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, 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 to and ensure a free flow of commerce through the Panama Canal.

If I had to encapsulate my advice to those women who are thinking of joining the U.S. Army, it would be to create your own legacy. Appreciate the past, learn from the present, and embrace the future. It is a balance between continuous self-awareness and developing those around you.

U.S. Army South Soldiers, Civilians, friends, and Family gather to witness retired Col. Peter Malik, a former commander of Special Troops Battalion, U.S. Army South, return a piece of history: the prototype guidon he designed years ago for the battalion in a gesture of respect and appreciation of his former battalion here on Fort Sam Houston.

March is Women’s History Month. As the month unfolds, we once again embrace this time to commemorate the unforgettable contributions and remarkable achievements of women throughout history. This year’s theme, "Women Who Have Made Great Achievements," highlights women who have shattered barriers, defied expectations, and transformed the landscape of progress across the spectrum of society. “I have been committed to demonstrating that women are equal contributors to our Army teams and showing that the perspective women provide enables us to be force multipliers,” said Lt. Col. Michelle Martinez, the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South.