Tradewinds 2011 was a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored annual exercise conducted in the Caribbean Basin designed to improve responses to regional security threats. The joint, combined interagency exercise was held in Antigua and Barbuda from March 2 – 19, 2011. The security cooperation exercise focused on regional defense, Peace Keeping Operations (PKO) and Counter Illicit Trafficking Operations through law enforcement, basic infantry and maritime operations. More than 1,000 exercise participants from the United States & 21 partner nations, primarily from the Caribbean Basin, took part.
Photos:
Petty Officer 1st Class Rene Gonzalez demonstrates the proper way to apply pressure to the thumb of a handcuffed subject on Chief Petty Officer Wayne Gangstad during pressure point training given to a multi-national group of students as part of Tradewinds 2011, March 8. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class George Degener)
More Tradewinds 2010 photos |
Key Links:
Investigative Service (NCIS)
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Overview
TRADEWINDS 2011 (TW11) is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-directed, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored annual exercise conducted in cooperation with Caribbean Basin partner nations.
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, based in Miami, is the executive agent for the exercise. This is the 27th annual TRADEWINDS exercise.
TRADEWINDS 2011 is designed to improve responses to regional security threats and will focus on maritime interdiction, search and rescue operations, basic ground forces and law enforcement tactics, techniques and procedures with an emphasis on command and control. The exercise will consist of a training phase followed by a final exercise that will evaluate the effectiveness of the training received.
U.S. troops from all services, the U.S Coast Guard, Joint Interagency Task Force-South and the Drug Enforcement Agency participated in the exercise. They were joined by security forces from the region.
U.S. Participants
Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Joint Interagency Task Force-South, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Department of Justice/FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Participating Nations
Antigua-Barbuda (Host nation), Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago.
Role of U.S. Participants
Tradewinds 2011 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored annual exercise conducted in the Caribbean Basin designed to improve responses to regional security threats. This year’s joint, combined interagency exercise is being held in Antigua and Barbuda from March 2 – 19, 2011. The security cooperation exercise will focus on regional defense, Peace Keeping Operations (PKO) and Counter Illicit Trafficking Operations through law enforcement, basic infantry and maritime operations. More than 1,000 exercise participants from the United States & 21 partner nations, primarily from the Caribbean Basin, are taking part.
U.S. Coast Guard: The U.S. Coast Guard was asked by the exercise’s executive agent, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South (MARFORSOUTH), to coordinate the planning/execution of the maritime phase of TW11. More than 60 Coast Guard personnel will coordinate and conduct the maritime-based training.
FBI: The International Training Division, Department of Justice-Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will provide training in the following capacity: Law Enforcement Training and Survival (LETSS), Gang seminar and case management.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS): NCIS trainers will provide training in the following capacity: First Responder Course, Surveillance and Crime Scene Investigation.
U.S. Marine Corps Environmental Services Detachment (ESD) D: The USMC Hazmat Marines, comprised of active and reserve military officials, who work in conjunction with NYPD/NJ public safety, will teach a HAZMAT course.
U.S. Marine Corps Infantry & Military Police: The Infantry and Military Police units will conduct basic law enforcement and ground force based training to include: marksmanship, patrolling, land navigation, martial arts and non lethal weapons training with and alongside the Partner Nation representatives.
Key Points
PARTNERSHIPS
The goal for TW11 is to improve relationships among participating partner nations’ civil and military services in order to improve regional security and stability.
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REGIONAL STABILITY
Illicit-trafficking is a threat faced by all participating partner nations and these threats have a transnational impact. This cooperation contributes to regional stability.
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COLLECTIVE CAPABILITIES
TW11 strengthens participating civil and military services collective ability to meet transnational threats. The transnational nature of the 21st century security threats requires stronger civil and military regional and multinational cooperation.
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REGIONAL COMMITTMENT
Regional forces have developed a solid, working relationship based on mutual respect and an open exchange of ideas. We all share the common goal of defeating regional security threats and are committed to building lasting partnerships that will allow us to train together, share knowledge and increase interoperability.
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