PANAMAX

PANAMAX is one of the largest multinational training exercises in the world, involving more than 30 vessels, a dozen aircraft and 4,500 personnel from 20 nations. The annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise focuses on ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal, one of the most strategically and economically crucial infrastructure systems in the world.

More information and photos are available at http://www.southcom.mil/ourmissions/Pages/Training%20and%20Exercises.aspx

Tradewinds

Tradewinds is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored annual exercise conducted in the region designed to improve responses to regional security threats. Since 1985, Tradewinds has focused on maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, disaster relief/humanitarian assistance, and partner nation capacity building. Recently the exercise has placed a special emphasis on countering transnational organized crime, and command and control. More than 400 exercise participants from the United States, United Kingdom and 15 Caribbean Basin Partner Nations take part.

More information and photos are available at http://www.southcom.mil/ourmissions/Pages/Training%20and%20Exercises.aspx

UNITAS / POA

This exercise is designed to train participating forces in a variety of maritime scenarios, with each operating as a component of a multinational force and providing the maximum opportunity to improve interoperability. Participants include military forces from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.

More information and photos are available at http://www.southcom.mil/ourmissions/Pages/Training%20and%20Exercises.aspx

Southern Exchange

About 1,000 Marines and Sailors from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, United States and Uruguay take part in Southern Exchange. The exercise is designed as a platoon level, multinational exchange that focuses on enhancing proficiency and interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and partner nation forces to manage a wide range of regional threats and strengthen relationships resulting in regional stability and security in the region.

More Information and photos are available at http://www.southcom.mil/ourmissions/Pages/Training%20and%20Exercises.aspx

Theater Security Cooperation

The stability and security of the U.S. and partner nations hinges upon our ability to work together to confront and defeat common security challenges. Focused regional security cooperation is key to building interoperability and other capabilities required to confront challenges before they mature into direct threats. Coalitions and regional partnerships comprised of capable and willing nations build mutual security, deter aggression and extremism, and provide the underlying conditions for success if military action is required.

Role

MARFORSOUTH's role is to satisfy USSOUTHCOM's TSC requirement through the efficient employment of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces. MARFORSOUTH supports 28 partner nations targeting 16 Partner Nation Naval Infantries or Maritime Security Forces in Latin America and the Caribbean, training more than 55,000 Marines.