News

Archive: February, 2025

Delegates from the U.S.-Ecuador Maritime Staff Talks pose for a group photo at the historic St. Francis Barracks, now headquarters building of the Florida National Guard, in St. Augustine, Fla., February 27, 2025. Maritime Staff Talks (MST) serve as an annual comprehensive engagement venue to program, direct, and coordinate all maritime activities between the U.S. and Partner Nations. The overarching MST objective is to increase coordination and integration across the U.S. maritime services and Partner Nations to plan and conduct theater-level security cooperation in order to provide combatant commanders more effective and efficient maritime force packages. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet is the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity, security and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Steven Khor/Released)

Feb. 28, 2025

U.S. 4th Fleet Conducts Maritime Staff Talks with Ecuador

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, hosted a delegation from the Ecuadorian Navy (Armada del Ecuador) for Maritime Staff Talks (MST) Feb. 27-28. Discussions focused on upcoming exercises, including Ecuador's participation in UNITAS 2025, which will serve as a key event commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth smiles while talking with smiling sailors standing outdoors.

Feb. 26, 2025

Hegseth Visits Guantanamo Bay, Engages With Troops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he took time to speak to service members who are currently supporting the illegal alien holding operations being led by the Department of Homeland Security.

LIMA, Peru (Feb. 15, 2025) Part of the Navy Medicine Research & Development enterprise, NAMRU SOUTH conducts research on a wide range of infectious diseases of military and public health significance and supports Global Health Engagement through surveillance of those diseases, including dengue fever, malaria, diarrheal diseases and antimicrobial-resistant infections. (U.S. Navy graphic by Naval Medical Research Command/Released)

Feb. 25, 2025

Journal of Infectious Diseases Publishes Article on 40 Years of NAMRU SOUTH Work and Research

LIMA, PERU — LIMA, Peru - U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) SOUTH published a collection of peer-reviewed articles highlighting the command’s ongoing military medical research efforts in The Journal of Infectious Diseases on February 15.The articles cover 40 years of NAMRU SOUTH’s medical achievements in infectious disease surveillance, control and

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.