PUNTA ARENAS, Chile -- U.S. Marines and the Infanteria de Marina Chile (Chilean marine corps) combined for integrated cold weather training here from July 22 to August 2.
A detachment of Marines with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, learned from the Chilean marines stationed in Punta Arenas who train in cold weather warfare and mountaineering.
“It was a cohesion building exercise between both forces, to build a stronger relationship as well as conduct cold weather training,” said infantry unit leader GySgt. Luis Alvarado.
They conducted bilateral squad-level operations in Chile’s mountainous terrain in the southern tip of the hemisphere, which offers an ideal off-season setting for the Camp Pendleton-based Marines.
“Their AO (area of operations) is a lot different than ours in southern California; coming from the hot weather there to a mountainous environment, it’s a change,” said Sgt. Ethan Williams, a machine gun squad leader.
The Marines conducted a variety of training and sharing of tactics, techniques and procedures that demonstrates the trust between nations and the unwavering commitment to our partnership.
“We’ve done a [bilateral] live-fire and maneuver range, a hike up Mount Tarn, night-vision optic training and land navigation,” explained Williams. “Their knowledge of the local area and ability to operate in austere environments is profound, so their ability to teach us is really good.”
This event precedes the 65th iteration of Exercise UNITAS, the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise which will be hosted by Chile in September and will incorporate a variety of combined task force operations. Marines from 1st Battalion 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division will conduct additional cold-weather training alongside their Chilean counterparts here during UNITAS.
U.S. Marine Corps Forces South is the Service component of U.S. Southern Command, responsible for all U.S. Marine activity in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. MARFORSOUTH provides contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation plans to deter aggression, defeat threats, rapidly respond to crises, and build regional capacity, working with our allies, partner nations, and U.S. government team members to enhance security and help defend the U.S. homeland and our national interests.