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Army South kicks-off main planning conference for Exercise Southern Vanguard 22
July 12, 2021 — Brazilian Army planners discuss the Southern Vanguard Exercise during the main planning conference in San Antonio, Texas, July 12, to prepare for Exercise Southern Vanguard 22, which will be held in Brazil with forces from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in December. Exercise Southern Vanguard 22 is an opportunity to increase collaboration, enhance interoperability, and assist in building capacity of the Brazilian and U.S. armies... MORE

Brazilian Army planners discuss the Southern Vanguard Exercise during the main planning conference in San Antonio, Texas, July 12, to prepare for Exercise Southern Vanguard 22, which will be held in Brazil with forces from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in December.

Exercise Southern Vanguard 22 is an opportunity to increase collaboration, enhance interoperability, and assist in building capacity of the Brazilian and U.S. armies.

JTF-Bravo conducts Global Health Engagement in Colombia
July 12, 2021 — Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo), a U.S. Southern Command (U.S. SOUTHCOM) unit, will conduct a Global Health Engagement in San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, Colombia, July 12-16 in conjunction with the Colombian Ministry of Health and the Colombian military. MORE

Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo), a U.S. Southern Command (U.S. SOUTHCOM) unit, will conduct a Global Health Engagement in San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, Colombia, July 12-16 in conjunction with the Colombian Ministry of Health and the Colombian military.

U.S. Army South welcomes new commanding general
June 30, 2021 — U.S. Army South conducted a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston on June 30. MORE

Brig. Gen. William L. Thigpen, U.S. Army South incoming commanding general, presents remarks during the Army South Change of Command Ceremony on June 30, 2021, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

U.S. Army South hosts Colombian Army senior enlisted leaders during PISAJ engagement
June 29, 2021 — U.S. Army South hosted Colombian Army senior enlisted leaders for the 15th iteration of the semi-annual military-to-military engagement, "Programa Integral para Suboficiales de Alta Jerarquía," or PISAJ, from June 14-19 at Fort Benning, Ga. and June 20-25 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. MORE

“We are here to enhance essential leadership skills of the Colombian senior non-commissioned officers (NCO),” said Command Sgt. Maj. Trevor Walker, U.S. Army South command sergeant major during 15th iteration of the semi-annual military-to-military engagement, "Programa Integral para Suboficiales de Alta Jerarquía," or PISAJ, from June 14-19 at Fort Benning, Ga. and June 20-25 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.. “We are fully committed to assisting our partners in the areas that reinforces Colombia’s commitment and goal to professionalize their NCO Corps.”

Exercise Southern Vanguard 2021 Final Planning Conference kicks-off in Santiago, Chile
June 22, 2021 — A Chilean and U.S. delegation meet in Santiago at the Chilean Army Headquarters on June 20 for the first day of a four-day final planning conference of Exercise Southern Vanguard 21. ExSV21 is a combined training exercise between the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division and the Chilean Army 3rd Mountain Division and serves as an opportunity to increase collaboration, enhance interoperability, and assist in building capacity of the Chilean and U.S. armies... MORE

A Chilean and U.S. delegation meet in Santiago at the Chilean Army Headquarters on June 20 for the first day of a four-day final planning conference of Exercise Southern Vanguard 21. ExSV21 is a combined training exercise between the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division and the Chilean Army 3rd Mountain Division and serves as an opportunity to increase collaboration, enhance interoperability, and assist in building capacity of the Chilean and U.S. armies.

Colombian Army trains at JRTC, conducts Staff Talks with Army South
June 15, 2021 — The U.S. Army can trace its history training with the Colombian Army (COLAR) to more than 60 years ago when U.S. Army Ranger officers developed the Lancero training program for the COLAR in the mid-1950s. Since that time, the initiative has resulted in one of the longest one-on-one professional military relationships with U.S. Army South taking the lead in maintaining the long-lasting partnership; culminating with the first time a COLAR unit conducting bilateral training at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, La.; followed by bilateral staff talks between the two armies at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. MORE

aj. Gen. Daniel R. Walrath, right, U.S. Army South commanding general, greets Colombian soldiers during a visit to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., June 9, 2021. The Colombian Army is the second South American army to conduct bilateral training with a U.S. Army unit as part of a JRTC rotation.

Army South staff tour the Colombian Army Infantry Museum during the 12th annual U.S., Colombia Army-to-Army Staff Talks
June 11, 2021 — Col. Jeffrey Lopez, right, U.S. Army South Security Cooperation Directorate chief, and Col. Chip Karels, center, U.S. Army South G7 Training and Exercises director, tour the Colombian Army Infantry Museum with the Colombian Army Infantry School Commandant Col. Suarez Giraldo Cesar Augusto, left, June 10, in Bogotá, during the 12th Annual U.S., Colombian Army-to-Army Staff Talks. Each year, the U.S. Army conducts staff talks with the Colombian Army to provide a strategic forum, promote professional relationships and coordinate engagement activities. The U.S. Army designated U.S. Army South as the executive agent for these talks, which are a concrete example of Army South’s security cooperation activities in the region... MORE

Col. Jeffrey Lopez, right, U.S. Army South Security Cooperation Directorate chief, and Col. Chip Karels, center, U.S. Army South G7 Training and Exercises director, tour the Colombian Army Infantry Museum with the Colombian Army Infantry School Commandant Col. Suarez Giraldo Cesar Augusto, left, June 10, in Bogotá, during the 12th Annual U.S., Colombian Army-to-Army Staff Talks.

Each year, the U.S. Army conducts staff talks with the Colombian Army to provide a strategic forum, promote professional relationships and coordinate engagement activities. The U.S. Army designated U.S. Army South as the executive agent for these talks, which are a concrete example of Army South’s security cooperation activities in the region.

Army Futures Command Best Warrior 2021
June 11, 2021 — On a hot, muggy day U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ramiro Rangel, Jr., Army South Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, and Spc. Justin Earnhart, 470th Military Intelligence Brigade, pull security in the shade before beginning the battle lanes during the Army Futures Command Best Warrior Competition in San Antonio, Texas, June 8, 2021. MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ramiro Rangel, Army South Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, and Spc. Justin Earnhart, 470th Military Intelligence Brigade, take a knee during the Army Futures Command Best Warrior Competition on Fort Sam Houston, Texas, June 9, 2021. The Best Warrior Competition evaluates a Soldier’s physical ability, tactical performance and knowledge of Army regulations. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Taeckens) (This photo was edited from its original version)

Senior leaders visit U.S. Army, Colombian Army troops at JRTC
June 10, 2021 — U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Daniel R. Walrath, center-right, U.S. Army South commanding general, and Colombian Army Maj. Gen. German Lopez Guererro, center-left, Colombian Army Force Generation chief of staff, visit troops participating in a combined combat training event at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., June 9. A platoon from the Colombian Army’s Counter Narcotics Brigade is participating in JRTC Rotation 21-08 with members of the U.S. Army South Carolina National Guard’s 1-118th Infantry Battalion at Fort Polk, La., June 8-21. The Colombian Army is one of the most professional armies in South America. This opportunity enhances the capabilities and readiness of the U.S. and Colombian Army forces as we continue to develop our mutual readiness... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Daniel R. Walrath, center-right, commanding general, U.S. Army South, and Colombian Army Maj. Gen. German Lopez Guererro, center-left, Colombian Army Force Generation chief of staff, visit with troops participating in a combined combat training event at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., June 9.

A platoon from the Colombian Army’s Counter Narcotics Brigade is participating in JRTC Rotation 21-08 with members of the U.S. Army South Carolina National Guard’s 1-118th Infantry Battalion to improve interoperability between the U.S. and Colombian armies. The Colombian Army is one of the most professional armies in South America. This opportunity enhances the capabilities and readiness of the U.S. and Colombian Army forces as we continue to develop our mutual readiness.

Native Colombian pursues dream as Army aviator: Part 1
June 9, 2021 — BOGOTÁ – As Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mauricio Garcia, and his Colombian safety officer counterpart, Capt. Cristian Castiblanco, walk the flight line at a Colombian Army base, inspecting for safety hazards and violations, he could not help but marvel on how his life had come full circle... MORE

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mauricio Garcia, and his Colombian safety officer counterpart, Capt. Cristian Castiblanco, walk the flight line of Tolemaida Army Base inspecting for safety hazards and violations. Garcia, a UH-60M Black Hawk pilot and aviation safety officer, is deployed here as part of a technical advising team from U.S. Army Security Assistance Command’s Fort Bragg-based training unit, the Security Assistance Training Management Organization. (photo by Richard Bumgardner)