DECEMBER 9, 2024 – Leaders from the Peruvian marine corps and U.S. Marine Forces, South joined forces Nov. 12-15 as part of a Staff Planner Working Group (SPWG) hosted at the MARFORSOUTH headquarters.
The conference’s primary goal was to enhance the partnership between the two organizations and to address future collaborative opportunities. By engaging in open dialogue, both the U.S. and Peruvian Marines were able to communicate and identify mutual objectives and goals and explore opportunities for combined training to improve interoperability.
As part of a continuous effort to build strong relationships with the different marine corps and naval infantry forces throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean, MARFORSOUTH hosts and participates in SPWGs. These weeklong meetings are designed to facilitate strategic planning for upcoming joint exercises and to set long-term goals for each organization.
“The goal for the SPWG is to get everyone together to talk about what we are going to do in the next five years, specifically in detail for the next year. After we talk about this year, the following years can be in less detail because plans and goals shift over time. This is more about establishing and maintaining objectives that we want to achieve.” said Col. Jeffery Hammond, MARFORSOUTH chief of staff.
The recent engagement with the Peruvian marines emphasized both organization’s commitment to a long-term partnership, ensuring both nations are prepared for the future. The continued dialogue helps to foster trust and understanding, both of which are critical for successful military collaboration.
On the final day of the SPWG, participants visited the National World War II Museum here where they toured the exhibits and signed an agreement for future training exercises and goals discussed during the week.
“After the agreement is signed, we make some reviews throughout the year and evaluate how our goals and achievements are progressing,” said Capitan de Navio Ricardo Fallaque, chief of staff for the Infantería de Marina del Perú (Peruvian marine corps).
As MARFORSOUTH continues to host SPWGs, the focus remains on creating a cohesive strategy to benefit all participating nations. By working together, regional naval infantry and marine forces are better trained, better postured and better equipped to respond to evolving security needs and ensure a stable region in the years to come.
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South is the U.S. Marine Corps component of U.S. Southern Command, responsible for building and maintaining relationships with our allies and partner nations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. MARFORSOUTH builds capabilities and capacity with like-minded democratic nations through a range of military engagements and other security cooperation events to demonstrate the value and utility of the Navy and Marine Corps team through joint and mutually supporting operations and engagements. MARFORSOUTH cultivates partnerships across the region to promote the rule of law, which is essential for security, stability, economic prosperity, and personal liberty. Additionally, strong partnerships, shared knowledge, and joint and multinational interoperability enables burden sharing and crisis response while strengthening the common defense, fostering stability and defeating threats.
By Lance Cpl. Payton Goodrich
Marine Corps Forces South