Special Operations Competition Fuerzas Comando 2010 of your publication

Paraguayan special operations team members carry an inflatable raft during the Fuerzas Comando aquatic event at Calderas Naval Base, Dominican Republic, June 18. The team carried the boat, which weighed more than 400 pounds, for 400 meters during the first portion of the event. Photo by Sgt. Shane Hamann.

By Spc. Walter Guthrie Special Operations Command South Public Affairs National pride, mutual respect and competitive spirit filled the air as elite special operations personnel from 18 countries across the Western Hemisphere assembled at the Dominican Army’s 1st Infantry “August 16” military base for the seventh annual Fuerzas Comando event June 16-24 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Fuerzas Comando is a U.S. Southern CommandTip of the Spear

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sponsored exercise that tests special operations teams on weapons marksmanship, physical fitness, aquatic skills, and tactical capabilities.

“Fuerzas Comando's primary objective is to promote regional cooperation between nations in order to deal with the common threats we face,” said Army Brig. Gen. Hector Pagan, the commanding general of U.S. Special Operations Command South.

This year, teams from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El

Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States and Uruguay participated in the special operations competition and senior leader seminar.

Although not partaking in the competition portion of the exercise, representatives from Guyana participated in the senior leader seminar.

During the week-long event, competitors underwent a series of challenges including sniper stalking, range estimation and other critical tasks.

They also competed in sniper evaluations, such as “snaps and movers,” an aquatic challenge, stress test, unknown distance range, forced march, obstacle course and combined assault.

Following the opening ceremony, competitors were given a few hours of rest before the first event, a physical fitness test. During the evaluation, participants completed as many push-ups and situps as possible within one minute for each.

Competitors also completed as many pull-ups and dips as possible. The test concluded with a 1.5-mile run.

On the first days of competition, individual and team marksmanship skills were assessed during a series of rifle, pistol and sniper evaluations. These tests lasted three days at ranges outside the compound. While every portion of the competition was demanding, there were several events that were particularly mentally and physically straining for the Soldiers, particularly the critical task event, which placed real-life situations and obstacles before the competitors.

Members of the U.S. Special Operations team traverse a concrete During this event, obstacles identified as barrier as part of an obstacle course event during Exercise Fuerzas “noncombatants” were placed in the vicinity of the Comando 2010, June 22. Each team, altogether representing 18 shooter’s target, testing the shooter’s ability to countries from the U.S., Central and South America and the successfully hit the targets without hitting the Caribbean, had to complete each obstacle as a team before moving to obstacles. This evaluation put competitors’ speed and the next. Photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson. accuracy to the test with two different weapons; During this event, the competitors ran through more than competitors started firing with rifles then transitioned to 2.5 miles of unforgiving sand and hot pavement while pistols. This event proved to be a challenge for many. carrying a 400-pound inflatable raft.

“Most people think it’s easy to shoot one weapon, but After the run, the teams hit the water. This portion of the transitioning from one to the other really makes you think,” said a member of the Trinidad and Tobago special operations challenge tested each team’s ability to work together while rowing and swimming across long stretches of water carrying team. heavy equipment.

While the critical task event required mental For some of the elite personnel competing in Fuerzas concentration, others, such as the aquatic competition, Comando, this event proved to be the most difficult. demanded more physical stamina.

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Special Operation teams from 18 nations across the Western Hemisphere stand in formation during the opening ceremony of this year's Fuerzas Comando exercise June 16 at the 1st Dominican Infantry Brigade "August 16" military base. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea.

“All of the events were demanding, but the Aquatic event is the toughest of the competition,” said a Jamaican team member.

But many participants said teamwork was the key to success.

“It’s very challenging because of the water and the wind,” said a member of the Belize special operations team.

“However, it is important to stay together as a team all the way to the finish line.”

The final day of competition included the obstacle course and the combined assault. Despite unfavorable conditions on the obstacle course due to heavy rain, each group showcased maximum effort on the course in order to earn the fastest time crossing balance beams, scaling high walls, climbing long ropes and more.

With mud-covered uniforms and heavy boots, the competitors then traveled to the combined assault exercise, which challenged their military assault skills. Overall, the special operations competitors faced and overcame the challenges presented in the competition.

As the competitors battled for the title of the most elite special operations team on the Dominican military compound, senior military members gathered in a sign of unity during the senior leader seminar off base.

Each participating nation sent a senior special operations officer and a ministerial-level policy maker to discuss security challenges and possible solutions. The Senior Leader Seminar provided a collaborative, cooperative and innovative environment for regional security policy makers. Guest Tip of the Spear

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speakers included Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, and Navy Rear Adm. Daniel B. Lloyd, the director of Joint Interagency Task Force South.

Senior leaders discussed a number of key topics, such as illicit trafficking and terrorism, and talked about how to counter those threats in order to maintain safety and security throughout the Western Hemisphere.

When the points were tallied, Ecuador was named this year’s Fuerzas Comando champion and took home the coveted "Fuerzas Comando Cup." The Dominican Republic team placed second and El Salvador finished third. The U.S. won the Assault competition and tied Uruguay for first place in the Sniper events.

During the closing ceremony, Pagan, along with Dominican Army Brig. Gen. Pablo Cavallo Feliz, the commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade, addressed the competitors and discussed the significance of how this year’s Fuerzas Comando will bring lasting memories for each participant.

“I am convinced that all of you will depart with great memories of this event, and you will always be welcomed in our country,” Feliz said. “We are all winners because we take home with us the memory of brotherhood and closeness.”

Fuerzas Comando 2011 is scheduled to be held in El Salvador.

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(1) A soldier from the Trinidad and Tobago Special Operations team fires his weapon during the Critical Skills competition June 18 at the Dominican Army’s 1st Infantry Brigade in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic during Fuerzas Comando 2010.

Photo by Isidro Almonte. (2) A Costa Rican Special Operations team low-crawls under barbed-wire as part of the Obstacle Course event June 22. Photo by Adriano Martinez-Medina. (3) A Panamanian Special Operations commando checks his sights before the Fuerzas Comando Sniper Stalking event June 17. Photo by Spc. Walter Guthrie. (4) The Dominican Republic Special Operations team begins the rowing portion of the Fuerzas Comando Aquatic event June 19. Photo by Spc. Walter Guthrie.

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