Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Hill | U.S. Army Sgt. Bill Felstow, a satellite communications sergeant with Special...... read more read more
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POPTUN, Guatemala — Yelling and panting, six men quickly strip off their boots and shove them into their packs before jumping into the water. As the sun begins to rise, they swim down shore 800 meters before pulling themselves out of the water. The Fuerzas Comando competitors then immediately put their boots back on and run a few more miles to the stress shoot location, where they will be tested if they can accurately fire their weapons after reaching the point of physical exhaustion. At the end of the event, the competitors stand quietly, exhausted with sweat rolling off their faces; soon they will return to their barracks to rest.
Nevertheless, for the service members providing medical aid, transportation, and operational guidance and support, their day began hours before the competitors’ days began, and won’t end until hours after the last competitor has finished.
Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) concluded its logistical, administrative and operational support of Fuerzas Comando, a multinational special operations skills competition July 24.
Running an exercise of this magnitude in a foreign country is an immense challenge that requires a lot of flexibility and effective communication, said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st. Class Angel E. Febus, noncommissioned officer in charge of personnel for SOCSOUTH.
Fuerzas Comando is a competition that tests special operations personnel from the Carribbean, North, Central and South America in several events including marksmanship, combat skills and physical fitness. This year’s competition included teams from 19 countries in the region with a total of 133 competitors. The competition is part of U.S. Southern Command’s plan to improve cooperation, build trust between countries in the region, increase military interoperability and advance readiness of participating special operations forces.
SOCSOUTH staff overcame several challenges when working in Guatemala, including logistical and communications limitations due to unfamiliar infrastructure within the host country, said U.S. Air Force Maj. Emmanuel Matos, the deputy officer in charge of communication and signal.
“Things don’t always operate the way they do in the United States,” Matos said. “Learning the limitations of the area you’re in, the customs and courtesies for that area, and ensuring that you’re able to receive the services you need in a timely manner, is critical.”
Each section worked endlessly to support more than 200 competitors and staff throughout the competition by providing physical security, medical support, communications equipment, transportation, food, and lodging.
“One of the challenges I saw early on was being unable to land in Poptun, due to the climate, so we had to find transportation from Flores for the support staff and competitors, which is over two hours away,” said U.S. Army Spc. Daniel R. Bamrick Jr., a paralegal specialist with Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, Mississippi National Guard.
Despite the challenges they faced, most support staff members said that handling operations for the competition not only refined their job skills, but also provided them with an once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. They worked closely with military and civilian personnel from nearly 20 different countries, speaking three different languages alongside members of the Guatemalan military on a daily basis.
Although the staff encountered challenges while working in an unfamiliar environment, they overcame these obstacles and the exercise concluded safely and operations ran smoothly. The support staff members gained valuable experience from interacting with their international counterparts that they will now take back home to employ to improve day-to-day operations.
“We don’t mind working the long hours, Febus said. “The best thing out of this is getting the opportunity to build these relationships and experiencing the culture.”
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2015 23:38 |
| Story ID: | 171087 |
| Location: | POPTUN, GT |
| Web Views: | 397 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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