Latest News

U.S. and Brazilian Pathfinders cross paths again at Southern Vanguard 22
December 17, 2021 — RESENDE, Brazil – As the sun set at the Agulhas Negras Military Academy in Resende, Brazil, Staff Sgt. Shayne Hayes readied his gear for another night in the elements. Hills, mountains, rivers and swamps surround him as he prepared for an early morning mock-raid of an urban town during Southern Vanguard 22, a combined air assault exercise with the U.S. and Brazilian armies. MORE

U.S. Army Soldier Staff Sgt. Shane Hayes, weapons squad leader with Bulldog Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) stands with his weapon during Exercise Southern Vanguard 22 in Resende, Brazil, Dec. 11, 2021. U.S. and Brazilian Army soldiers took part in the air assault exercise, which was the largest deployment of a U.S Army unit to train with the Brazilian Army forces in Brazil. (U.S Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Taeckens)

Bilateral military exercise Southern Vanguard 22 begins in Brazil
December 7, 2021 — LORENA, BRAZIL -- U.S. and Brazilian Army soldiers kicked off Southern Vanguard 22 during opening ceremonies in Lorena, Brazil Dec. 6. Southern Vanguard is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, U.S. Army South-conducted exercise at the operational and tactical levels designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and Western Hemisphere forces. “Southern Vanguard 22 builds upon a partnership between Brazil and the U.S., and we aim to continue this exercise until at least 2028,” said Maj. Gen. William Thigpen, Army South commanding general. “It is important that we execute this mission because in the event of a humanitarian crisis or natural disaster, we’ll already have the experience working alongside the Brazilian forces, and we have that established trust and respect.” More than 1,000 soldiers will participate in the 10-day exercise, including forces from Brazil’s 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry Brigade; U.S. Army South; and 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to conduct joint tactical training. Southern Vanguard is a rotating exercise that Army South conducts with partner nations in Central and South America, and the ultimate goal is to establish a multinational exercise which will improve readiness, security and interoperability in the Western Hemisphere. The first iteration of Southern Vanguard took place in Chile in August 2021 with participating units from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division and Chilean Army’s 3rd Mountain Division. The U.S. Army history of cooperation with Brazil dates back to World War II, where the Brazilian army sent a division-sized element to fight beside the U.S. Fifth Army and was the only Latin American force to participate in the Allied campaign. While the partnership between the U.S. and Brazilian armies is strong, Southern Vanguard 22 is the largest U.S. element to conduct combined training with Brazil since WWII. “This exercise has been in the making since October of 2020, and it could only happen with the combined staff planning of Army South and our Brazilian counterparts,” said Maj. Milton Maddox, Army South’s lead planning officer of Exercise Southern Vanguard 22. “Both of our nations understand the complexities of an operation of this scale and nature, and in our planning, we worked to understand how each other operate to ensure mission success.” Both U.S. and Brazilian armed forces view the exercise as an opportunity to enhance tactical capabilities and operational readiness to be able to respond rapidly in support of regional partners – but most importantly, strengthening the relationship between the two armies. “Our armies have a rich history together, and Southern Vanguard 22 is just one more way to strengthen the partnership that was sampled in World War II,” said Brazilian army soldier, Sgt. Victor Rodrigues, combat training center observer, controller, and trainer. “Exercises like this fortify regional security because our forces learn how to operate as one.” ... MORE

Brazilian army soldiers assigned to 5th Light Infantry Battalion stand in formation during the opening ceremony of Southern Vanguard 22 in Lorena Brazil, Dec. 6 2021. Southern Vanguard 22 was planned as a 10-day air assault operation and was the largest deployment of a U.S. Army unit to train with the Brazilian army forces in Brazil. (U.S Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Taeckens)

U.S. Army engineer capabilities on display for Brazilian Army delegation
December 1, 2021 — Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations are often engineer-intensive. In such cases, U.S. Army South and its partners in the Western Hemisphere may opt to provide extensive military engineer support to civilian authorities. It is critical to establish theater security cooperation in the area of military engineering to enable this assistance. ... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers with the 299th Multi-Role Bridge Company set up an improved ribbon bridge system during a capabilities demonstration

Texas trip provides Peruvian Army delegation increased opportunities for interoperability, strengthen relationships
November 23, 2021 — Emerging threats posed by narcotrafficking networks and the destructive aftermath of natural disasters has created security challenges for many nations in the Western Hemisphere. In an effort to defuse the threats and enhance security in the region, U.S. Army South’s engagements with strategic partners, such as the Peruvian Army, has provided opportunities to build stronger relationships... MORE

Brig. Gen. Carlos Bojorquez, Peruvian Army 1st Multipurpose Brigade commander, right, is given a briefing on the capabilities of the M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle Stryker from a trooper assigned to 3rd Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 17, 2021. The Peruvian Army delegation observed the 3d Cavalry Regiment Strykers as part of an agreed-to-action deriving from the U.S.-Peruvian Army-to-Army Staff Talks.

Peruvian Army delegation observes III Corps Stryker unit with U.S. Army South
November 18, 2021 — Brig. Gen. Carlos E. Bojorquez, left, 1st Multipurpose Brigade commander, Peruvian Army, talks to a U.S. Army Soldier while observing the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment conduct a platoon-level live fire and litter carry exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 17, 2021. U.S. Army South Security Cooperation Directorate personnel escorted the Peruvian Army delegation to Fort Hood to observe U.S. Army Stryker units as part of an agreed-to-action deriving from the U.S.-Peruvian Army-to-Army Staff Talks. Army South is committed to supporting the efforts of partner nations to increase institutional capacity and regional collaboration... MORE

Brig. Gen. Carlos E. Bojorquez, left, 1st Multipurpose Brigade commander, Peruvian Army, talks to a U.S. Army Soldier while observing the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment conduct a platoon-level live fire and litter carry exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 17, 2021. U.S. Army South Security Cooperation Directorate personnel escorted the Peruvian Army delegation to Fort Hood to observe U.S. Army Stryker units as part of an agreed-to-action deriving from the U.S.-Peruvian Army-to-Army Staff Talks. Army South is committed to supporting the efforts of partner nations to increase institutional capacity and regional collaboration. (U.S. Army photo by. Staff Sgt. Daniel Herman)

Peruvian Army delegation meets U.S. Army Fort Hood leaders
November 17, 2021 — Brig. Gen. Carlos E. Bojorquez, left, 1st Multipurpose Brigade commander, Peruvian Army, meets Maj. Gen. Steven Gilland, right, III Corps and Fort Hood deputy commanding general, at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 17, 2021. The Peruvian Army delegation will observe U.S. Army Stryker units as part of an agreed-to-action deriving from the U.S.-Peruvian Army-to-Army Staff Talks. U.S. Army South honors the promise to create opportunities that increase collaboration, enhance interoperability, and assist in building partner nation capacity... MORE

Brig. Gen. Carlos E. Bolorquez, left, 1st Multipurpose Brigade commander, Peruvian Army, meets Maj. Gen. Steven Gilland, right, III Corps and Fort Hood deputy commanding general, at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 17, 2021. The Peruvian Army delegation will observe U.S. Army Stryker units as part of an agreed-to-action deriving from the U.S.-Peruvian Army-to-Army Staff Talks. U.S. Army South honors the promise to create opportunities that increase collaboration, enhance interoperability, and assist in building partner nation capacity.

Army South CG visits Panama to strengthen relationships
November 17, 2021 — A U.S. Army South delegation traveled to Panama City, Panama, to conduct a key leader engagement with the commander of the National Border Service, or SENAFRONT Panama, and meet with United States Embassy representatives Nov. 8, 2021, to strengthen the Panamanian bilateral relationship and assess partnership sites. U.S. Army South is part of a multinational and whole-of-government team working to advance security throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in order to protect our shared values and way of life... MORE

A U.S. Army South delegation traveled to Panama City, Panama, to conduct a key leader engagement with the National Border Service, or SENAFRONT Panama, commander and meet with United States Embassy representatives Nov. 8, 2021 to strengthen the Panamanian bilateral relationship and assess partnership sites. U.S. Army South is part of a multinational and whole-of-government team working to advance security throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in order to protect our shared values and way of life.

Peruvian Army delegation visits Army South for distinguished visit
November 15, 2021 — U.S. Army South Commanding General Maj. Gen. William Thigpen, right, greets Brig. Gen. Carlos E. Bojorquez, left, 1st Multipurpose Brigade Commander, Peruvian Army, at Army South headquarters to begin a Peruvian Army distinguished visit Nov. 15, 2021. The delegation will be in Texas for a week-long visit to discuss plans for future training opportunities between the two armies. Our defense partnerships are vital to security and prosperity in the hemisphere and to our collective ability to meet complex global challenges... MORE

U.S. Army South Commanding General Maj. Gen. William Thigpen, right, greets Brig. Gen. Carlos E. Bojorquez, left, 1st Multipurpose Brigade Commander, Peruvian Army at the Army South headquarters to begin a Peruvian Army distinguished visit Nov. 15, 2021. The delegation will be in Texas for a week-long visit to discuss plans for future training opportunities between the two armies. Our defense partnerships are vital to security and prosperity in the hemisphere and to our collective ability to meet complex global challenges.

Brazilian Army hosts U.S. Army War College for academic exchange in Rio de Janeiro
October 26, 2021 — The Brazilian Army hosted the General Mark Clark Marshal Mascarenhas de Moraes lecture series between the U.S. Army War College and the Brazilian Army Command and General Staff School, ECEME, Oct. 19-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to promote dialogue between high-level military schools across the Brazilian and U.S. armies. The Commander of the U.S. Army War College Maj. Gen. David C. Hill provided a lecture for students and instructors of ECEME with a focus on strategic leadership. The annual exchange was created in 1981 to celebrate the cooperation between Brazil and the U.S. from the Italian campaign during World War II and promotes long-term bilateral strategic relationships between armies... MORE

The Brazilian Army hosted the General Mark Clark Marshal Mascarenhas de Moraes lecture series between the U.S. Army War College and the Brazilian Army Command and General Staff School, ECEME, Oct. 19-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to promote dialogue between high-level military schools across the Brazilian and U.S. armies. The Commander of the U.S. Army War College Maj. Gen. David C. Hill provided a lecture for students and instructors of ECEME with a focus on strategic leadership. The annual exchange was created in 1981 to celebrate the cooperation between Brazil and the U.S. from the Italian campaign during World War II and promotes long-term bilateral strategic relationships between armies.

Army South DCG-I conducts engagement with Jamaica Defence Force
October 26, 2021 — Brig. Gen. Hernando Garzon, Army South deputy commanding general – interoperability, conducted a virtual key leader engagement Oct. 22 with Brig. Markland A. Lloyd, Jamaica Defence Force, Support Brigade commander. The leaders discussed logistical preparation and planning in a constrained environment, load planning for air, land, and sea transfers, and port opening as a result of a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief response. Army South is committed to supporting the efforts of partner nations to increase institutional capacity and regional collaboration for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief – one of the greatest challenges facing the region... MORE

Brig. Gen. Hernando Garzon, Army South deputy commanding general – interoperability, conducted a virtual key leader engagement Oct. 22 with Brig. Markland A. Lloyd, Jamaica Defence Force, Support Brigade commander. The leaders discussed logistical preparation and planning in a constrained environment, load planning for air, land, and sea transfers, and port opening as a result of a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief response.