About 300 soldiers from the armies of Colombia and the United States gathered in the South American country from July 28 to August 2 to conduct the strategic exercise Hydra III. The bilateral exercise, formerly known as Dynamic Bilateral Force Employment, is led by the U.S. Southern Command and focuses on improving technical, procedural, and human interoperability between their airborne forces; and to demonstrate the capacity to strategically employ forces in the region.
“Our goal is to improve our interoperability so that we can operate together seamlessly as a single multinational force when necessary,” said Major General Philip Ryan, commanding general of U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH), in a statement. “Let us take advantage of this shared experience and remember that, despite our different backgrounds and languages, we are united by our common identity as paratroopers: Defense and Brotherhood!” added Maj. Gen. Ryan, citing ARSOUTH’s motto.
“On this occasion, 240 paratroopers, with a jump using a static line, adorned the Colombian skies and upheld the motto that represents them, “From the clouds, victory!”” said the National Army of Colombia in a statement. “To achieve this, paratroopers from all over the country gathered, who after retraining directed by the National Army Parachuting School, became qualified for the execution of this exercise, which culminates with an exchange of wings between both nations.”
Thus, on July 30, U.S. and Colombian paratroopers conducted night jumps as part of this exercise at Tolemaida Military Fort, 120 kilometers south of Bogotá. These included paratroopers from the Colombian Army’s Antinarcotics Battalion and U.S. paratroopers from the Apache Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; as well as the 7th Special Forces Group and the 1st Security Forces Assistance Brigade.
Similarly, with the presence of Maj. Gen. Ryan and Major General Luis Emilio Cardozo Santamaría, commander of the National Army of Colombia, a jump between the two armies was conducted on August 1. “A binational parachute jump, which brings together the men and women who wear golden wings on their chests, to make a jump from more than 1000 feet [305 meters] high; and thus allowing for an exchange of insignias with the troops of the U.S. Army South,” reported the National Army of Colombia in a statement.
The jumps reaffirm the commitment of both nations to strengthen military cooperation and readiness; and enhance operational preparedness while fostering collaboration to address regional security challenges.
In addition to strengthening cooperative ties, these exercises enhance the capabilities of the men and women who comprise the forces. “This represents the great interoperability and above all the brotherhood that exists between these two armies, which has a history of over 200 years,” said General Omar Esteban Sepúlveda Carvajal, deputy commander of the National Army, to the press at Tolemaida Military Base.
“I believe that these exercises help us strengthen binational ties. Conducting these types of jumps helps us reinforce important relationships that we must have as a National Army,” said Second Lieutenant Tatiana Jara from the National Army Communications School to the media. “It is important because it helps us strengthen our capabilities as paratroopers and clearly as soldiers. This gives us the opportunity, mainly as women, to instruct and teach all soldiers throughout the territory.”