Overview
Fuerzas Comando 2018 is a Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff-approved, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, exercise under the responsibility of Commander, Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH).
The exercise has two parts: A skills competition and a Senior Leader Seminar focused on countering terrorism.
About 700 military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel from the participating nations are taking part in the exercise. The event demonstrates and tests participants’ skills through special operations forces competitions.
Panama is the host of this year’s competition and Senior Leader Seminar, which is sponsored by the U.S. Southern Command, headquartered in Miami, Fla. Special Operations Command South, headquartered at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., is the lead U.S. executing command for the exercise. SOCSOUTH serves as the special operations component for U.S. Southern Command.
Participating Nations
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.
About the Multinational Skills Competition
The competition will take place at training sites near Cerro Tigre and other locations in Panama City. The competition has two parts: an assault team competition and a sniper team competition. The competitions are scored and evaluated by judges from each participating nation.
Assault Team Competition
The assault team competition consists of a series of events including physical fitness tests, a confidence course, close quarters combat, rucksack march, an aquatic event, and an obstacle course.
Sniper Team Competition
The sniper team competition consists of physical fitness tests, marksmanship, mobility, and concealment events.
Countering Terrorism Fellowship Program (Distinguished Visitors Program)
The Senior Leader Seminar will take place simultaneously during the competition. This year, senior military and government officials from more than 20 nations will gather in Panama City, July 23-25, to discuss opportunities to enhance regional and hemispheric cooperation and transnational, transregional threat networks, and the impact those threats have in regional security and stability.
Background
This is the 14th Fuerzas Comando exercise. Fuerzas Comando 2017 was held in Paraguay.