News

Sailors aboard USS St. Louis (LCS 19) man the lines as the ship arrives at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, after a deployment to the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Feb. 25, 2025

USS St. Louis (LCS 19) Completes Maiden Deployment to Fourth Fleet

MAYPORT, FLORIDA — USS St. Louis (LCS 19), a Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), returned to Naval Station Mayport this week, concluding its maiden deployment to the U.S. Fourth Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR).

The Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2025, led by AFSOUTH Surgeon General, will embed Air Force Reserve Command medical personnel within host nation hospitals and clinics across the Lesser Antilles region and Guyana. These Global Health Engagements enhance military readiness, strengthen partner nation healthcare systems, and foster resilience through expertise sharing and collaboration with local providers.

Feb. 21, 2025

U.S. Military Launches LAMAT ‘25 to Strengthen Readiness, Global Partnerships

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — A Global Health Engagement mission led by U.S. Air Forces Southern, is set to launch its third iteration encompassing four partner nations Feb. 24 – April 11, 2025.

Herberth Gaekel, Joint Task Force-Bravo fire inspector, briefs participants during a tabletop exercise at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, February 19, 2025.

Feb. 21, 2025

JTF-Bravo unveils new Combined Joint Operation Center

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Joint Task Force-Bravo unveiled their new Combined Joint Operation Center in conjunction with a tabletop exercise where they worked with members from the Honduran air force, army, firefighters, Comisión Permanente de Contingencias, Forest Conservation Institute, Environmental Management Unit, and Friends of La Tigra Foundation, February 19, 2025.

Two members of the Instituto de Bienestar Animal veterinarian team provides medical treatment to a patient during a JTF-Bravo led VETRETE in Ahuachapan, El Salvador, Feb. 19. The VETRETE provided U.S. military personnel with valuable experience in austere environments while simultaneously addressing the significant issue of animal overpopulation in El Salvador. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Feb. 21, 2025

US Military Partners with El Salvador to Combat Animal Health Concerns

AHUACHAPAN, El Salvador — U.S. military personnel joined forces with Salvadoran authorities in two events aimed at tackling animal health and overpopulation in El Salvador. The initiatives saw participation from the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador and Joint Task Force-Bravo's Army Force Battalion veterinarian team.

A main in a white navy uniform is flanked by 2 men in blue suits standing in front of the flags of Panama and the United States.

Feb. 20, 2025

SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Panama

U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, Commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Panama Feb. 19-20, 2025, and met with the nation’s leaders to strengthen cooperation and discuss critical regional challenges.

(From left to right) Foreign Liaison Officers from Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina and Chile pose for a group photo in front of a WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft, Feb. 13, 2025 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. FLOs serve as key representatives of their home nations’ air forces within Air Forces Southern, the air component of U.S. Southern Command. They facilitate communication, coordination, and cooperation between the U.S. and partner nations, strengthening military relationships and enhancing regional security efforts. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

Feb. 20, 2025

AFSOUTH Foreign Liaison Officers Tour AFTAC WC-135

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FROCE BASE, Ariz. — Air Forces Southern Foreign Liaison Officers (FLO) toured a WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft Feb. 13, 2025, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to strengthen military partnerships and enhance regional security cooperation.

Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) gets underway from Naval Station Mayport, Fla., beginning its transit to relieve USS St. Louis (LCS 19) as the ready ship in the U.S. Southern Command area of operations February 18, 2025.

Feb. 19, 2025

USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) Deploys to Fourth Fleet

NORFOLK, Virginia — The Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) departed Naval Station Mayport, Florida to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations, Feb. 18.

Feb. 19, 2025

821st Contingency Response Element boosts airfield capacity for Operation Southern Guard

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — When the success of a mission hinges on the seamless flow of supplies and personnel, the Contingency Response Element (CRE) becomes the linchpin of logistical operations.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, provide security during an illegal alien holding operation as a part of Operation Southern Guard on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Feb. 4, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal alien holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandria Serrano)

Feb. 12, 2025

6th Marines Support Joint Task Force Southern Guard

NAVAL STATION GUANTÁNAMO BAY, CUBA — Marines of Task Force Belleau Wood, comprised of 6th Regiment and their 1st Battalion (1/6), have completed their first week attached to Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG) supporting illegal alien (IA) holding operations in coordination with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as ordered by the President of the United States, here Feb. 8, 2025.

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (February 5, 2025) U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello meets with Sailors attached to Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Saint Louis (LCS 19) aboard the ship during their support of Operation Southern Guard at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, February 5, 2025. At the direction of the President of the United States to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense, U.S. military service members are supporting removal operations led by DHS at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs)

Feb. 6, 2025

U.S. Navy Leaders Observe Joint Task Force Southern Guard Operations

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, and Rear Adm. John Hewitt, Commander, Navy Region Southeast, visited Joint Task Force Southern Guard onboard Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) February 5 and 6, as the Joint Task Force prepares to receive illegal aliens from the United States. Sardiello and Hewitt accompanied Adm. Alvin Holsey, Commander, U.S. Southern Command, during the visit.