Photo By Spc. Eric Amaro-Millan | United States Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 1st Mission Support Command (1st...... read more read more
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CAMP SANTIAGO, Puerto Rico – It was impossible not to wonder what was happening across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as military equipment soared the skies, roads, and waterways during the 1st Mission Support Command’s premier training event, July 28 to Aug. 11, 2025.
“Caribbean Thunder 2025 (CT25) provides the opportunity for units to experience large-scale mobilization operations by deploying personnel and equipment across multiple islands,” said Maj. James C. Rish, transportation officer with 1st MSC. “Utilizing multimodal transportation [air, land, and sea], we exercise all aspects of transportation delivering combat power and lethality at speed.”
CT25, a U.S. Army Reserve prominent training event led by the 1st MSC, involved more than 1,100 Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Aviators working together to refine interoperability and dominate real-world scenarios focused on large-scale combat operations to achieve national strategic objectives, protect national interests, and prevail in conflicts involving near-peer adversaries, particularly through sustained combat operations at the tactical level.
“Examples of multimodal use during CT25 were when our troops convoyed from home stations to training areas; moved engineering equipment to neighboring islands via sea vessels; used fixed-wing [C-130 Hercules] to move personnel and equipment; and exercised rotary wing [UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook] for critical resupply,” added Rish. “Multimodal operations provide commanders the flexibility and tools to accomplish a multitude of missions from combat to sustainment.”
To meet evolving threats, the 1st MSC falls in line with the U.S. Army’s overarching transformation to develop the capability to converge effects on land, in the air, sea, and cyberspace, including investment in our people, reorganization of forces, and the adoption of new concepts on how to fight that allow the Army to maintain superiority over any potential adversary.
“What we are doing here directly aligns with the Army’s 2030 vision of the future operating environment,” said Lt. Col. Maria G. Harrigan, logistics officer with 1st MSC. “Moving materiel and Soldiers across archipelagic terrain, coordinating with civilian ports and aviation authorities, and executing theater mobility tasks that would be essential in any LSCO scenario while continuing to build and maintain partnerships with the U.S. Army National Guard, U.S. Air Force, aviation units, host nation port and ferry terminals, and local authorities, to apply innovative readiness training and strengthen our ability to fight and win.”
LSCO operations spanning across 2,500 kilometers of the Caribbean attracted the attention of many senior leaders from the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. National Guard, and Canadian Armed Forces. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer arrived to the Caribbean and was able to observe the 1st MSC’s training event during his visit to several Army units in the region.
“Annual training like Caribbean Thunder is vital for our Reserve Soldiers because this is where they get to test their mission essential task list,” said Weimer. “Going through tough, realistic training builds cohesive teams. As a Total Army – Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard – we need cohesion to fulfill our mission: to fight and win.”
Since the mid-1990s, Caribbean Thunder has established secure communications from multiple points across the Caribbean, demonstrating its capabilities in the event of a regional emergency.
“CT25 has allowed us to operate in an overwater environment, and also in a capacity to support the Army, our primary C-130 customer,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Chris Summins, a pilot with the 700th Airlift Squadron. “The more that we [U.S. Air Force] get to work with the Army, the better prepared we are for what we are likely to do in an actual wartime scenario. The Army Reserves have done a fantastic job setting the stage: it’s been a great experience working with them.”
The 1st MSC showcased their ability to deploy signal, medical, engineering, military police, and civil affairs units across the Caribbean, an adaptability crucial in any emergency or combat scenario.
“It was important for me to come to Puerto Rico and observe the training, so these Soldiers know senior leaders appreciate what they are doing is central to that mission,” said Weimer.
The Garita Warriors proved to be exceptionally skilled, highly motivated, and capable of accomplishing missions not just in the Caribbean but worldwide.
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.08.2025 12:24 |
| Story ID: | 545078 |
| Location: | CAMP SANTIAGO, PR |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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