Photo By Tristan Peete | U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 1st Mission Command stand in formation during the...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT BUCHANAN, Puerto Rico – Over 1,500 Soldiers from the 1st Mission Support Command (MSC) inaugurated Army of the Caribbean Week 2026 (ACW26), a four-day training event displaying the Army Reserve in the Caribbean’s readiness and ability to muster under short notice for Large-Scale Combat Operations, island-chain mobilization, signal communications, and logistics across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, Jan. 7, 2025.
The significance of ACW26, the first event of its kind in the region, underscores the commitment to duty and readiness within the Caribbean. Historically, Fort Buchanan has been a cornerstone of military operations and community initiatives, making it the ideal setting.
“Geographic commands work best when the Soldiers that know the territory, train and prepare to be able to be as useful to Army Operations and higher echelon intent as possible,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Tom Dorsey, the senior enlisted advisor for the 210th Regional Support Command. “No one knows the Caribbean Area of Responsibility better than the Army of the Caribbean, but we must demonstrate mastery of our Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills, our ability to mobilize, and our ability to execute any mission, anywhere, any time.”
Under the Army of the Caribbean week, 1st MSC also inaugurated the Garita Games 2026 (GG26), a series of competitions built within ACW26 week that focus on battle focused fitness and common Soldier tasks and drills.
“The Garita Games are designed to boost esprit de corps and engage with the local community by conducting events such as the 5K run taking place in Old San Juan to the El Morro,” said 2nd Lt. Manuel Heredia, a planner for ACW26 and the GG26 from the 1st MSC. “The Garita games are also intended for the Soldiers of the command to compete and engage with each other.”
GG26 events will include 5K runs and foot marches, Best Squad trials, high intensity fitness competitions, signal and maintenance competitions to display warfighting readiness and lethality capabilities.
“We have to always be ready to mobilize at any place at any time,” said Lt. Col. Heath Dickinson, the deputy chief of operations from the 1st MSC. ”It's our responsibility to always keep our Soldiers ready to do their warfighting functions.”
The 1st Mission Support Command trains and commands almost 5,000 Soldiers of the Army Reserve in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands to ensure they are ready to deploy and successfully execute their wartime missions. Our commander is the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
| Date Taken: | 01.05.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.12.2026 21:17 |
| Story ID: | 555957 |
| Location: | GUAYNABO, PR |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Inauguration of Army of the Caribbean Week '26, by Tristan Peete, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
