Resolute Sentinel 2024 (RS24), a multinational military exercise led by the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), successfully concluded on June 14, 2024, after three weeks of intense training and cooperation between participating nations.
Held mostly in Peru, the exercise included the participation of more than 1,500 troops from all branches of the armed forces, with the participation of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the United States, France and Peru. This year’s exercise focused on improving regional security and interoperability through various training scenarios, including disaster response, medical preparedness and cyber defense, among others.
With interoperability at the forefront, collaboration is essential.
“One of the most important things we have done is establish trusted relationships and partnerships with our partner nations so that we are prepared and ready to support any situation in the Western Hemisphere,” said US Air Force Col. United States Barton Kenerson, commander of Combined Joint Force RS24.
During the exercise, medical teams treated more than 1,200 patients, performed nearly 80 surgeries and integrated into local hospitals in Peru, while U.S. Civil Affairs teams distributed 2,380 boxes of school supplies in five schools of Iquitos, Peru.
“The power of our people and the relationships they formed are probably the most important thing. We have to focus on building relationships that will last for years and years, so that when we are called we can integrate, we can operate together and we can execute together,” said Col. Kenerson. “I will tell you that from the point of view we are in today our teams are extremely better, thanks to all the commitments we made.”
Although the exercise focused largely on humanitarian support, it also served to develop pre-existing tactics and training concepts, while experiencing realistic training in interoperability, with allied countries applying agile combat employment.
The RS24, which was developed in more than a dozen sites in three different countries, allowed numerous air and maritime operations to be carried out, considerably improving the operational capabilities of the participating countries.
During the Exercise, more than 326 flight hours were recorded in 299 air mission sorties. On the other hand, it is estimated that the US Coast Guard carried out 10 boardings and 22 departures on different vessels, where they carried out procedures for police training purposes, focused on the fight against drug trafficking and illegal fishing. In addition, the military from Ecuador, Peru and the United States had thematic exchanges on land about first aid and the fight to improve the environment, crucial to improve local capabilities in their battle against pollution; Ensure preparedness to respond to coastal disasters and improve search and rescue operations. For its part, the cyber team thwarted nearly 64,000 real attacks against communications infrastructure, demonstrating once again the value of interoperability, trust and solidarity.
“It was great to see the teams solve important challenges and integrate with all of our partner nations. They were advancing in the agile use of combat, solving important logistical problems… whatever; The teamwork was absolutely incredible,” reflected the Col. Kenerson. “It didn’t matter if it was Peru, Colombia, Brazil… nobody knew what country you were from in this organization. They simply broke barriers and achieved great success; probably one of the best integrations I have seen in my 29 years in the Air Force.”
