News

20230908-N-IK388-0047 CARIBBEAN SEA (Sept. 8 2023) The U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Candace Bond, poses with Rear Adm. James Aiken and members of the Continuing Promise 2023 team during a tour of the medical sites. Continuing Promise 2023 marks the 13th mission to the region since 2007 and the first involving USNS Burlington. The mission will also foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-government organizations, and international organizations.(U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Stacy M. Atkinsricks)

Sept. 10, 2023

Continuing Promise 2023 Concludes in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO — The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship, USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), completed its third stop in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Sept. 10, 2023 in support of the Continuing Promise 2023 (CP23) mission.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Rafael Rodriguez gives remarks during the SOUTHCOM Senior Enlisted Leader change of responsibility ceremony.

Sept. 6, 2023

Sgt. Major Rafael Rodriguez assumes duties as U.S. Southern Command’s Senior Enlisted Leader

U.S. Marine Sgt. Major Rafael Rodriguez assumed duties as SOUTHCOM’s Senior Enlisted Leader on September 6, 2023, relieving outgoing U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Benjamin Jones, during a change of responsibility ceremony at the command’s headquarters.

Sept. 5, 2023

USNS Burlington Arrives in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) arrived in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 2nd, marking the third stop throughout the course of the Continuing Promise 2023 mission. The Burlington was previously in Santa Marta, Colombia in support of Continuing Promise 2023.

Brazilian security forces Airmen listen as a U.S. Air Force security forces Airman from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing provides advice during an exercise at Brazil’s Air Base Campo Grande, in Campo Grande, Brazil, Aug. 25, 2023.The New York Air National Guard deployed 100 Airmen to take part in Exercise Tapio, a combat search and rescue training exercise, as part of Brazil's State Partnership Program relationship with the New York National Guard.

Aug. 30, 2023

New York Guard Conducts Search and Rescue Training in Brazil

One hundred New York National Guard Airmen conducted combat search and rescue exercises with their Brazilian Air Force counterparts Aug. 16-27. The Airmen, most of whom are assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing, conducted missions simulating the recovery of downed aircrew and refueled search and rescue helicopters in the air. They also completed on-ground security exercises and trained Brazilian parachute rescue personnel.

Expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EFP 10) arrives in Santa Marta, Colombia, Aug. 20, 2023.

Aug. 30, 2023

Continuing Promise 2023 Concludes in Santa Marta, Colombia

SANTA MARTA, Colombia — The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship, USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), completed its second stop in Santa Marta, Colombia, Aug. 30, 2023 in support of the Continuing Promise 2023 (CP23) mission.

Aug. 25, 2023

New York Army National Guard Medics Train in Brazil

Fifteen New York Army National Guard medics and physician assistants traveled to Brazil to participate in South America’s largest military humanitarian response exercise Aug. 12-18. The Soldiers, from the 466th Medical Company, Area Support, joined 100 other foreign military personnel from 13 countries and 1,700 Brazilians for Operation Parana III in Parana State.

Multinational senior leader participants of the South American Defense Conference 2023 (SOUTHDEC 23), pose for a group photo.

Aug. 25, 2023

South American Defense Leaders Meet to Discuss Regional Threats, Cooperation

The conference aimed to strengthen partnerships to address two key issues that concern security leaders and citizens: cyber security and climate/environmental security. During SOUTHDEC, leaders worked to identify ways to strengthen those capabilities and collaborate to assume an environmental defense role in South America.

An Embedded Health Engagement Team from the U. S. visited the Jamaica Defense Forces Medical Center in Kingston to share best practices and help boost Jamaica’s military medical readiness, strengthening relationships and building trust with this U. S. partner in the Caribbean. The three-person U. S. team spent a week with Jamaican healthcare providers, sharing best practices and treating patients together.

Aug. 24, 2023

Jamaican-born Airman reconnects with her roots

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A recent medical training mission became an opportunity for one U. S. Airman to give back to the country of her birth.Senior Airman Oshin Mullings, a physical therapy technician with the 633rd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., recently traveled to Jamaica as part of an Embedded Health Engagement Team, or EHET,

U.S. service members participate in a volleyball game with members of the local community in Almirante, Panama as part of the Continuing Promise 2023 mission.

Aug. 18, 2023

Continuing Promise 2023 Completes First Mission Stop in Almirante, Panama

The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship, USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), completed the first stop in support of Continuing Promise 2023 in Almirante, Panama, Aug. 17, 2023.

U.S. Southern Command Public-Private Cooperation Office, partner Non-Federal Entities, U.S. Navy personnel and Panama’s Department of Security Entities participate in humanitarian assistance and disaster response training as part of Continuing Promise 2023 in Almirante, Panama.

Aug. 17, 2023

Continuing Promise 2023 Partners Host HA/DR Training for First Responders in Almirante, Panama

Local first responders partnered with U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Public-Private Cooperation Office (PPC), U.S. SOUTHCOM Non-Federal Entities (NFEs) and U.S. Navy personnel in a collaborative effort to engage in humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) training in Almirante, Panama, August 14-15, 2023.