For the first time in over two decades, the U.S. military has revived jungle warfare training in Panama, as the Trump administration has renewed its commitment to Latin America, stepping up efforts to combat drug trafficking and counter foreign influence in the region.
In October, U.S. soldiers and Marines partnered with Panamanian security forces for the Combined Jungle Operations Training Course at Base Aeronaval Cristóbal Colón—formerly Fort Sherman, which was shuttered in 1999. After more than two decades of dormancy, the program returned with a renewed emphasis on small-unit tactics, survival skills, and patrol operations, all tested against the unforgiving challenges of the Panamanian jungle.
According to U.S. Southern Command, Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón has a longstanding history as a training ground for both U.S. and Panamanian service members, dating back to World War I. “The legacy of the original Jungle Operations Training Course now reemerges through CJOTC—a joint effort to strengthen ties and build capability for all involved, supported by the Joint Security Cooperation Group–Panama,” states the press release.
“This course stands out because it is a truly multinational, cooperative effort involving the United States and all three Panamanian security institutions,” said Capt. Lauryn Westman, the officer in charge of the course. “[It] fosters real-time interoperability, survival techniques, and shared tactics.”
The course is built on close collaboration between nations and units. The U.S. Southern Command notes that U.S. and Panamanian service members, including instructors, medics, and support personnel, jointly plan missions, conduct operations, and participate in team-building exercises throughout the course.
“Our role as medics, working hand-in-hand [with the Panamanians],” said Sgt. Rafael Morales, a U.S. Army medic serving as course staff, “is to establish a safe training environment, and use preventative medicine to ensure every candidate makes it to graduation.”