Observer controllers followed the scattered engagements, pulling injury cards and judging kills, woundings and fratricides. After two hours of up-close and personal fighting with the guerillas, a whistle sounded the end of the battle and of three weeks of jungle warfare training. It's training, but the battles at the Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman, Panama, seem a live round away from being the real thing. For three weeks, light infantry soldiers, Rangers and others learn jungle warfare skills in some of the most challenging surroundings the Army has to offer. One week is devoted to core training, a second week to situational training exercises and the final week to a battalion field training exercise.
Core training gives soldiers an education in the dangerous plants and wildlife of Panama.
The point of the black palm, for instance, will stick into flesh and break off, causing an infection. Bushmaster snakes, brown recluse spiders and a variety of insects can be harmful, if not fatal. Soldiers also learn jungle land navigation, recognition and avoidance of mines and booby traps, and how to build a field expedient antenna. Jungle experts like SSgt. Elfren Padilla train the soldiers on jungle skills.