Marines and sailors from U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South (MARFORSOUTH) and U.S. Marine Forces Reserve, alongside navy and interagency companions from 22 nations in Belize and Mexico, took half in a serious multinational train Might 7-21.
Train Tradewinds is a multinational train sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and hosted by varied international locations in and across the Caribbean. This train focuses on constructing the capability, data, and experience of taking part nations within the Caribbean to higher reply to safety threats.
Taking part for the primary time within the discipline coaching portion of this train, Colombia supported Tradewinds 22 by sending parts of the Colombian Marine Corps to interact within the riverine coaching occasions and parts of the Colombian Army to the jungle coaching occasions. The riverine coaching passed off alongside the Hondo River close to Chetumal, Mexico, and consisted of a number of key occasions to incorporate small boat operations, maritime navigation, water survival, boat upkeep, seaside touchdown, maritime interdiction, riverine patrolling, helocasting, heliborne extractions, and ship to shore actions.
“The Colombian Marines displayed a excessive pedigree of rigor, professionalism, proficiency, and motivation. It’s obvious they’re extraordinarily competent and completely get pleasure from coaching with American and multinational companions,” stated Grasp Sergeant Billy Ross, the coaching chief for U.S. Marine Forces Reserve’s Third Power Reconnaissance Firm. “Having the Colombians right here to coach and alternate data was extraordinarily useful to all companions concerned.”
Colombia is a pacesetter in riverine operations and has a lot to show navy models from everywhere in the world. They function a Riverine Heart of Excellence at their coaching facility in Turbo, Gulf of Urabá, which is designed to be the premier riverine coaching heart within the area to show and alternate their experience to companions. Moreover, Colombia is actively engaged in safety missions inside their nation targeted on counternarcotics, counterterrorism, and counterinsurgency, which contributes to their capabilities and effectiveness in riverine operations. This expertise permits them to develop, refine, and validate new approaches to littoral operations serving to to make sure regional safety and stability.
“Their operations in and across the littorals have offered some basic insights on ways, methods, and procedures related to riverine and littoral operations,” stated Gunnery Sergeant Julio Castellanos, MARFORSOUTH engagement chief who spent three years in an alternate program with the Colombian Marine Corps. “There’s a lot they’ve taught us already and that we are able to proceed to be taught from them to advance our personal capabilities and ideas.”
The U.S. and Colombian Marine Corps have a historic relationship that’s strengthened by shared challenges, shared visions, and shared values. Every year the 2 forces conduct a number of subject material skilled exchanges that present a venue to be taught from each other on matters comparable to amphibious planning, expeditionary logistics, and management growth. Littoral and expeditionary operations are a serious focus of the 2 nations’ and facilitate elevated interoperability and unity of effort.
Tradewinds is a key alternative to broaden upon this relationship and permits Colombia to proceed its position in exporting safety all through the Western Hemisphere. Not solely does it present taking part nations the chance to conduct mixed, joint, and interagency coaching targeted on advanced multinational safety operations, it enhances cooperation and interoperability all through the area as properly. Colombia and the U.S. have lots to supply on this regard and the 2 nations are at present in discussions to extend participation and co-lead a coaching lane throughout Tradewinds 23, hosted by Guyana.
“Workouts comparable to Tradewinds play a big position in enhancing maritime safety all through the area and highlights the significance of working with our companions and allies to attain frequent aims and regional safety,” stated Colonel Brian Ecarius, MARFORSOUTH director of Plans and Workouts. “Latin America and the Caribbean are house to vital coastal and riverine environments making it a premiere location for maritime partnerships, experimentation, and the alternate of data from subject material specialists in littoral operations.”
