United States Marines along with 14 other Central American Countries to include Canada and Mexico, will be participating in Tradewinds 2015 from June 15-24 throughout Belize.
The exercise consists of eight separate training tracks – Human Rights Awareness, Jungle, Military Support to Law Enforcement, Marksmanship, Riverine, Command and Control, Maritime, and Dive, which will take place at different training areas around Belize.
All training tracks are focused on building capacity, improving interoperability, and providing Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) in security related topics among participating countries and throughout the region.
Representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Barbados, and Colombia are expected to participate.
Tradewinds 2015 is a joint, combined exercise conducted in conjunction with partner nations to enhance the collective abilities of defense forces and constabularies to counter transnational organized crime and to conduct humanitarian/disaster relief operations.
Tradewinds 2015 will conclude with a closing ceremony on the morning June 24 at Price Barracks which will be followed immediately with a press conference.
– Pictures Courtesy U.S. Navy Public Affairs Support Element West
A Belizean Coastguardsman prepares to board United States Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark June 16 in support of Tradewinds 2015. Tradewinds 2015 is a combined, joint U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise and an opportunity for the participating partner nations to come together to enhance regional maritime security.
Carlos Moreno, the United States ambassador to Belize, and Lt. Mario Gil, maritime deputy, prepare to board the Unites States Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark during exercise Tradewinds 2015 as part of a tour of participating nations June 16, 2015. Tradewinds 2015 is a combined, joint U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise and an opportunity for the participating partner nations to come together to enhance regional maritime security.
Belize City, Belize, (June 15, 2015) Lt. Col. David Sutherland, Belize Defence Force commanding officer for the services and support battalion, welcomes guests and representatives from 19 partner nations June 15 during the opening ceremony of Tradewinds 2015 Phase Two. The combined, joint U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise is an opportunity for the partner nations to come together to enhance regional maritime security. (Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class (AW) Christian Eskelund)
