United States Marine Corps Participates in Opening Ceremony of Partnership of the Americas 2014

Photo By Sgt. Adwin Esters | U.S. Marine Col. Michael Cuccio, chief of staff of Marine Forces South (left), Vice Adm. Jorge Cruz, commander of Chilean Naval operations, Adm. Enrique Larrañaga, commander in chief of the Chilean Navy, and Rear Adm. Arturo Undurraga Diaz, pose for a photo in front of all the partner nations during the opening ceremony of the Partnership of the Americas exercise in Fuerte Aguayo, Chile, August 12, 2014. The exercise is designed to conduct a joint, combined regional exercise that focuses on Humanitarian assistance and disaster response readiness and strategic mobility of U.S. and partner-nation naval forces.  

CONCON, VS, CHILE

08.12.2014

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Natalia Murillo 

Fleet Combat Camera Pacific

FUERTE AGUAYO, Chile - - The United States Marine Corps and various partner-nation militaries participated in the opening ceremony for the Partnership of the Americas 2014 in Fuerte Aguayo, Chile, August 12.

The POA 14 exercise is designed to enrich multinational operational readiness, interoperability, and security cooperation between the participating forces. POA 14 is led by Marine Forces South and is part of a larger exercise known as UNITAS, led by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.

Chief of Staff, MARFORSOUTH, Col. Michael T. Cuccio is serving as the deputy Amphibious Task Force commander for POA 14. Cuccio reaffirmed the setting for the exercise.

“The scenario for the Partnership of the Americas exercise is humanitarian assistance disaster relief rather than warfighting. This is because 80 percent of the population lives within 100 miles of a coastline and that proportion is increasing,” said Cuccio.

In his opening remarks, Cuccio reiterated the focus on collaboration for successful execution.

“Just looking at the number of participants shows that this will be a true exercise of partnership and interoperability,” said Cuccio.

Working and training with partner nation militaries will enhance regional security and the capability to plan and execute humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations. Partner-nation forces from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and the United States will participate in the exercise from August 12 through the 22nd.

Participation in POA began in 2006 as a company level, multinational exercise when a Marine Corps unit traveled to Chile and then to Peru to conduct military-to military operations.

• Date Taken: 08.12.2014
• Date Posted: 08.12.2014 20:20
• Story ID: 139155
• Location: CONCON, VS, CL