners with the Colombian Air Force for training. Some Ecuadorian Air Force maintenance officers have attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and the maintenance officer course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

“This donation is a demonstration of the deep collaboration between the governments of the United States and Ecuador, from security to economic affairs,” Fitzpatrick said. “But in particular, this plane is a gift to the Ecuadorian people from the American people to support their continued fight against narcotrafficking and criminal groups.”

The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing flies the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. It flew the C-130H Hercules from 1992 to 2021.

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Coast Guard marked the end of a record year in counterdrug operations as the crew of Cutter Waesche from Alameda, California, offloaded more than 39,000 pounds of cocaine in San Diego Thursday, October 27.