News

Tag: Marines

A U.S. Marine searches a role-player during a training event.

May 8, 2020

Task Force Marines Certified for Deployment During Pandemic

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Southern Command certified for a crisis response deployment to the Latin American and Caribbean region April 23.

Sept. 25, 2019

Marine Task Force Joins Colombia in Humanitarian Assistance Training

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Southern Command and the Infantería de Marina de Colombia will kick off a week of Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) rehearsals and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), in Coveñas, Colombia, September 30.

Sept. 18, 2019

California Marines heading to Central and South America on Amphibious Ship

Approximately 200 U.S. Marines and Sailors will embark on a U.S. Navy amphibious ship heading to Central and South America for the month of October. Marines and Sailors from across I Marine Expeditionary Force will participate in various humanitarian assistance and disaster relief-focused events in Central and South America.

Aug. 19, 2019

UNITAS LX Kicks off in Rio de Janeiro

Over 3,100 Naval Forces from 13 countries kicked off UNITAS LX (60), the 60th anniversary of the annual multinational exercise, in Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 19.

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Southern Command 19 Opening Ceremony

June 21, 2019

Multinational task force begins deployment during hurricane season to Latin America, Caribbean

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command officially kicked off their 2019 deployment with an opening ceremony at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, June 21.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales speaks with U.S. Marines.

Oct. 24, 2018

Marines wrap up 4 months of aid work after Fuego eruption in Guatemala

On June 3 of this year, the Fuego volcano, which lies near Guatemala City, erupted sending ash and a pyroclastic flow through homes and neighborhoods. By June 5, 99 people were reported dead, more than 200 were missing, and thousands of Guatemalans were displaced.

U.S. and Honduran military members speak.

Sept. 28, 2018

SPMAGTF-SC welcomes aboard Honduran liaison officer

Marines and sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, welcomed a third partner nation military liaison officer to the unit's command staff during their deployment to Latin America, Sept. 26.

Service members from 10 countries pose for a photo

Aug. 31, 2018

Marines, partner nation military planners come together for UNITAS Amphibious

Creating the interoperability necessary for those countries to successfully work together was the goal of this year’s UNITAS Amphibious 2018 held in Rio de Janeiro Aug. 20-24.

U.S. Marines work with Guatemalan engineers to build homes.

July 27, 2018

Hammers and shovels: Marines, Guatemalans pitch in to help those displaced by volcano

Because of an engagement program with U.S. Southern Command, the Guatemalan military had conducted a volcano-related humanitarian assistance exercise earlier in the year. Once they had started recovery efforts, the government of Guatemala turned to that engagement program and SOUTHCOM for assistance in building temporary shelters in Escuintla, Guatemala, for those who lost their homes to Fuego.

A U.S. Navy sailor watches as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command comes in for a landing on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall while conducting deck landing qualification training off the coast of Belize, July 7, 2018. The Marines of SPMAGTF-SC worked closely with Gunston Hall sailors to qualify six pilots and five enlisted aircrew members responsible for the helicopters’ safe operation. Having qualified Marines provides SPMAGTF-SC with helicopter movement capabilities of personnel and cargo between the shore and ship. The Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF-SC are conducting security cooperation training and engineering projects alongside partner nation military forces in Central and South America. The unit is also on standby to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the event of a hurricane or other emergency in the region.

July 11, 2018

SPMAGTF-SC conducts deck landing qualifications aboard Gunston Hall

USS GUNSTON HALL, USSOUTHCOM, AT SEA — Southern Command’s aviation detachment conducted deck landing qualifications with two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters aboard the USS Gunston Hall off the coast of Belize, July 7.