Pentagon Deploys Ground Forces for Jungle Training in Panama After Decades

The training initiative at Base Aeronaval Cristóbal Colón, previously known as Fort Sherman, is modest in scale but is projected to expand over the coming year, according to a defense official.

For the first time in over twenty years, the Pentagon has commenced sending conventional ground forces to Panama for jungle training, reintroducing U.S. soldiers and Marines to a three-week course once nicknamed “Green Hell” due to its resemblance to Vietnam.

The program began earlier this year and isn’t aimed at preparing troops for any immediate missions, including those within Venezuela, as clarified by the official.

The defense official explained, “Training in one of the toughest environments in the world helps build a highly effective and lethal force,” emphasizing the rationale behind this new training initiative.

Alex Plitsas, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow at The Atlantic Council, noted that while this new training course is unlikely to directly contribute to operations in Venezuela, it seems primarily focused on enhancing Panama’s capacity to address regional security threats.

Plitsas remarked, “This signifies an expansion of an existing military relationship, occurring within a broader policy shift. There’s a renewed interest in South America, where the president perceives drug trafficking to the United States as a national security concern, potentially leading to military intervention.”

Historically, Fort Sherman served as a key site for training troops in jungle survival skills before deployment during the Vietnam War.

By 1999, the training site was closed, marking the departure of the U.S. military from Panama following an agreement that transferred control of the Panama Canal.

Source: ABC News