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	SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica, Strengthens Partnership with ‘Regional Security Leader’
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        <h1 class="title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica, Strengthens Partnership with ‘Regional Security Leader’</h1>
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                 alt="onors are rendered as the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman, arrive for a bilateral meeting in Jamaica"
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            <div class="image-title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">JAMAICA (Jan. 22, 2022) – Honors are rendered as the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman, arrive for a bilateral meeting in Jamaica. Richardson visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Jamaica)</div>
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            <div class="image-title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">JAMAICA (Jan. 22, 2022) – Group photo of key leaders prior to a bilateral meeting with Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, and the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, Maj. Gen. Sherrie L. McCandless. Richardson and McCandless visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Jamaica)</div>
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            <div class="image-title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">JAMAICA (Jan. 22, 2022) – Honors are rendered as the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman, arrive for a bilateral meeting in Jamaica. Richardson visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Jamaica)</div>
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                 alt="Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman, and the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, pose for a photo."
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            <div class="image-title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">JAMAICA (Jan. 21, 2022) – Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman, and the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, pose for a photo after the JDF change-of-command.  Richardson visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Jamaica)</div>
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                 alt="he commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, speaks with Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang."
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            <div class="image-title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">JAMAICA (Jan. 21, 2022) -- The commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, speaks with Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, following the historic Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) change-of-command Jan. 21 as Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss-Gorman was sworn in as the force’s first female Chief of Defence Staff.  Richardson visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Jamaica)</div>
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            <div class="image-title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">JAMAICA (Jan. 21, 2022) – From left to right: U.S. Southern Command Civilian Deputy to the Commander, Amb. Jean Manes; Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman; the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson; the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, Maj. Gen. Sherrie L. McCandless; and U.S. Embassy Jamaica Charge d’Affairs, Linissa Wahid; pose for a photo after the JDF change-of-command.  Richardson visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Jamaica)</div>
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                 alt="The Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, and the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, Maj. Gen. Sherrie L. McCandless, meet with Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman."
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            <div class="image-title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">JAMAICA (Jan. 20, 2022) -- The Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, and the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, Maj. Gen. Sherrie L. McCandless, meet with Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss Gorman, and other leaders to discuss both countries’ longstanding defense partnership. Richardson visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Jamaica)</div>
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                 alt="The Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, meets with Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, to discuss regional security and cooperation."
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            <div class="image-title">SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Jamaica</div>
            <div class="image-caption">JAMAICA (Jan. 20, 2022) -- The Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, meets with Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, to discuss regional security and cooperation. Richardson visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Jamaica)</div>
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    <div><b>By U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs</b> <span class="date">/ Published Jan. 22, 2022</span></div>
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    <p>The Commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, visited Jamaica Jan. 20-22, meeting with security leaders to reaffirm support of the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership.</p>

<p>Richardson also attended the historic Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) change-of-command Jan. 21 as Rear Adm. Antonette Wemyss-Gorman was sworn in as the force’s first female Chief of Defence Staff. </p>

<p>Richardson’s trip was her first to the Caribbean since assuming command Oct. 29, 2021. She was joined by Maj. Gen. Sherrie L. McCandless, Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, along with a SOUTHCOM delegation that included Civilian Deputy to the Commander, Amb. Jean Manes, and Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Jones.</p>

<p>The United States enjoys a strong security partnership with Jamaica and Richardson’s visit was an opportunity to hear firsthand from Jamaican security leaders their views on security, get an understanding of their challenges and explore opportunities for future partnering and engagement.</p>

<p>"This visit reinforces the important role Jamaica Defense Forces play as a regional security leader, and its close collaboration with key allies and partners,” Richardson said during a press briefing Jan. 22.</p>

<p>“Jamaica’s invaluable role as the number-one security leader in the Caribbean is extremely important, as our hemisphere faces cross-cutting threats from malign external state actors, transnational criminal organizations, cyber attacks, natural disasters brought on by climate change, and of course, responding to COVID-19," she said.</p>

<p>On Jan. 20, the general met with Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, to discuss regional security and the strengthening of the U.S.-Jamaica partnership.</p>

<p>Prior to the JDF change-of-command Jan. 21, Richardson met with United Kingdom and Canadian security partners who are in Jamaica to contribute to Caribbean security.</p>

<p>On Jan. 22, Richardson and McCandless met with Wemyss-Gorman to discuss both countries’ longstanding defense partnership, cooperation in support of regional security, as well as the threats and challenges in the Caribbean.</p>

<p>Also during the trip, Richardson, McCandless and Manes joined Wemyss-Gorman to talk with Jamaican service members about ongoing implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. Later, Richardson and Command Sgt. Maj. Jones spent time with a group of Jamaican non-commissioned officers to discuss the importance of enlisted leader professional development and the vital role NCOs play in military missions worldwide.</p>

<p>Both discussions are part of the command's long-term cooperation and institutional capacity building efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean. </p>

<p>The general visited Jamaica’s Caribbean Military Aviation School on the 22nd to see how the school contributes to regional security by training future pilots and aircraft technicians for Jamaica Defence Force and partner nation militaries.</p>

<p>"We are steadfastly committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with Jamaica and the Caribbean in support of shared security goals and to further strengthen the longstanding security ties between our countries,” Richardson said.</p>
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