U.S., Colombia Launch Exercise Southern Vanguard 2027

DORAL, Fla. - The 41st iteration of SOUTHERN VANGUARD 2027 (SV27) is scheduled to begin in Colombia on Nov. 2, 2026. The exercise, which is scheduled to run until mid-November, will bring together approximately 800 participants, including about 350 U.S. military personnel and over 400 soldiers from the Colombian Army.

Pre-exercise activities will begin Oct. 30 with an aeromedical evacuation scenario from Colombia's Tolemaida military base to its Cavalry School in Bogotá. The objective if this initial scenario is to test the immediate care and first aid skills employed by medical-specialty Soldiers from both armies while treating personnel with simulated, mine-related injuries.

Sponsored by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and led by U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command (USAWHC), SV27 is an annual Command Post Exercise (CPX) and Field Training Exercise (FTX). SV27 is fully nested under the Joint Staff's global military exercise strategy, which enables the Joint Force to train alongside Allies and partners. The training is designed to counter regional threats, build partner capacity, and increase readiness. Training scenarios will focus heavily on maritime interdiction, ground security operations, cyber defense, and interagency cooperation.

This year's iteration is a premier bilateral training exercise highlighting the deep and enduring security partnership between the United States and Colombia. Working side-by-side, soldiers from both nations will share tactical expertise, build lasting institutional trust, and strengthen combined readiness to respond to regional security challenges.

By training in close cooperation, exercise participants will continue to build on foundational relationships dedicated to enhancing interoperability, maintaining stability, and securing peace, across the Western Hemisphere.

SV27 highlights the longstanding security cooperation between the United States and Colombia.

The exercise builds upon more than 200 years of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Colombia and highlights our renewed security alliance.

Continual exchanges of tactical knowledge and security expertise remain the cornerstone of maintaining long-term stability and prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere.