The role of women has steadily increased in the U.S. military, with women reaching positions of higher authority with thousands of troops under their command and control becoming more common. The Guatemalan military is making advances by expanding the role of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations with a recently [ … ]
Capacity Building
Honduras Curbs Narcotrafficking With US Assistance
Cooperation efforts between Honduras and the United States enabled the blows dealt to transnational crime. “Besides the drugs seized, several operations helped seize weapons, narco-labs, airstrips, coca crops, and cash that criminal organizations use to fund their illicit businesses,” Honduran Naval Force Captain José Domingo Meza, director of the Armed [ … ]
Brazilian and US Navies Promote Ecological Beach Cleanup in Rio de Janeiro
On August 20, the Brazilian Navy (MB, in Portuguese) conducted a cleanup operation at Icaraí Beach, 12.4 miles from Rio de Janeiro, with volunteer U.S. service members from the USS Carter Hall. About 100 service members (20 from the U.S.) took part in the operation. According to MB, an estimated [ … ]
“Restructuring” Prepares Argentine Armed Forces for New Challenges
Argentina set in motion a restructuring process in its Armed Forces to enable them to collaborate on internal security tasks. The goal is to modernize the defense system to confront the challenges of the 21st century, such as narcotrafficking and terrorism. The reform started in August 2018 with the National [ … ]
Female Officer Commands Platoon in One of Brazilian Navy’s Largest Operations
Operation Formosa 2019 was conducted for the first time with the participation of a woman as commander of an infantry platoon: Brazilian Marine Corps (CFN, in Portuguese) Second Lieutenant Liana Arduíno de Magalhães. [themepacific_column width="one-half" pos="first"] Operation Formosa is the Brazilian Navy’s (MB, in Portuguese) largest training session in the [ … ]
A Changing Environment and its Security Implications for Latin America
Militaries across the Americas must boost preparedness for the risks and consequences of natural disasters, experts in climate change and its security implications say. While armed forces of the region increasingly participate in combined training and exercises based on natural disaster scenarios — such as the annual U.S. Southern Command- [ … ]
Colombians Assist in Second Cycle of AJSOF NCO Course
The Colombian Advance Joint Special Operations Forces Noncommissioned Officer Course kicked off its second iteration after an opening ceremony held in Canto Norte, Bogota, Colombia, Aug. 26, 2019. The first AJSOF NCO course in Colombia was initiated in March of this year between Special Operations Command South, the Joint Special [ … ]
US, Colombian Air Forces Train in Relámpago 4
This fictitious operation was part of international exercise Air Combat Relámpago 4, conducted in late July 2019 with 30 aircraft from both nations. Service members practiced missions, such as assault, rescue, electronic warfare, personnel and equipment transport, and air refueling. This year, Brazil, Chile, and Spain attended the event as [ … ]
United States Donates Four Helicopters to Costa Rica to Strengthen Fight against Transnational Threats in Central America
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), through the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, donated four Bell UH-1ST helicopters to the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Security’s Air Vigilance Service (SVA, in Spanish), in the first half of 2019. The aircraft will extend by [ … ]
SENAFRONT’s Special Forces Strengthen Capabilities
The Special Forces Group (AFFE, in Spanish) of the Panamanian National Border Service (SENAFRONT, in Spanish) strengthened its capabilities in troop leadership, decision making, improvised explosive device deactivation, aeromedical evacuation techniques, and planning during retraining sessions led by the U.S. military at the headquarters of SENAFRONT's Eastern Brigade in Metetí [ … ]
Brazilian Air Force Support, Essential for International Events
Copa America Brazil 2019, carried out June 10-July 8, brought together players from 12 countries — 10 from South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela; and two guest countries: Japan and Qatar. During the event, Brazilian airports recorded an average of 3,300 flights per [ … ]
US Air Force Academy Offers Programs For Partner Nations
Latin American air force cadets participated in a four-year academic program in one of the best military institutions in the United States: the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) founded in 1954 and located in Colorado. Cadets adhere to a strict daily schedule with a complete load of academic work, classroom [ … ]