DoD Support to Haiti
The Department of Defense is providing support to the re-establishment of security at Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport security and Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission preparation efforts.
Fuerzas Comando 2024
​Fuerzas Comando 2024 is a military exercise consisting of a skills competition between military and police Special Operations teams from the Western Hemisphere. The event is hosted by Panama May 12 - 24, 2024.
Tradewinds 2024
Tradewinds 2024, hosted by Barbados May 4-16, 2024, is a Caribbean-focused multi-dimensional training exercise focused on the ground, air, sea, and cyber domains.
Southern Seas 2024: USS George Washington Deploys to Engage with South American Partners
USS George Washington (CVN 73), along with USS Porter (DDG 78) and USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189), are scheduled to conduct passing exercises and operations at sea with partner nation maritime forces during the "Southern Seas 2024" deployment.
SOUTHCOM Commander Testifies Before House and Senate Armed Services Committees
Info and resources on SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Laura Richardson's testimony before the House Armed Services Committee March 12, and Senate Armed Services Committee March 14.

LATEST NEWS AND RELEASES

U.S. Army South, joint force and multinational planners prepare for Exercise PANAMAX 2024 with crisis planning conference
May 13, 2024 - U.S. Army South hosted Joint Force planners and military representatives from five South American countries for a crisis planning conference at the Estancia del Norte San Antonio Hotel from April 22-26 in preparation for Exercise PANAMAX 2024.
TRADEWINDS 24 begins with opening ceremony
May 9, 2024 - The flags of 26 nations were ceremoniously unfurled at Paragon Army Base, marking the official commencement of TRADEWINDS 24 in Barbados on May 4, 2024.
U.S. Southern Command Strategy, Policy, and Plans Director Visits Guyana
May 9, 2024 - U.S. Marine Corps Major General (MajGen) Julie Nethercot, U.S. Southern Command Strategy, Policy, and Plans Director, visited Guyana May 6-8. The Strategy, Policy, and Plans Directorate at U.S. Southern Command oversees strategic planning, policy development, and security cooperation coordination for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Kentucky National Guard Partner Ecuador Receives C-130H
May 6, 2024 - The Ecuadorian Air Force welcomed a C-130H Hercules into its inventory during a ceremony attended by Kentucky Air National Guard leaders who were on hand to congratulate their State Partnership Program colleagues on the new capability.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active returns home from Eastern Pacific patrol; one life saved, $50.8M worth of cocaine interdicted
May 3, 2024 - PORT ANGELES, Wash. — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) and crew returned home to Port Angeles Friday after completing a 54-day multi-mission patrol in support of a Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) counternarcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James Visits Buenos Aires, Argentina
May 1, 2024 - The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) and its crew arrived April 29 at the Port of Buenos Aires. This visit marks a significant moment in the ongoing partnership between the U.S. and Argentina, aimed at enhancing maritime security and combating illicit activities at sea. During this visit, the crew will also conduct joint drills on the high seas with their Argentine counterparts, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of this mission.
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PHOTOS

Infographic highlighting Department of Defense support to the Haiti airport security and Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission preparation efforts, as of 3:00 pm EDT, May, 14, 2024.
A U.S. Coast Guard tactical operator with Maritime Security Response Team East fast ropes from a U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter during exercise TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) at Paragon Army Base, Barbados, May 13, 2024.
U.S. Coast Guard tactical operators with Maritime Security Response Team East fast rope from a U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.
Barbados Police Service Constable Javon Ifill, Sgt. Andra Miller, and Constable Ricardo Hunte, assigned to the Tactical Response Unit, enter and clear a room of their objective during close quarters combat training.
Interagency training specialist, Rick Clements, provides feedback to members of the Barbados Police Service Tactical Response Unit after their initial raid and clearing during close quarters combat training.
Police scans for potential threats while moving to the second floor of their objective during close quarters combat training.
Police enter a room with guns during close quarters combat training.
Investigators document evidence during crime scene evidence gathering procedures and techniques training.
An agent from the FBI Evidence Response Team identifies key crime scene evidence gathering procedures and techniques to Colombian, Guatemalan and Dominican Republic police officers and investigators.
U.S. Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, fire an M240 L machine gun range during exercise TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) at Paragon Army Base, Barbados, May 10, 2024.
A Netherlands marine, assigned to the Marine Corps Squadron Caribbean, boards a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a 7th Special Operation Group (Airborne) Soldier lead Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction System (FRIES) training at TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) in Barbados, May 8, 2024.
A New York Army National Guardsman provides a safety brief to service members and police officers from multiple nations.
A Marine with the Mexican navy special operations force provides perimeter security during fast rope insertion and extraction systems training at Paragon Army Base, Barbados.
Service members from the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic prepare to conduct a live fire exercise off the coast of Barbados Coast Guard Base Station Pelican, Barbados, during TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) on May 7, 2024.
Competitors from the United States of America and Guatemala stand at attention during the opening ceremony of Fuerzas Comando 24 (FC24) in Cerro Tigre, Panama, May 13, 2024
SENAFRONT, the National Border Service of Panama, attend the Fuerzas Comando 24 (FC24) opening ceremony in Cerro Tigre, Panama, May 13, 2024.
Panamanian Commissioner Javier Sanchez (left), Chief of Joint Task Force 2024, and Deputy Commissioner Rory Guillermo request permission to start Fuerzas Comando 24 (FC24) during the opening ceremony in Cerro Tigre, Panama, May 13, 2024.
Panamanian 2nd Lt. Josué A. Juárez, a competitor, secures the lit torch to initiate the beginning of Fuerza Comando 24 during the opening ceremony in Cerro Tigre, Panama, May 13, 2024.
A look at Department of Defense support to the Haiti airport security and Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission preparation efforts, as of 3:00 pm EDT, May, 13, 2024.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 11, 2024) Sailors move an F-35C Lightning II, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, in the rain on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Atlantic Ocean, May 11, 2024.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 11, 2024) An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46 lands on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Atlantic Ocean, May 11, 2024.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 10, 2024) Lt. Kristen Rosenthal, from Fresno, California, assigned to legal department as the disciplinary officer, stands junior officer of the watch on the bridge of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Atlantic Ocean, May 10, 2024.
A look at Department of Defense support to the Haiti airport security and Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission preparation efforts, as of 3:00 pm EDT, May, 10, 2024.
A U.S. Marine shoots a pistol.
A U.S. Marine kneels in the foreground as he looks toward a helicopter in the background
U.S. Marines load gear onto a military helicopter.
U.S. Marines in the foreground move toward a helicopter in the background.
Three military vessels in a line at sea.
A Barbados Coast Guard member shoots a rifle.
A Barbados Coast Guard member shoots a rifle at a floating target off a ship.
A U.S. Coast Guardsman fires a pistol.
U.S. Marines mark holes on a pistol range target.
A man instructs a group of military students in a classroom.
Service members from the St. Lucia Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, group and zero their weapons in Barbados, during TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) on May 4, 2024
Netherlands marines with the Marines Squadron Caribbean conduct a dynamic range in Barbados, during TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) on May 4, 2024.
A 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier provides weapons and marksmanship instruction to a Mexican marine in Barbados, during TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) on May 4, 2024.
A Netherlands marine, assigned to the Marine Corps Squadron Caribbean, removes the magazine of his Colt C7/8 rifle in Barbados, during TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) on May 4, 2024.
A Netherlands marine, assigned to the Marine Corps Squadron Caribbean, fires a Colt C7/8 rifle in Barbados, during TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) on May 4, 2024.
A 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier gives a weapons range safety brief to members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in Barbados, during TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) on May 4, 2024.
Distinguished visitors from the U.S. Army and Barbados Defence force pose for a photo at the opening ceremony of exercise TRADEWINDS 24 at Paragon Base, Barbados, May 4, 2024.
Barbados Defence Force Chief of Staff, Commodore Errington Shurland, speaks at the opening ceremony of TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) at Paragon Base, Barbados, May 4, 2024.
Kevin Bostick, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) director of J7/9 exercises and coalition affairs, speaks to participants of TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) during the opening ceremony at Paragon Base, Barbados, May 4, 2024.
Texas Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Monnie Ulis, U.S. Army South deputy commanding general, speaks to participants of TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) during the opening ceremony at Paragon Base, Barbados, May 4, 2024
Service members from 26 participating nations render honors to distinguished visitors at the opening ceremony of TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) at Paragon Base, Barbados, May 4, 2024.
Crews from the USCGC Active (WMEC 618) and Mexican SEMAR conduct a personnel transfer while Active patrols the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Apr. 24, 2024. Active regularly patrols the waters off southern Mexico and Central America, working with partner nations to combat transnational organized crime in the Western Hemisphere, specifically the smuggling of narcotics. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brenton Kludt.
The USCGC Active (WMEC 618) crew rescue a solo sailor stranded on a disabled vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean near the Galapagos Islands, Apr. 13, 2024. Active’s crew diverted over 200 nautical miles at high speed to conduct the search and rescue operation for the sailor whose sailboat was disabled and adrift at sea after a pod of whales damaged the boat. U.S. Coast Guard photo by U.S. Navy Midshipman Caden Dale.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) operations in the Atlantic Ocean.
Coast Guard Capt. Donald Terkanian, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) greets the Vice President of Argentina Victoria Villarruel aboard the James at the Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2024
Coast Guard Capt. Donald Terkanian, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) greets the Vice President of Argentina Victoria Villarruel aboard the James at the Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 30, 2024.
Coast Guard Capt. Donald Terkanian, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) presents a gift to the President of Argentina Javier Milei aboard the James at the Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 29, 2024

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SOUTHCOM COMMANDER

Gen. Laura J. Richardson bio photo

Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson is the commander of U.S. Southern Command. She assumed command Oct. 29, 2021.

Gen. Richardson's Bio

 

TEAM SOUTHCOM button. Links to Team SOUTHCOM page.

A Network of Mutual Support: Total Engagement for All Members of U.S. Southern Command, or TEAM SOUTHCOM, is a command-sponsored organization that aims to support command service members, civilians and family members -- in South Florida and assigned throughout the region.