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	Army South, partner nations wrap up PANAMAX 2016
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        <h1 class="title">Army South, partner nations wrap up PANAMAX 2016</h1>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/17/2001607747/1920/1080/0/160817-A-PO640-001.JPG"
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                 alt="Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn (right), U.S. Army South commanding general, speaks to Alex Horton (left), a Stars & Stripes reporter, as Col. Thomas Gilleran (center), the Army South public affairs officer, listens Aug. 3 at Fort Sam Houston. The interview was part of a media day for the Multi-National Forces-South component of the annual PANAMAX exercise."
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            <div class="image-title">ARSOTH Public Affairs</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn (right), U.S. Army South commanding general, speaks to Alex Horton (left), a Stars & Stripes reporter, as Col. Thomas Gilleran (center), the Army South public affairs officer, listens Aug. 3 at Fort Sam Houston. The interview was part of a media day for the Multi-National Forces-South component of the annual PANAMAX exercise.</div>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Aug/17/2001607748/1920/1080/0/160817-A-PO640-002.JPG"
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                 alt="Representatives from U.S. Army South and partner nations take part in PANAMAX, a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, multi-national exercise taking place at multiple U.S. military bases and in Santiago, Chile. The Multi-National Forces South headquarters operated from a 
training location at Fort Sam Houston. In this year’s exercise, which ran from July 29 to Aug. 4, each of the land, sea, and air commands were led by Chile, Peru and Colombia,            respectively. 
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            <div class="image-title">ARSOUTH PA</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Representatives from U.S. Army South and partner nations take part in PANAMAX, a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, multi-national exercise taking place at multiple U.S. military bases and in Santiago, Chile. The Multi-National Forces South headquarters operated from a 
training location at Fort Sam Houston. In this year’s exercise, which ran from July 29 to Aug. 4, each of the land, sea, and air commands were led by Chile, Peru and Colombia,            respectively. 
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    <div> <span class="date">/ Published Aug. 18, 2016</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, </span>
    <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">U.S. Army South wrapped up Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2016, an annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored multi-national exercise focused on ensuring the security of the Panama Canal and the surrounding region Aug. 4 at Fort Sam Houston.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This year’s exercise began July 29 and, in addition to the Multi-National Forces-South, or MNFS, component located in San Antonio, was conducted simultaneously in Miami, Fla.; Suffolk, Va.; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz.; and in Santiago, Chile.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Commonly known as PANAMAX, the exercise brings together sea, air and land forces in a joint and combined operation focused on defending the Panama Canal from attacks by a violent extremist organization, as well as responding to natural disasters and pandemic outbreaks in various locations.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“We have indicated that the experiences and knowledge that the different countries bring and share during this exercise improves interoperability as a while force,” said Peruvian Brig. Gen. Miguel Balta, PANAMAX MNFS deputy commanding general. “It also improves our relationships, friendships and capabilities to support regional partners should the need arise.”</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">PANAMAX first began in 2003 with three countries, Chile, Panama and the United States, and originally focused solely on the maritime security of the Panama Canal. Since that time, the exercise has grown to become the region’s largest coalition command post exercise.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This year, a total of 19 nations joined the United States during the seven-day exercise that used simulations to command and control multinational notional sea, air, special operations, cyber and land forces to defend the vital waterway and surrounding areas against threats from violent extremism and provide humanitarian relief.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This year’s PANAMAX exercise marked significant contributions from partner nations, as each of the land, sea and air commands were led by non-U.S. contingents in Chile, Peru and Colombia, respectively. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“What’s key in the relationships and the trust we build with our partner nations,” said Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, Army South commanding general. “We are building that interoperability. We are working as a team and we have senior officers from other countries in key leadership positions.”</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In Texas, U.S. Army South and representatives from 12 partner nations formed the MNFS headquarters, with Brazil serving as MNFS deputy commander. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Nations participating in the MNFS this year included Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and the United States.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“Everyone brings something to the table,” said Capt. Meghan C. Kalliavas, PANAMAX joint operations center intelligence battle captain. “I think it’s beneficial for everyone to see how the others operates.”</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">PANAMAX has evolved over the years and now includes training for many of the 21st century threats encountered in today’s land, sea, air and cyber environments. The exercise aims to increase the ability of nations to work together, enable assembled forces to organize as a multinational task force and test their responsiveness in combined operations.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Panama Canal is considered one of the most strategically and economically crucial pieces of infrastructure in the world. Six percent of the world’s trade travels through the canal every year, accounting for roughly 400 million tons of goods. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It is crucial to the free flow of trade worldwide, officials noted, and the region’s economic stability is largely dependent on the safe transport of several million tons of cargo through the canal each year.</p>
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