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A first-generation American with a father from Lima, Peru, and a mother from the United States, Lopez-Maheras grew up speaking Spanish at home and traveling to Peru every few years to connect with relatives. Those visits, spent with grandparents, cousins and extended family, left a lasting
Guardians assigned to Space Forces - Southern completed their first-ever Human Performance Assessment on April 23, 2026, marking a historic milestone as the unit conducted an evaluation for the first time since its activation and a historical first for first at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
The U.S. Air Force demonstrated advanced airpower and precision parachute capability during the 2026 Peruvian Airshow at Las Palmas Air Base, Peru, April 25, 2026.U.S. participation included the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team and the U.S. Air Force Academy Wings of Blue parachute team, marking the
In the rainforest town of Brownsweg, where roads fade into jungle and hospitals are hours away, the weight of entire communities’ health care rests on one doctor.Dr. Glenn Gloria is the sole physician for the Medische Zending Primary Health Care Center. He sees patients day in and day out, manages
U.S. Air Force medical personnel and Surinamese health care providers concluded a two-week health security cooperation engagement during a closing ceremony for the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 at Suriname’s Ministry of Health headquarters, April 23, 2026.
U.S. Air Force medical teams are operating in a remote Amazonian environment, delivering care alongside Surinamese healthcare professionals while sharpening expeditionary readiness under real-world conditions.
Inside clinics and remote treatment sites across Suriname, U.S. Air Force medical teams are working alongside host nation providers during the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 mission.
Maj. Kelsey Geiger, a dentist from 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana, stood on familiar ground as she began her second medical mission supporting Air Forces Southern. As part of LAMAT 2026, Geiger is among 47 medical and support personnel who traveled to Suriname
Patrol Squadron (VP- 30) and the unit’s flight crew displayed a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon during Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio (FIDAE) 2026 in Santiago, Chile, April 7 - 12, 2026, reinforcing U.S. maritime patrol capability and integration with regional partners.
The U.S. Air Force Academy’s parachute team, Wings of Blue, represented the team’s core values on a different continent during the Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio (FIDAE) 2026 in Santiago, Chile, from April 7-12, 2026.
U.S. Space Forces–South (SPACEFOR-SOUTH) leaders engaged regional partners and industry experts during the Space Summit at the Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio (FIDAE) 2026, reinforcing cooperation and advancing space capabilities across the Western Hemisphere, in Santiago Chile, April
U.S. and Chilean Air Force (FACh) crews demonstrated advanced interoperability April 4, 2026, executing the first-ever Chilean KC-135 Stratotanker air-to-air refueling of two U.S. F-35A Lightning II aircraft—marking a significant step forward in bilateral airpower integration.
The U.S. Air Force and Space Force returned to Santiago, Chile in Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio (FIDAE) 2026, hosted by the Chilean Air Force (FACh) April 7, 2026.
This engagement is part of ongoing efforts for military space professionals to strengthen relationships with space research programs and deliberately develop Guardians through existing research while expanding partnership opportunities in Latin America.
U.S. Air Force dental teams are delivering care in fast-paced clinics across Guyana, treating high volumes of patients alongside host-nation providers during Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026.
The Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 mission highlights how healthcare is sustained through collaboration, not delivered in isolation. LAMAT brings together U.S. military medical professionals and host-nation providers in Guyana to deliver care while strengthening partner nation
Before a patient settles into the chair or a filling begins, U.S. Air Force biomedical equipment technicians are already at work in clinics and hospitals across Guyana, restoring and maintaining the systems that keep care moving.
Inside Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, a patient regains sight as U.S. Air Force and Guyana Ministry of Health ophthalmology teams work side by side, delivering specialized care while building something far beyond a single procedure.
U.S. and Guyanese officials gathered March 16, 2026, in Georgetown to officially launch the Guyana portion of the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 mission, marking another milestone in the nations’ long-standing health partnership.
U.S. Air Force Col. William J. Watkins took command of the 346th Air Expeditionary Wing during a change of command ceremony March 15, 2026, at Ceiba, Puerto Rico.Maj. Gen. David A. Mineau, Air Forces Southern commander, presided over the change of command.
U.S. Air Forces Southern and the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis concluded the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 engagement during a closing ceremony in Basseterre on March 6, marking the completion of a two-week medical collaboration across St. Kitts and Nevis.
Air Forces Southern hosted the annual headquarters staff talks between the United States Air Force and the Ecuadorian air force, March 3-5.
As part of Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026, U.S. Air Force Reserve dental personnel are working alongside their Nevician counterparts to deliver essential dental care while strengthening relationships across the Caribbean.
The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the U.S. Air Force officially launched the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 mission during an opening ceremony in Basseterre, Saint Kitts, on Feb 22, 2026.
U.S. Space Forces Southern (SPACEFOR-SOUTH) Guardians met with commercial space industry representatives during a radar facility visit Feb. 17. The engagement focused on potential integration opportunities for increased space domain awareness through advancing radar technology and global expansion
Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH) conducted a knowledge exchange with military representatives of the Argentine air force, Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA), in support of their Peace Condor program, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Jan. 6-9, 2026.
U.S. Air Force rescue aircrews from the 563rd Rescue Group, supported by Air Forces Southern, conducted a long-range water rescue of a civilian aboard a tanker in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico, Feb. 5, 2026.
A C-5M Super Galaxy from the 433rd Airlift Wing Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, delivered 90,000 pounds of humanitarian cargo to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Jan. 12, 2026.
The U.S. Space Force and U.S. Southern Command officially marked the activation of Space Forces Southern (SPACEFOR–SOUTH) during a ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Jan. 21, 2026, formalizing the command’s role in integrating space capabilities across the Western Hemisphere.
Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey relinquished duties as commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus during a ceremony at the command’s headquarters Dec. 12 in Doral, Florida. Holsey is retiring after more than 37 years of service in the U.S. Navy.
The squadron flew 927.9 hours this year across the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and central Pacific basins, collecting critical data that improved forecasts, saved lives and once again, demonstrated the unit's no-fail mission.
In a memorandum to commanders, the SecAF and CSAF said: “The Air Force must be prepared to fly and fix so we can fight and win. We will maintain this posture through increased focus on readiness and modernization in a commander-focused service.”
The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, led by the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), transited the Anegada Passage and entered the Caribbean Sea, Nov. 16.
Maj. Gen. David Mineau, Air Forces Southern commander, awarded Brazilian Air Force Col. Leonardo Macedo the Meritorious Service Medal for his work as a foreign liaison officer, September 4, 2025.
Leaders in the U.S. Air Force and the Chilean (FACh) Air Force came together for their annual Airman-to-Airman Talks to share resources, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Aug. 26-29, 2025.
LUQUE, Paraguay — United States and Paraguayan military leaders, healthcare professionals, and community members gathered at General Hospital of Luque, Aug. 14, to celebrate the conclusion of AMISTAD 2025.
LUQUE, Paraguay – U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion donated a fully equipped dental suite and 17,000 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to the Paraguayan Ministry of Health during a ceremony Aug. 13 at the Unidad de Salud de la Familia Tarumandy in Luque, Paraguay, during AMISAD
ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay —Medical and dental student volunteers from universities across the Paraguay played a pivotal role in Amistad 2025, serving as vital language and cultural bridges between U.S. doctors and Paraguayan medical professionals.
A powerful demonstration of international alliances and military readiness took flight yesterday as the Colombian Air Force joined forces with the United States to officially kick off Relámpago de los Andes (RDLA) 2025. The Colombian-led exercise brings together airpower, expertise and shared values
While patients waited in crowded clinics and medical staff in crisp uniforms moved from room to room, a small maintenance shop tucked into the corner of Academic Hospital buzzed with a different kind of energy: One less visible, but no less essential.
U.S. Air Force medical and support personnel provided care to hundreds of patients while collaborating with local practitioners during a two-week Global health engagement with Surinamese health care providers, July 12-25.
Nearly 60,000 attendees were present to witness the enduring partnership between the United States and Colombia during the 12th edition of the International Aeronautics and Space Fair, F-AIR 2025, at the José María Córdova International Airport, July 9-13.
U.S. Air Force, Canadian Armed Forces and Salvadoran health professionals provided medical services to community members in Santa Ana, El Salvador on June 24 as part of AMISTAD 2025.
More than 50 international forces trained to provide care under fire during a Tactical Combat Casualty Care exercise in Ilopango, El Salvador, June 17-20.
Air force leaders from more than 20 countries gathered for the Conference of American Air Chiefs (CONJEFAMER) in Asunción, Paraguay, June 16-21, 2025.CONJEFAMER, or Conferencia de los Jefes de las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas in Spanish, brings together top air force leaders from across the Western
433rd Airlift Wing Citizen Airmen sharpened their combat readiness and reinforced global partnerships during Exercise Southern Star ’25, a multinational special operations exercise held across Chile from May 26 to June 8. Operating the C-5M Super Galaxy, the largest aircraft in the U.S. Air Force
U.S. and Canadian military medics partnered with the Peruvian Armed Forces in Iquitos, Peru, the week of June 2, 2025, to kick off a Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) knowledge exchange.
U.S. Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH) launched AMISTAD 2025 in Peru on June 2, marking the start of a global health engagement designed to strengthen partnerships and enhance deployment readiness across five Latin American nations.
Airmen from the 612th Air Operations Center (AOC) and Air Communications Squadron (ACOMS) deployed to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, May 5-16 to evaluate a new and innovative approach to operational command and control (C2) in the field.
Mission Ready Airmen assigned to the 137th Special Operations Wing mission sustainment team, Oklahoma Air National Guard, strengthened critical self-sustaining skills and assessed their ability to operate in multiple expeditionary environments across the Caribbean during TRADEWINDS25, April 21-May
After seven weeks across four countries, U.S. Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH) concluded its 2025 Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission on April 11, bolstering regional partnerships and advancing medical readiness for future challenges.
After 18 months of distinguished service with Air Forces Southern, Colombian Air Force (COLAF) Foreign Liaison Officer (FLO) Col. Alejandro Leguizamón bid farewell to the organization during a ceremony, March 25, 2025, that highlighted his contributions to regional cooperation and security.
During the St. Kitts and Nevis phase of LAMAT 25, more than 2,200 patients received treatment, 600-plus people underwent surgical and non-surgical interventions, thousands of hours of readiness training were accomplished, and Air Force medical professionals helped deliver a grand-total of at least
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – Ten Air Advisors from the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) deployed to Panama from March 7–28, 2025 to conduct a multi-faceted training mission in support of Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (SENAN). The effort was part of an ongoing theater security
U.S. Airmen deployed in support of the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission are strengthening medical readiness and deepening regional partnerships in the Caribbean.
For the first time, Foreign Liaison Officers (FLOs) have been fully integrated into Air Forces Southern’s (AFSOUTH) Air Operations Center (AOC) battle rhythm operations, marking a significant milestone in coalition air power coordination.
The arrival of the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission 2025 has brought a wave of relief to the island nation of St. Lucia. The mission, which began Feb. 24, represents a collaboration between U.S. Air Force medical professionals and their St. Lucian counterparts, addressing a
U.S. military medical professionals and their partner nation counterparts launched the latest iteration of the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission in Saint Lucia Feb. 24, 2025, underscoring the ongoing commitment to strengthening partnerships and enhancing military readiness.
U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, visited Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH) headquarters on Feb. 27, reinforcing the increasing role of space-based capabilities in the Western Hemisphere.
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.
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.
U.S. Air Force Airmen and Air National Guardsmen participated in CRUZEX 2024, the largest Brazilian-led multinational air combat exercise in Latin America, held at Natal Air Force Base in Brazil, Nov. 3-15.
For the first time in the history of CRUZEX, cyber operations played a pivotal role. CRUZEX 2024 introduced "CRUZEX CYBER," a simulated cyber exercise designed to integrate cyber defense with traditional air operations, marking a new frontier in military training. CRUZEX, one of the largest
U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey assumed command of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) from U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson during a change-of-command ceremony, Nov. 7, 2024.
Maj. Gen. David Mineau accepted command of the newly activated Air Forces Southern from U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin during a Change of Command ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Sept. 11, 2024.
The Air Force is organizing its major commands, or MAJCOMs, into Institutional Commands, responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Airmen, and Service Component Commands, responsible for preparing Airmen for warfighting in a combatant command’s area of responsibility. The changes are part
More than 40 personnel from 15 units across three U.S. military service branches participated in a campaign to augment health services in multiple locations across El Salvador, Aug. 19 to Sep. 6.
Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) hosted the Central American and Caribbean Air Chiefs conference Aug. 26-29 in Tucson, Arizona.
PANAMAX 2024 is underway at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. bringing together partner nations from 11 countries across the Americas to integrate and build upon their capabilities to plan and execute multinational operations, Aug. 5-16.
U.S. Army and Air Force medics and Paraguayan first responders participated in a joint Tactical Combat Casualty Care course led by medical personnel supporting Phase II of the AMISTAD24 medical assistance mission in Filadelfia, Paraguay, Aug. 3, and teamed up to immediately apply those skills as
Joint Task Force-Bravo’s premier multinational foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises, AGILE BEAR 2.0 and Sentinel Watch, were hosted in various locations across Belize, July 21-26, 2024.
Active duty U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army personnel sourced from 15 locations across the globe arrived to Filadelfia, Paraguay, July 29 in support of Phase II of AMISTAD24, in the first ever active-duty-led U.S. military medical assistance mission in the country.
Members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing and 104th Fighter Wing met with members of the Paraguayan military, the Massachusetts National Guard’s (MANG) partner in the State Partnership Program (SPP), to exchange best practices for Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) development on Joint Base Cape Cod,
One can say Maj. Jose Ricardo Gastiaburu of the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, has had military blood coursing through his veins his entire life. He grew up in Lima, Peru, immersed in a military environment as the son of a military officer, surrounded by numerous relatives serving in the
Thirty-two Total Force U.S. Air Force Airmen and U.S. Army Massachusetts National Guard soldiers journeyed to Filadelfia to support this year's AMISTAD mission. AMISTAD, Spanish for friendship, is the core of their objective: to collaborate closely with local counterparts, enhancing mutual training
More than 85 participants attended Sentinel Watch, a 2-day natural disaster preparedness exercise, at the Permanent Contingency Commission of Honduras Headquarters in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, July 10-11, 2024.
The commander of the Air Force Technical Applications Center invited several Foreign Liaison Officers assigned to U.S. Southern Command to tour the WC-135 Constant Phoenix June 25 when the jet flew from Offutt AFB, Neb., to Homestead ARB, Fla.
Air Force leaders and representatives from across the Western Hemisphere assembled in Argentina June 18-20 for the 64th “Conferencia de los Jefes de las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas,” Spanish for, Conference of the American Air Chiefs, or CONJEFAMER.
CENTAM Guardian Phase II concludes after two weeks with a closing ceremony at Costa Rica’s National Fire Academy, San Jose, Costa Rica, June 14, 2024.
Dedication to space domain awareness plays a crucial role in maintaining global security and advancing the capabilities of partner nations. Throughout exercise Resolute Sentinel 2024, the U.S. and its allies gathered throughout South America to conduct Space Domain Awareness (SDA) training and
Airmen at the 72nd Logistics Readiness Squadron played a major role in delivering humanitarian relief to Panama utilizing the Air Force’s largest airframe. Following the arrival of a C-5M Super Galaxy at Tinker Air Force Base May 31, 2024, 72nd LRS assisted airmen from the 433rd Airlift Wing in
Approaching the training holistically, the TCCC course included a series of comprehensive modules, covering battlefield medicine, trauma care and evacuation procedures. Peruvians and Brazilians engaged in hands-on simulations and lectures led by experienced medical personnel assigned to the 167th
In the months leading up to RS24, the U.S. funded the construction of a modernized shoot house at GRUFE, which is projected to be completed this summer. This facility will be essential for conducting combined joint training for Peru and the U.S. in close quarters combat, a critical skill for
Peruvian Airmen shared techniques and best practices for handling and extinguishing aircraft fires and rescuing trapped personnel with the U.S. Airmen, who likewise shared their tactics. The fire rescue training was coordinated by the Combined Joint Task Force – RS24 and aimed to prepare the U.S.
As Resolute Sentinel 2024 begins its second week, the participating nations continue to underscore the importance of international military cooperation, enabling unified execution of complex operations with an emphasis on Agile Combat Employment while demonstrating what it means to lead from the
Exercise Resolute Sentinel 2024 tested the ability of the U.S. military to rapidly transport blood from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, to Lima, Peru, on May 30, 2024.A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to 167th Airlift Wing transported the units, marking the first-time blood was
Peruvian and U.S. Airmen, along with Peruvian Coast Guardsmen, participated in a joint aeromedical evacuation training on May 30, 2024, in Lima, Peru.
The multinational military exercise Resolute Sentinel 2024 officially began May 27, 2024, at Grupo 4 in La Joya, Peru, after an opening ceremony and unveiling of the 2024 exercise partnership emblem. RS24, which will continue through the next three weeks, is sponsored by U.S. Southern Command
A Global Health Engagement conducted by Joint Task Force-Bravo in conjunction with Guatemala’s State Partnership Program counterpart, the Arkansas National Guard’s 188th Wing, and the Guatemalan military, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, served communities
It was on this day 70 years ago — May 20, 1954, that the United States and Honduras signed a bilateral military assistance agreement at Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
A KC-46A Pegasus from the 931st Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, delivers 12 pallets of cargo for the Denton Program at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, May 8, 2024.
U.S. Air Force Reserve members have been integral to the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team, or LAMAT, a U.S. Air Force medical assistance mission that complements care for patients across medical specialties in island nations in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
Approximately 90 students from six partner nations and the U.S. Air Force are the latest members to earn their wings, a highly-coveted honor symbolizing their graduation from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy.
More than 150 U.S. Airmen attended and performed at an airshow in Santiago, Chile, April 9-14, 2024.
The multinational exercise CENTAM SMOKE ended with a closing ceremony awarding the five participating countries’ firefighters at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, April 26, 2024.
The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black visited personnel at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, April 22-23, 2024. Black is the fifth Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.S. military’s
In our democracy, elections are quite common, and with a presidential election this year, we can expect many opportunities for citizens to participate in the democratic process. With this in mind, it is important to be aware of specific guidelines that apply to service members and federal employees
Forty-three U.S. Air Force active duty and reserve Airmen traveled to St. Kitts and Nevis in support of this year’s Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team mission, where they will be working alongside host nation counterparts to foster mutual collaboration and training, and provide the best
Under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) successfully pioneered its first Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team mission to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, March 4–12.
After two weeks of high-volume patient care, alongside local medical personnel, the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team mission concluded in St. Lucia, March 8, 2024.
The LAMAT mission provides not just knowledge exchange and interoperability, but a real-world impact on human life. The mission will last until March 8, providing medical teams the opportunity to grow and build on relationships and skills.
Forty-two U.S. Air Force active duty and reserve personnel embedded with Surinamese military and civilian medical institutions in an effort to collaborate and hone skills through mutual training and education, with the added and critical benefit of providing needed care for patients.
A team of doctors, nurses, and healthcare specialists across several fields traveled to Suriname as part of a U.S. Air Force medical assistance mission, one that has helped better the lives of host nation citizens while showcasing the power of sharing skills and cultivating relationships.Forty-two
The U.S. Air Force Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team deployed ready-medics, for the second year, to work alongside St. Lucia’s health teams to achieve mutual benefits and build trust in the region from Feb. 26 to March 10, 2024.
The Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team mission is underway for a second year of health engagements across four nations, beginning in Suriname, 19 Feb.Further medical assistance teams under the LAMAT 2024 mission will travel to St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Kitts and Nevis through March 29.
In the modern interconnected world of cyberspace and AI, it might seem like everything can be done with a click of a button. Yet when faced with the realities of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) and collaboration with global partners or adversaries in distant and austere locations, the significance of
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard’s 222nd Command and Control Squadron, charged with helping to control and monitor U.S. military satellites, hosted four Brazilian officers during a week-long space training workshop Dec. 4-8.The Brazilian Navy and Air Force
12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) hosted the South American Air Chiefs and Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference in Tucson Ariz. Dec. 5-8.
Approximately 200 students from 11 partner nations and the U.S. Air Force are the latest members to earn their wings, a highly-coveted honor symbolizing graduation from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy.
12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, Maj. Gen. Evan Pettus, joined top representatives from the Honduras Ministry of Education to inaugurate the expansion of a school dining facility in Comayagua, Honduras, on Aug. 4.On behalf of U.S. Southern Command’s Humanitarian Assistance Program, a
This article examines the growing influence operations conducted by the Chinese Communist Party–led government in Latin America, presenting strategic risks to US national security and global order. The author highlights the surprising breadth and scale of China’s influence, encompassing
The U.S. military recently teamed up with the Colombian Aerospace Force to showcase bilateral cooperation and a commitment to enhancing military readiness in the Ángel de los Andes and Relámpago VIII exercises, hosted in Colombia in August and September 2023. Teams from the U.S. Air Force, Army,
A recent medical training mission became an opportunity for one U. S. Airman to give back to the country of her birth.Senior Airman Oshin Mullings, a physical therapy technician with the 633rd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., recently traveled to Jamaica as part
In late June, 2023 a contingency response team, a group of Airmen specifically tasked with setting up an airfield, landed at Chiclayo and began to establish the basis of what would be required to stand up the first entirely U.S. Air Force Reserve air expeditionary wing (AEW), which operated out of
1st Special Operations Wing participates in Exercise Southern Star 23, an annual special operations forces exercise led by Chile, from July 24 to Aug. 10, 2023. The training event, organized by Special Operations Command South, aims to strengthen relationships between partner forces, enhance
More than 47,000 people attended the biennial F-AIR Colombia International Aeronautic Fair at the José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, Colombia, July 12-16.
OPERATION HARPY SUR, a space exercise nested under Exercise RESOLUTE SENTINEL 2023, has opened a new chapter in international space collaboration at the Centro Nacional de Operaciones de Imágenes Satelitales, or CNOIS, in southern Peru. The space exercise aims to bolster the region's emerging space
A coalition space team made history during exercise Resolute Sentinel 23, executing the first-ever defensive space control operation in U. S. Southern Command history and demonstrating the real-world impact of Agile Combat Employment operations for space.
Joint Task Force-Space Defense Commercial Operations Cell (JCO) personnel provide briefings to Colombian Air Force (COLAF) and 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) personnel during a space operations subject matter expert exchange in Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 21, 2023.
As flying units from around the globe converged at Nellis Air Force Base for RED FLAG 23-1, the 505th Command and Control Wing welcomed the 355th Wing’s Command and Control Force Element, or C2FE, from Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, to execute as the first Lead Wing C2FE in a Tier 1 Large Force
The dental team of the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) was the first to see patients in a newly opened dental clinic in Redi Doti, Suriname on Monday. The Youth Dental Care Foundation’s (JTV) Redi Doti clinic will serve patients in rural communities, making dental services and
B-1Bs conduct CONUS to CONUS Bomber Task Force Mission in support of SOUTHCOM
Members of the 774th Expeditionary Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, under the command of the 474th Air Expeditionary Group, conducted an evidence-based knowledge exchange with local healthcare providers on the installation and use of a diagnostic ultrasound system in Orocuina, Honduras, June
Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) personnel participated in a Planning in Crisis (PIC) conference June 22-30, in Panama City, Panama, in which air component planners from 10 Caribbean and Latin American countries coordinated air force operations for the upcoming PANAMAX 2022 exercise. The
Taking advantage of the reprieve from COVID-19 restrictions, the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron at Forward Operating Location Curacao reinvigorated their community outreach efforts and key leader engagements.In September 2021, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport visited with
“The War is Won in the Air.” That is the title of Chapter 23, of Juan Manuel Santos’ book, Jaque al Terror, in which the former President of Colombia outlines the military planning and operations that broke the Marxist guerrilla organization, known as the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de
Chile joins JTF-SD SACT and JCO experiments advancing space situational awareness partnering.
The Multi-Domain Warfare Officer Initial Skills Training class 21B visited the 612th Air Operations Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, to observe real-time operations, Sept. 27-28.
“We enjoy lending a helping hand,” said Tech. Sgt. Samantha Miller, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron command and control air advisor. “It’s helpful for the local community and it’s rewarding for us.”During a recent mission to Panama, members of the 571st MSAS went beyond their usual charge
The skies roared with the sounds of U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons. Sounds that are not usually heard in a small mountain community in South America.Far from home and familiar territory, Airmen from all over the United States journeyed to Colombia and transformed a contingency location to
Airmen assigned to the 474th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron completed an install and certification of a mobile aircraft arresting system prior to the commencement of Exercise Relampago VI on a shared runway with CACOM 5 and Jose Maria Cordova International Airport, July 9.The first ever
Approximately 44 service members battled the Central American summer heat and humidity to deliver healthcare to the local population during Resolute Sentinel 21 (RS-21).Active duty and reservist personnel from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force administered dental, medical, and veterinary care and
How does U.S. military leadership determine which missions should be carried out? Who decides what and how much supplies are necessary? Who helps evaluate if a mission is successful or not? These questions and an endless number of others can be answered by operations research analysts. Capt.
The surgical readiness training exercise (SURGRETE) team has completed their nine days of surgeries at Hospital del Sur, May 27.Over the course of two weeks, the team of U.S. military medics have completed over 40 surgeries ranging from simple transurethral resections of the prostate (TURP) to
Plans in the military are constantly changing. The plans for the Resolute Sentinel 21 surgical readiness training exercise (SURGRETE) in Honduras has been no different.The Forward Surgical Section with Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B), Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, extended their stay in Choluteca to
U.S. service members with Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B), Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, concluded Resolute Sentinel 2021, a two-week long medical readiness exercise, May 22.Approximately 65 service members deployed to El Salvador to provide joint training and improved readiness of U.S. and partner
The anesthesiologists attached to the team of U.S. military medical professionals deployed to Honduras in support of Resolute Sentinel 21 play a critical role in the life-changing surgeries being provided.Without anesthesia, surgeries would be longer operations and put the patients under extreme
Security forces members have a variety of jobs from checking ID cards at the gate in garrison to patrolling at forward operating bases overseas. A select few join the Base Defense Squadron (BDS), which specializes in force protection in austere environments.Resolute Sentinel 21 utilized two BDS
Biomedical equipment technician (BMET) training takes upwards of a year to ensure the technicians are fully equipped to handle most types of medical equipment they may see in their career.U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Fonseca, a BMET with the 21st Medical Group, Perterson-Schriever
Medical professionals with the Forward Surgical Section, Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B), Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, conducted a combined surgery with the local Honduran medical team and the deployed U.S. military medics at Hospital del Sur on May 18, 2021.The team of four surgeons completed a
Members of Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B), Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, donated $2,254 of construction materials to the Jose Anastasio Bonilla Education Center, May 16, through U.S. Southern Command’s (USSOUTHCOM) Humanitarian Assistance Program.“The Humanitarian Assistance Program is a USSOUTHCOM
U.S. Air Force and Army medics arrived in Choluteca, Honduras, May 12, to assist the local hospital with urologic surgeries during Resolute Sentinel 21.Resolute Sentinel 21 provides joint training and improved readiness for U.S. civil engineers, medical professionals and support personnel through
Core themes to the revised Air Force Doctrine Publication-1: The Air Force are the foundation and evolution of airpower and the concept of mission command.
With global competition heating up, the need to maximize the agility of U.S. Air Force operational command and control has never been more pressing. Fortunately, the USAF’s Operational Command Training Program is a foundational piece of its current C2 training architecture.
The Air Force released its new mission statement: To fly, fight, and win … airpower anytime, anywhere.
The 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Commander and Command Chief recently visited Recce Town to engage with intelligence Airmen and discuss the critical support provided to the Southern Hemisphere from the Distributed Ground Station-2 (DGS-2) located here.Maj. Gen. Barry Cornish, Commander, 12th
Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) virtually hosted the Air Force Section Chief Theater Security Cooperation Workshop for Department of Defense and Department of State participants in 21 countries Jan. 11-13, 2021. “The AFSEC workshop brings together Security Cooperation Office Air Force
Social media has become one of the most prevalent ways to communicate with our friends, family and community. Many see it as way to keep up with the lives of those who they are separated from or as a way to blow off steam by watching funny cat videos or the late night videos of the guy who builds a
Two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft participated in “Brother’s Shield” a Colombian Air Force lead exercise and in “UNITAS LXI” an Ecuadorian Navy lead exercise in the U.S. Southern Command’s Area of Responsibility. The name of the exercise “Brother’s Shield” developed from the close
The FLO program is designed to enable service members from allied countries to share training processes and lessons learned to better align a mutual understanding of each nation’s tactics, techniques and procedures.
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Commander Maj. Gen. Barry R. Cornish, virtually joined Air Chiefs from 19 nations across the Western Hemisphere for the 60th Conference of the American Air
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft transported a large mobile field hospital from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to Kingston, Jamaica Sept. 19, where it will be donated to healthcare providers and used to support the Caribbean nation’s ongoing response to the COVID-19
Air advisors with the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron are providing training for the first time using a virtual medium to members of the National Aeronaval Service of Panama, also known as SENAN, Aug. 31 through Sept. 11.
U.S. Space Command took another step in expanding its international space data sharing network; this time with the nation of Peru.
75 years ago, the Brazilian airmen, as part of the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), helped defeat Nazi and fascist tyrannies. Today again, we fight against a common enemy, COVID-19.
A team of 14 members from the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron and leadership from the 621st Contingency Response Wing completed training February 18 through March 14 with the Peruvian Air Force, also known as FAP, at Callao Air Base in Lima, Perú.
Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) hosted the South American Air Chiefs and Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference.Air Chiefs, or a designated representative, from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru attended the conference. This year’s conference included South American
Future leaders of 11 Latin American Air Forces visited 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) on the tail-end of their visit through the United States, as part of the Latin American Cadet Initiative.The twenty-two cadets represented air forces from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic,
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. – The Chilean Air Force accomplished many firsts with their KC-130R aircraft in Exercise Mobility Guardian Sept 19-28, 2019.“This is the first time we’ve launched the container delivery system,” said Chilean Air Force Col. Miguel Stange, Chilean delegation Mobility
Since the start of the exercise in May, the New Horizons team comprised of U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army engineers, built three community centers and a women’s shelter, as well as participated in several medical outreach events in Guyana.During the two months of medical outreach events, there were a
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. –The 55th Rescue Squadron hosted an H-60 Subject Matter Expert Exchange between members of the U.S. Air Force and the Chilean Air Force Aug 5-9, 2019.This is the second H-60 SMEE between the two Air Forces this year. Earlier this year, four U.S. Airmen traveled to
Panama’s Darién Gap is a 10,000 square-mile remote region of mountains, swamps and rainforests, known for attracting explorers and adventurers alike. In July 2019, 11 air advisors from the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron descended upon the Gap as part of a mobile training team with
LINDEN, Guyana -- The Medical Readiness Training Exercise team for New Horizons training exercise 2019 saw their final patient July 12, 2019 at the Egbert Benjamin Expedition and Conference Centre. The MEDRETE provided services in family health, women’s health, dental, veterinary, dermatology,
Four F-16 Fighting Falcons and Airmen from the South Carolina Air National Guard flew down to Colombia to participate in Relámpago IV, a training exercise with the Colombian Air Force Kfir fighter jets, July 15-18, 2019.The exercise allowed the U.S. and Colombian Airmen to enhance their
For the first time in 50 years, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Demonstration Team performed in Colombia, displaying their unique flying capabilities to over 250,000 Colombians during the Feria Aeronáutica Internacional - Colombia (F-AIR), June 11-14.
U.S. and Brazilian Air Force joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) had the unique opportunity to work together during exercise Green Flag West, June 3-14, 2019.Held jointly by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, Green Flag West is an air-land integration exercise designed to mirror current
Pilots and aircrew from the U.S. and the Brazilian Air Force worked and trained together during exercise Green Flag West, June 3-14, 2019.Aircrew from the 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho Air National Guard, partnered with members of the Brazilian Air Force for the air-land integration exercise, which gave
The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron conducted a first-ever air, land and sea training mission with the Belize Air Wing, Belize Defence Force, and Belize Coast Guard from May 3-18.
PORT MOURANT, Guyana -- U.S. military ophthalmology teams deployed in support of New Horizons training exercise 2019 and partnered with Guyanese doctors at the Port Mourant Hospital in Port Mourant, Guyana, May 6-16, 2019.The ophthalmology center at the Port Mourant Hospital was established to
With the 2019 hurricane season fast approaching, NOAA and the U.S. Air Force Reserve will host a series of events, including tours aboard the hurricane hunter aircraft, to help communities in Mexico and the Caribbean prepare for the season and the coming storms.National Hurricane Center Director Ken
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev.--The Colombian Air Force is supporting the U.S. Navy during the U.S. Air Force-led air-to-air combat exercise Red Flag 19-2 March 11-22, 2019.The Colombian Air Force brought their Multi-Mission Transport Tanker Jupiter 767 to refuel the U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growlers for the
Faller recently took command of the U.S. Southern Command, which is responsible for all Department of Defense security cooperation in the 45 nations and territories of Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea. The visit was meant to integrate and familiarize him with 12th Air Force (Air
GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA – Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston delivered nearly 8,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Guatemala City yesterday. The mission, part of a standard C-17 Globemaster III aircraft training mission, delivered the donated supplies consisting of
Surrounded by historic aircraft in the main hangar of the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tuscon, Arizona, the 25th Operational Weather Squadron celebrated its 75th anniversary Nov. 2, 2018. Originally known as the 25th Weather Squadron, the unit provided weather support to Army and Army Air Corps
A U.S. Air Force hydrazine Mobile Training Team traveled to Los Condores Air Base, Chile, to conduct classroom instruction and hands-on training with Chilean Air Force fuels technicians.Hydrazine is a back-up fuel used in F-16 Fighting Falcons that allows a pilot to regain control in the event of an
NATAL, Brazil -- Brazil kicked off its multinational air combat exercise CRUZEX VII Nov. 18 and invited participation from U.S. and six other partner nations.Guardsmen from the Texas and Washington Air National Guard joined the two-week long exercise and lent support by providing fighter and tanker
The active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Air Force Reserve 419th Fighter Wing conducted a combat power exercise Nov. 19, launching dozens of F-35A Lightning IIs within a condensed period of time.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein concluded a two-day visit to Colombia on Thursday, reinforcing bonds with one of the United States’ closest allies in Latin America and pledging to accelerate joint training activities with an air force he called the “gold standard” in the region.
Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) hosted the Central American and Caribbean Air Chief’s conference with participants from Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama, Nov. 6-8, 2018.
Twenty-two cadets from 11 Latin American nations participated in the initiative that has been sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs program since 2006.
Cyber Airmen assigned to the 557th Weather Wing recently teamed together with the Defense Innovation Unit program making changes to how airborne tankers are scheduled. The changes are the direct result of a March 8, 2018, memo from Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command, where he stated,
Asunción, Paraguay -- The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) completed a mobile training mission (MTT) with the Paraguayan air force (FAP) in Asuncion, Paraguay from Sept. 17-28, 2018. During the MTT, air advisors focused on rotary wing aircraft water survival and twin tension rope
The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) recently conducted a Building Partnerships Capacity (BPC) mission in Bogota, Colombia.The 17-member mobile training team (MTT), including members of the Wyoming Air National Guard and the Colorado Air Force Reserves, executed a four-week joint
RIONEGRO, Colombia-- Ninty-five U.S. Air Force Airmen trained with 11 partner nation air forces tallying more than 400 participants in the Colombian-led multinational search and rescue exercise “Angel de los Andes” Sept. 3-14. The U.S. and multinational participants trained together by responding to
Two U.S. Air Force aircraft and more than 90 U.S. Airmen are participating in “Angel de los Andes,” a Colombian led international search and rescue training exercise Sept. 3-14.One C-17 Globemaster III from the 14th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina and one C-130 Hercules
The 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron conducted in-depth F-15E Strike Eagle armament training Aug. 27-30 that will enhance the 366th Fighter Wing’s readiness down-range.
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) completed training with the Peruvian Air Force at Las Palmas and Callao Air Bases in Peru, from July 31 through Aug 22, 2018.The mobile training team (MTT) consisted of nine MSAS air advisors and a maintenance
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah, -- The 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and 4th Fighter Squadron were the first operational units to load and fire the F-35A’s cannon during training Aug. 13, and what they learned will influence how they train and fight.Loading and firing the cannon was
U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) signed an agreement with the Brazilian Ministry of Defense to share Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services and information.Rear Adm. Richard A. Correll, director of plans and policy for USSTRATCOM, signed the agreement as part of a larger effort to build a
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah; -- Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing recently began standing up the last of its aircraft maintenance units, a big step toward receiving the full complement of F-35A Lightning IIs by the end of 2019. The first operational F-35s landed at Hill Air Force Base in October 2015. Since
The Colombian Air Force made history while participating in the U.S. Air Force’s premier air-to-air combat training exercise, Red Flag 18-3, July 16 to August 3.“In the last six years they’ve [the Colombian Air Force] made significant modifications to their aircraft hardware and software that has
U.S. service members from the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) and the 612th Air and Space Operations Center participated in the U.S. Southern Command PANAMAX 2018 exercise July 30 – Aug. 10 alongside members from 12 partner nations.The Brazilian Air Force Chief of Joint Air Operations Center,
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) completed academic instructor and initial assessment training with the National Air and Naval Service of Panama, also known as SENAN, across multiple locations within the Republic of Panama from June 1-26, 2018. The
Six Colombian Air Force Kfir fighter jets on their way to Red Flag 18-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, stopped at Davis-Monthan AFB from July 5-16, to train with A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons. “This week is very important here at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base because our pilots
Air force leaders from 19 nations in the Western Hemisphere met in Panama City June 18-22 for the 58th Conference of American Air Chiefs. Much of the value of CONJEFAMER comes from the relationships built among air chiefs that makes cooperation easier when a rapid response is needed. This year,
Forging warrior-leaders: SecAF underscores USAFA’s vital role in national defense
DAF launches plan to bolster AI workforce
CSAF immersion at JBSA highlights training modernization, force readiness
Chief Master Sgt. Nuñez visits Reserve Airmen supporting exercise Balikatan
124th ASOS TACP Airmen conduct CAS training at Razorback Range
JTF Southern Spear Continues to Disrupt Narco-Terrorist Networks
U.S. Navy P-8 strengthens regional ties at Chile’s international air show
Chile Welcomes Nimitz Carrier Strike Group
Joint Engineering Effort Assesses Bridge of the Americas in Panama
U.S. and Chilean Air Force crews complete historic refueling
