Fuerzas Comando 2011 was a military skills competition between some of the top military and police Special Operations teams in the Western Hemisphere. The event was hosted by El Salvador from June 15 – 23. Security forces from 19 countries, including the United States, took part in the challenging contest, which promotes military-to-military relationships, increased interoperability and improved regional security.
Overview
The Salvadoran military hosted Fuerzas Comando 2011 with Special Operations Command South serving as the lead U.S. military organization for coordination of this U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)-sponsored exercise.
Military, law enforcement and civilian personnel from the participating nations (see list below) took part in the competition.
Fuerzas Comando 2011 tested the participants’ physical and psychological endurance through many obstacles both on land and in water. It included two parts: a multinational special operations skills competition and a senior leader seminar (see below).
Multinational competitions like this build the required capacity to collectively confront direct threats. Many of today’s transnational threats, such as kidnappings, international gangs, terrorism, drug trafficking and illicit activities, cannot be defeated by traditional military means alone. Defeating these threats require common goals and the cooperation of regional partners.
Fuerzas Comando is part of a longstanding set of multinational and bi-lateral exercises that foster regional relations and cooperation to deal with transnational threats, maintain partnerships and alliances and promote cooperative security arrangements.
Multinational Special Operations Skills Competition
The skills competition was designed to improve multinational regional cooperation, enhance mutual trust and confidence, and advance the training, readiness and interoperability of participating special operations forces in tactics, techniques, and procedures. The Special Operations skills competition tested each team on physical fitness, weapons marksmanship, aquatic skills, and tactical capabilities.
Assault team competition
A physical fitness test; a confidence course; close-quarters combat; a rucksack march; water event; and an obstacle course.
Sniper team competition
The sniper team competition consisted of five events: a physical fitness test; marksmanship; shoot and move; range estimation; and stalk and shoot events.
Senior Leader Seminar
The senior leader seminar helps to develop, refine and improve political and military relations and multinational cooperation in fighting terrorism and other transnational threats. Participants included a commander and a senior level representative from each nation involved in making counter-terrorism decisions and policy making.
Nations Participating:
Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and the United States will compete.
Background: