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Western Hemisphere defense partners unite for PANAMAX24, demonstrate interoperability and readiness during region’s largest command post exercise
August 14, 2024 — FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – PANAMAX24 concluded, Aug. 14, wrapping up a week of intensive military training and collaboration among Western Hemisphere partner nations. The U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)-sponsored exercise, held across various U.S. locations Aug. 9-14, aimed to enhance regional security and interoperability, bringing together multiple joint and multinational forces to tackle realistic scenarios and strengthen their abilities to plan and execute complex multinational operations. MORE

U.S. Southern Command Gen. Laura Richardson provides remarks during PANAMAX24’s closing ceremony, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Richardson emphasized the importance of professional relationships, teamwork, interoperability and readiness while speaking to hundreds of joint and multinational PANAMAX participants following the region’s largest command post exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)

Evolving capabilities and strengthening global security through multinational unity at PANAMAX
August 14, 2024 — As the final day of PANAMAX 2024 concludes, participants from 12 nations reflect on a week defined by intense collaboration, shared challenges, and significant accomplishments. This year’s exercise marks the 21st iteration of PANAMAX, an event that has grown from a modest beginning to a cornerstone of multinational military cooperation. “Participating in PANAMAX 2024 represents the dynamic change that our world is continuously undergoing,” said Deputy Commissioner Felix Kirven of Panamá Aeronaval Service. “PANAMAX has evolved as the world evolves.” MORE

Exercise PANAMAX 2024 begins, US Army South hosts 11 nations at Fort Sam Houston for major multinational exercise

Religious support team strengthens unity and resilience during PANAMAX 24
August 12, 2024 — In the vast scope of military exercises, operations, and planning, it’s easy to overlook the quieter, yet equally vital roles that contribute to mission success. While key roles like future operations, cyber, intelligence, and logistics take center stage in ensuring operational success at PANAMAX 24, the religious support team (RST) plays a critical behind-the-scenes role: ensuring the spiritual readiness and well-being of all personnel involved. MORE

Service members from Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, and the United States pose for a photo after a mass service during PANAMAX 24 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Aug. 9, 2024. The U.S. Army South chaplain directorate, alongside Colombian Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Benedict Peña Alvarez, the chaplain general of the Colombian army, provided spiritual readiness support to 12 partner nations during PANAMAX 24, the U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, multinational, biennial command post exercise. (courtesy photo)

US Army South hosts 11 nations for exercise PANAMAX 2024
August 6, 2024 — FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — PANAMAX 2024 is officially underway. The U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, multinational, biennial command post exercise aimed at reinforcing and enhancing the long-term security of the Panama Canal, and the Western Hemisphere takes place from Aug. 5-14, 2024, at various locations across the United States. MORE

Brig. Gen. Phil Ryan promoted to major general by fellow Night Stalker Lt. Gen. John Evans
August 5, 2024 — Army South commander promoted In the company of Family, friends, and colleagues, Brig. Gen. Phil Ryan, the commander of U.S. Army South (USARSOUTH), was promoted to major general during a ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on Aug. 5. Lt. Gen. John Evans, the commander of U.S. Army North and the presiding officer for the ceremony, called Ryan’s promotion a “well-deserved recognition of his continued potential and his leadership.” MORE

US, Colombian armies enhance interoperability during airborne infiltration exercise HYDRA III 2024
August 1, 2024 — Nestled in the heart of Colombia’s Andes mountain range, approximately 75 miles south of Bogota, roughly 300 soldiers from the U.S. and Colombian armies forged partnerships during the bilateral airborne infiltration exercise, Hydra III 2024, held from July 28 to August 1, 2024, in Fuerte Militar de Tolemaida, Colombia. A U.S. Army South-led exercise, HYDRA 24, formerly known as Dynamic Force Employment, is an agreed-to-action between the partner nations and the third iteration of its kind. MORE

Colombian army paratroopers from Battalion of Counter Narcotics

US Army South welcomes new commanding general
June 28, 2024 — FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Army South (USARSOUTH) witnessed a historic transition of leadership during a change of command ceremony at Fort Sam Houston Theater, here, June 28. Maj. Gen. William Thigpen relinquished command of USARSOUTH, the Army service component command (ASCC) of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), to Brig. Gen. Philip Ryan. MORE

U.S., Central American military leaders reaffirm their commitment to regional security, partnership
May 23, 2024 — SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – U.S. and Central American military leaders gathered in El Salvador, May 21, to reaffirm their shared commitment to regional security and to renew partner-nation engagement and training opportunities for the upcoming years. The multinational forum, hosted by U.S. Army South, served as the 19th edition of the U.S.-El Salvador army-to-army staff talks and the fifth Central American (CENTAM) Working Group, which was designed to enhance interoperability amongst American, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Honduran armies. MORE

10th annual U.S.-Peru Army Staff Talks synchronize future engagements, promote continuous transformation
May 9, 2024 — FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Army South hosted the 10th annual Peru-U.S. Army Staff Talks, May 9, at U.S. Army South Headquarters where delegations from both armies reviewed 46 agreed-to-actions that outline future engagements and continuous transformation efforts that will take place over the next three years. The U.S. Army Staff Talks Program serves as a bilateral forum for strategic-level discussion between respective armies to develop professional partnerships and increase interaction between partner nation armies. “The importance of these staff talks is that they shape the next three to four years of the process for working with our partner nations and ensure that the agreed-to-actions are aligned with the Army South campaign as well supporting the Peruvian Army objectives,” said U.S. Army Maj. Derek Repp, political-military plans officer for Peru within the U.S. Army South Security Cooperation Division. MORE

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South Begin TRADEWINDS 24 alongside Barbados Defence Force, U.S. Army South, Caribbean Allies and Partners
May 7, 2024 — The U.S. Marine Corps sent Company A, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and a reconnaissance detachment from 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, both from 4th Marine Division, alongside a Civil Affairs detachment from 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, to train alongside partner forces and improve security cooperation in the Caribbean basin as part of U.S. Army South’s Exercise TRADEWINDS 24 on May 4 MORE

TRADEWINDS 24 begins after opening ceremony