July 27, 2020

SOCSOUTH Holds Virtual Change of Command, Change of Responsibility

The virtual ceremony saw U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Fletcher, SOCSOUTH Commander, relinquish command to Rear Adm. (L) Keith B. Davids and Master Gunnery Sgt. Jerome N. Root, SOCSOUTH Command Senior Enlisted Leader, relinquish responsibility to U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jody J. Hall.

July 24, 2020

USS Shamal Shows Fury in Interdicting Go Fast

The Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Shamal (PC 13) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) recovered more than 3,900 pounds of suspected marijuana, July 4.

July 23, 2020

Coast Guard offloads $38.5 million in cocaine in San Juan, Puerto Rico

The crew of the Coast Guard Heriberto Hernandez (WPC-1114) offloaded approximately 1,375 kilograms of cocaine at Sector San Juan Wednesday, following the disruption of a drug smuggling go-fast in the Caribbean Sea. The seized drug shipment is estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $38.5 million.

July 23, 2020

USS Nitze Provides Aid to Mariners

The guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) provided aid to mariners aboard a distressed Ecuadorian fishing vessel about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Ecuador July 20.

July 23, 2020

4th Fleet Commander Hosts Maritime Staff Talks with Armada de Chile

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, hosted delegates from the Armada de Chile for the annual Maritime Staff Talks (MST) July 22.

July 21, 2020

Travis delivers aid to Honduras

Airmen assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, delivered humanitarian aid supplies to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, July 18.

July 15, 2020

U.S. 4th Fleet and Ecuador Navy Plan UNITAS 2020

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet and Ecuadorian maritime planners held a virtual Initial Planning Conference (IPC) July 14-17 in support of the upcoming UNITAS LXI exercise, which will occur in November in Ecuador.

July 13, 2020

USS Detroit Completes Historic Counter-Narcotics Deployment

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) returned to Mayport, Fla., July 11, following its maiden deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.

July 10, 2020

Trump Visits Southern Command for Briefing on Campaign Against Drug Traffickers

President Donald J. Trump travelled to Florida this morning for a briefing on what he said has been a successful operation to cut the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper accompanied the president to U.S. Southern Command headquarters, where Trump was briefed on the campaign against drug traffickers. The whole-of-government and international operation against international drug cartels involves 16 federal agencies and 20 international partners.

July 2, 2020

USS Kidd Renders Assistance at Sea

The Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) assisted a fishing vessel in distress while operating in the U.S. Fourth Fleet area of operations June 30. The fishing vessel experienced a mechanical failure, leaving it unable to operate at sea. Kidd received notification of a distress call and sent several members of the ship's Rescue and Assistance (R&A) team along with two members from the embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) over to secure and inspect the vessel for seaworthiness, check on the health and welfare of the crew and assess the feasibility of towing the stranded vessel to safety.