News United States Air Force
 Tradewinds 23 exercise highlights multinational partnershipsPublished Aug. 6, 2023
                        
                        By Maj. Jeremy Idleman
                        
                        
                        70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
                **GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFNS)  --**
                Tradewinds 23, a two-week multinational exercise supporting the security of the Caribbean and Central America, wrapped up with a closing ceremony July 27.U.S. Army and Air Force instructors conduct close quarters battle training alongside multinational partners from the Bahamas, Belize and the Dominican Republic during Tradewinds 23 exercise at Camp Stephenson, Guyana, July 16, 2023. This training allowed participating nations to improve interoperability as U.S. Southern Command and its multinational partners work toward a cooperative, prosperous and secure hemisphere. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)U.S. Army and Air Force instructors conduct close quarters battle training alongside multinational partners from the Bahamas, Belize and the Dominican Republic during Tradewinds 23 exercise at Camp Stephenson, Guyana, July 16, 2023. This training allowed participating nations to improve interoperability as U.S. Southern Command and its multinational partners work toward a cooperative, prosperous and secure hemisphere. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)
            
            
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U.S. military organizations that supported Tradewinds included **Army** and **Air National Guard** units from Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and the Virgin Islands; **U.S. Southern Command**; **U.S. Army South**; **U.S. Marine Corps Forces South**; **Marine Forces Reserve**, and the **U.S. Coast Guard**. Events conducted during the exercise included jungle certification, airborne wing exchange, oil spill and flood simulation, and human rights and Women, Peace and Security training. “Tradewinds 23 demonstrated that when nations unite for a common purpose, we become a better sum of our parts,” said Maj. Jaime Castillo, Guyana’s lead planner for the exercise. “This exercise has highlighted the importance of international cooperation, interoperability and shared responsibility we bear in securing a peaceful and stable world.” The 38th iteration of the exercise focused on foreign military interaction, maritime interdiction, ground security, and field training supporting U.S. Southern Command’s priorities of building and maintaining security throughout the Caribbean and Central America. The annual exercise is designed to expand each nation’s ability to plan and execute multinational operations, counter transnational organized crime, and provide better regional security.Tactical air control party specialists with the 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma National Guard, conduct a static line jump during Tradewinds 23 exercise at Air Base London, Guyana, July 18, 2023.Tactical air control party specialists with the 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma National Guard, conduct a static line jump during Tradewinds 23 exercise at Air Base London, Guyana, July 18, 2023. The different training components of the exercise are focused on increasing regional cooperation throughout the Caribbean and Caribbean Basin. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)
            
            
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    A Mexican Special Operations Forces member participates in marksmanship training alongside U.S. Army and Air Force instructors during Tradewinds 23 exercise at Camp Stephenson, Guyana, July 16, 2023. This training allowed participating nations to improve interoperability as U.S. Southern Command and its multinational partners work toward a cooperative, prosperous and secure hemisphere. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)A Mexican Special Operations Forces member participates in marksmanship training alongside U.S. Army and Air Force instructors during Tradewinds 23 exercise at Camp Stephenson, Guyana, July 16, 2023. This training allowed participating nations to improve interoperability as U.S. Southern Command and its multinational partners work toward a cooperative, prosperous and secure hemisphere. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)
            
            
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    U.S. Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines demonstrate how to position a M224 60mm mortar to an Oklahoma Air National Guard Airman, middle, during Tradewinds 23 exercise at Camp Seweyo, Guyana, July 22, 2023. There are participants from every branch of the U.S. military participating in the U.S. Southern Command Exercise including Reserve and Guard members of the total force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)U.S. Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines demonstrate how to position a M224 60mm mortar to an Oklahoma Air National Guard Airman, middle, during Tradewinds 23 exercise at Camp Seweyo, Guyana, July 22, 2023. There are participants from every branch of the U.S. military participating in the U.S. Southern Command Exercise including Reserve and Guard members of the total force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)
            
            
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 “For 38 years, we have gathered to build partner nation capacity, strengthen partnerships, improve interoperability, and promote human rights,” **Gen. Laura Richardson**, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said during the closing ceremony. “Tradewinds is a multidomain, multidimensional exercise, and it’s no small task to put this exercise together.  “I’d also like to note that this year’s exercise was the most complex in the 38-year history of Tradewinds. Transnational criminal organizations, malign state actors, cybercrime, environmental climate change, and irregular migration continue to grow in scope and intensity, posing a significant challenge to the national security of all of us and the Western Hemisphere.” Tradewinds 23 training focus areas included human rights awareness, anti-trafficking operations, marksmanship, jungle warfare, military support to law enforcement, small unit and confined area security tactics, airborne operations, cybersecurity, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and maritime skills. Participants trained across Guyana, in Georgetown, Camp Ayanganna, Camp Stephenson, Camp Seweyo, Air Base London, the Guyana Police Academy, and the Jungle Amphibious Training School in Makouria.U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott Palelei, 137th Special Operations Wing tactical air control party specialist, Oklahoma Air National Guard, applies a tourniquet to a member of the Guyana Defense Force during tactical combat casualty training held at Camp Seweyo, Guyana, for Tradewinds 23 exercise July 16, 2023.U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott Palelei, 137th Special Operations Wing tactical air control party specialist, Oklahoma Air National Guard, applies a tourniquet to a member of the Guyana Defense Force during tactical combat casualty training held at Camp Seweyo, Guyana, for Tradewinds 23 exercise July 16, 2023. Tradewinds is initiated and formulated as part of the Caribbean Basin Initiative, which allows participating nations to forge enduring relationships that will improve security capabilities through the exchange of knowledge and expertise. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Richie Thammavongsa)
            
            
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Lynch commended the Guyana Defence Force for its commitment to human rights after it signed onto the U.S. Southern Command Human Rights Initiative. Nations participating in the exercise included Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States. “Exercise Tradewinds 2023 was truly a wonderful experience,” said Army Chief Brigadier Omar Khan, Guyana Defence Force. “And I congratulate all of you here today for your commitment and your service. We are grateful for this opportunity to train, learn new skills, and make new friends."LR 



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