Stories

NA - 220922-N-N3764-0500 RIO DE JANEIRO – (Sept. 22, 2022) -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, congratulates participants for their performance at the UNITAS LXIII Closing Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 22, 2022. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Myers Vasquez/Released)

RIO DE JANEIRO (Sept. 8, 2022) Brazilian Navy Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen, Commander Naval Operations, and U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro greet each other prior to the opening ceremony for UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 8, 2022. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Brazil, it brings together multinational forces from Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States conducting operations in and off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. The exercise trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ethan Craw/Released) - RIO DE JANEIRO (Sept. 8, 2022) Brazilian Navy Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen, Commander Naval Operations, and U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro greet each other prior to the opening ceremony for UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 8, 2022. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Brazil, it brings together multinational forces from Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States conducting operations in and off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. The exercise trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ethan Craw/Released)

A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter assigned to Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773 hovers above the landing pad of the San Antonio class dock landing ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) in the North Atlantic Ocean, Aug. 16, 2022. HMLA 773 launched three UH-1Y Venom and two AH-1Z Viper helicopters from McGuire Air Force Base and embarked them aboard the USS Mesa Verde for transit to Brazil in support of exercise UNITAS LXIII hosted by the Brazilian Navy and Marine Corps. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 63rd iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year Brazil will celebrate its bicentennial, a historical milestone commemorating 200 years of the country’s independence. - A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter assigned to Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773 hovers above the landing pad of the San Antonio class dock landing ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) in the North Atlantic Ocean, Aug. 16, 2022. HMLA 773 launched three UH-1Y Venom and two AH-1Z Viper helicopters from McGuire Air Force Base and embarked them aboard the USS Mesa Verde for transit to Brazil in support of exercise UNITAS LXIII hosted by the Brazilian Navy and Marine Corps. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 63rd iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year Brazil will celebrate its bicentennial, a historical milestone commemorating 200 years of the country’s independence. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Colton K. Garrett)

A Honduran Naval trainee performs a swimming aptitude test April 4, 2016 along the northern coast of Honduras. The test helped to establish proficiency in the water and to better develop the skills of the entire training class, during the first-ever consolidated infantry course hosted by the Honduran Navy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Christopher Mesnard) - A Honduran Naval trainee performs a swimming aptitude test April 4, 2016 along the northern coast of Honduras. The test helped to establish proficiency in the water and to better develop the skills of the entire training class, during the first-ever consolidated infantry course hosted by the Honduran Navy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Christopher Mesnard)

Brigadier General Kevin M. Iiams took the command battle colors from Sgt. Maj. James N. Calbough, sergeant major for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, as he assumed the role of commander Jan. 7, 2016. The Marines from MARFORSOUTH hosted the senior leadership of U.S. Southern Command and other service members during an Assumption of Command ceremony. (Official Marine Corps Photo by SSgt. Earnest J. Barnes/Released) - Brigadier General Kevin M. Iiams took the command battle colors from Sgt. Maj. James N. Calbough, sergeant major for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, as he assumed the role of commander Jan. 7, 2016. The Marines from MARFORSOUTH hosted the senior leadership of U.S. Southern Command and other service members during an Assumption of Command ceremony. (Official Marine Corps Photo by SSgt. Earnest J. Barnes/Released)

U. S. Marine Capt. Ismael Lopez, team leader, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, interacts with the students at Jornalista Dantas during UNITAS Amphibous 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 17, 2015. 4th CAG, Mexican Marines, along with Brazilian sailors and Marines provided food, soccer balls, pens and paper. In addition to the distribution of school materials, 4th CAG joined partner nations to teach local students about English translation, a brief explanation of what UNITAS Amphib is and a class on dental hygiene. (Photo taken by U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Issac Velasquez/Released) - U. S. Marine Capt. Ismael Lopez, team leader, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, interacts with the students at Jornalista Dantas during UNITAS Amphibous 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 17, 2015. 4th CAG, Mexican Marines, along with Brazilian sailors and Marines provided food, soccer balls, pens and paper. In addition to the distribution of school materials, 4th CAG joined partner nations to teach local students about English translation, a brief explanation of what UNITAS Amphib is and a class on dental hygiene. (Photo taken by U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Issac Velasquez/Released)

Brig. Gen David Jones, commander of the Belize Defence Force, and Maj. Gen. William Beydler, former commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, meet during a visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 22, 2015. The purpose of the visit was to assess the capabilities of U.S. forces, discern opportunities for Belize forces to train alongside Marines and sustain enduring partnerships between the two countries in their efforts to counter transnational organized crime. - Brig. Gen David Jones, commander of the Belize Defence Force, and Maj. Gen. William Beydler, former commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, meet during a visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 22, 2015. The purpose of the visit was to assess the capabilities of U.S. forces, discern opportunities for Belize forces to train alongside Marines and sustain enduring partnerships between the two countries in their efforts to counter transnational organized crime.

Lance Cpl. Jeremy Folk, a heavy equipment operator with the Special Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command and a Weirton, W. Va. native, compacts soil mixed with Operational Ready Dirt at an airfield in Mocoron, Honduras, Sept. 10, 2015. Marines with the SPMAGTF-SC are renovating an airfield in Mocoron as part of a larger mission to build relationships with partner nations in Central America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andy J. Orozco/Released) - Lance Cpl. Jeremy Folk, a heavy equipment operator with the Special Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command and a Weirton, W. Va. native, compacts soil mixed with Operational Ready Dirt at an airfield in Mocoron, Honduras, Sept. 10, 2015. Marines with the SPMAGTF-SC are renovating an airfield in Mocoron as part of a larger mission to build relationships with partner nations in Central America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andy J. Orozco/Released)

MIAMI— Sergeant Major James Calbough cheers along with other family members of U.S. Marine Corps Forces South as a dolphin leaps from the water during the Dolphin Encounter at the Miami Seaquarium Sept. 6, 2014. Brigadier General David W. Coffman, commander for U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, hosted a fall family day at the Miami Seaquarium for the Marines and their families under his command Sept. 6, 2014. (Official Marine Corps photo by SSgt. Earnest J. Barnes//Released) - MIAMI— Sergeant Major James Calbough cheers along with other family members of U.S. Marine Corps Forces South as a dolphin leaps from the water during the Dolphin Encounter at the Miami Seaquarium Sept. 6, 2014. Brigadier General David W. Coffman, commander for U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, hosted a fall family day at the Miami Seaquarium for the Marines and their families under his command Sept. 6, 2014. (Official Marine Corps photo by SSgt. Earnest J. Barnes//Released)