Press Releases and Advisories
SOUTHCOM to host change-of-command ceremony Nov. 7
Ceremony Program
Download SOUTHCOM Change of Command program
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Citation
Award Citation
B-Roll clips highlighting SOUTHCOM missions
I. COUNTER TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME
DOD_108294620: Coast Guard Cutter Tampa boarding team interdicts a low profile vessel off the coast of Punta Gallinas, Colombia, April 9, 2021. A maritime patrol flight spotted the vessel and a law enforcement team from the cutter detained three suspects and discovered 87 bales of cocaine, resulting in approximately 5,500 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $94.6 million. (U.S. Coast Guard video).
DOD_107960565: A deployed helicopter interdiction tactical squadron team attached to Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton fires three warning shots across the bow of the drug vessel, July 21, 2020, Caribbean Sea. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District, headquartered in Alameda, California, and the law enforcement phase of operations in the Caribbean is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 7th District, headquartered in Miami. (U.S. Coast Guard video)
DOD_109960108: Crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter James assist with the offload of nearly $445 million in illegal drugs in Port Everglades, Florida, Oct 26, 2023. The offload is a result of suspected drug smuggling interdictions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez.)
II. DISASTER RELIEF
DOD_108053815: A U.S. Army HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew assigned to the 1-228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force-Bravo rescues a Honduran family stranded on an island after high floodwater from Hurricane Eta near San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Nov. 5, 2020.
DOD_108052644: A U.S. Army HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew assigned to the 1-228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force-Bravo rescues a Honduran child from Hurricane Eta’s high floodwaters at San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Nov. 6, 2020.
DOD_108593938: United States Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, deliver cases of food using an MV-22B Osprey in support of Joint Task Force-Haiti for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 27, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Caleb Stelter)
III. MULTINATIONAL AND BILATERAL EXERCISES
DOD_110461954: U.S. Marines With 4th Amphibious Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Participated In The Swim Qualification Portion Of The Colombian Fluvial Operations Course On July 16th At C-I-E-F, Apartado, Colombia. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Samantha Pollich)
DOD_110351973: Competitors from 17 nations take part in the final Skills and Shooting competition of Fuerzas Comando 2024 (FC24) in Cerro Tigre, Panama, May 22, 2024. FC24 is an exercise that includes Special Operations skills competitions in urban, rural, and aquatic environments, where tactics and techniques are tested in counter-terrorism action procedures. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Sgt. Olivia Lauer / 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
DOD_110578338: U.S. Army South facilitated the bilateral combined training between the Brazilian Army and the U.S. Army's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from Aug.12-27, 2024 at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Johnson, La. The joint exercise was part of an ongoing effort by U.S. Army South aimed to improve bilateral strategic readiness and enhance regional security and interoperability between the U.S. Army and its partner nation forces within the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility. (U.S. Army video by Staff Sgt. Brahim Douglas and Spc. Phyleicia-Nicole Dais)
DOD_110308833: Barbados Police Service Tactical Response Unit participates in close quarters combat training during TRADEWINDS 24 (TW24) in Barbados, May 12, 2024. TW24 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, regionally oriented annual exercise and is part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Large Scale Global Exercise 24, a series of all-domain military exercises executed alongside Allies and partners around the globe. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
IV. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
DOD_109378570: JEREMIE, Haiti (Dec. 12, 2022) An MH-60S "Seahawk" assigned to the "Chargers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 Detachment 3, attached to hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), conducts flight operations off the coast of Jeremie, Haiti, in support of Continuing Promise 2022, Dec. 12. Comfort is currently deployed in support of Continuing Promise 2022, a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission conducting direct medical care, expeditionary veterinary care, and subject matter expert exchanges with five partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Juel Foster)
DOD_106460951: Three U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs deliver humanitarian aid from Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL to Cucuta, Colombia February 16, 2019. This mission was planned at the request of the U.S. Secretary of State, in close coordination with USAID and with the approval of the government of Colombia. The role of the U.S. military during this peaceful mission is to transport urgently needed aid to Colombia for eventual distribution by relief organizations on the ground for Venezuelans impacted by the rapidly deteriorating crisis in their country. This humanitarian mission underscores the United States’ firm commitment and readiness to respond to the man-made political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. (US Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Stout)
DOD_109378570: JEREMIE, Haiti (Dec. 12, 2022) An MH-60S "Seahawk" assigned to the "Chargers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 Detachment 3, attached to hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), conducts flight operations off the coast of Jeremie, Haiti, in support of Continuing Promise 2022, Dec. 12. Comfort is currently deployed in support of Continuing Promise 2022, a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission conducting direct medical care, expeditionary veterinary care, and subject matter expert exchanges with five partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Juel Foster)
V. LEADERSHIP
DOD_109283999: U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command, tours the USNS Comfort docked at the Port of , Miami FL, on Oct. 23 2022. The ship’s embarked medical teams will provide care on board and at land-based medical sites alongside host-nation healthcare personnel. Additionally, the ship’s military and civilian crew will provide veterinary services, conduct training, host expertise exchanges, and lead seminars on women, peace, and security.
DOD Video: CARTAGENA, Colombia (Nov. 13, 2022) U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, visited the USNS Comfort and Continuing Promise mission in Cartagena, Colombia, Nov. 13, 2022. Continuing Promise 2022 is a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission conducting direct medical care, expeditionary veterinary care, and subject matter expert exchanges with five partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America. (SOUTHCOM photo by Mass Communication Specialist Jameson Crabtree)
DOD_110558913: The Senate Armed Services Committee considers the nomination of Navy Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey for promotion to admiral and appointment to commander of U.S. Southern Command. The committee also considers the nomination of Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus for promotion to general and appointment to chief of the National Guard Bureau.