Overview
Fuerzas Comando 2016 is a Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff-approved, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, exercise under the responsibility of Commander, Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH).
The exercise has two parts: a skills competition and a Distinguished Visitor Program focused on countering terrorism.
About 700 military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel from the participating nations are taking part in the exercise.
The 11-day event demonstrates and tests participants’ skills through special operations forces competitions, and includes a Distinguished Visitor Program focused on topics such as combating terrorism, organized crime, and illicit trafficking.
Fuerzas Comando 2016 is a unique opportunity for participating nations of the Americas to improve their special operations capabilities. This competition increases training knowledge and furthers interoperability between countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Nations Participating
Special Operations military and police forces from Argentina, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and the United States, are participating in the exercise.
About the Multinational Skills Competition
The competition is primarily held at a Peruvian training base in Ancon and has two parts: an assault team competition and a sniper team competition. The competitions are scored and evaluated by judges from each participating nation.
Assault Team Competition
The assault team competition consists of a series of events including physical fitness tests, a confidence course, close quarters combat, rucksack march, an aquatic event, and an obstacle course.
Sniper Team Competition
The sniper team competition consists of physical fitness tests, marksmanship, mobility, and concealment events.
Countering Terrorism Fellowship Program (Distinguished Visitors Program)
The program includes two senior representatives from each participating nation. Participants included a commander and a senior government representative involved in making counter-terrorism decisions and policy making. The DVP takes place in conjunction with Fuerzas Comando and focuses on improving political and military relations and multinational military cooperation.