U.S. and Panama Forge New Pathways through the Jungle

BASE AERONAVAL CRISTÓBAL COLÓN, Panama - Suffocating heat, unrelenting mud and deadly wildlife - that's what the service members of the United States and Panama encountered Oct. 8-29 during the Combined Jungle Operations Training Course. This course, which is a combined effort between the governments of the U.S. and Panama, attempts to provide members of their respective security services with a quality, internationally renowned school focused on one purpose: preparing individuals to survive and thrive in jungle environments.

The roots of the school, however, are much older. Since around World War I, the area now known as Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón has been used to prepare both U.S. and Panamanian service members for operations in jungle environments. The legacy of the original Jungle Operations Training Course now reemerges through CJOTC - a joint effort to strengthen ties and build capability for all involved, supported by the Joint Security Cooperation Group-Panama.

"This course stands out because it is a truly multinational, cooperative effort involving the United States and all three Panamanian security institutions," said Capt. Lauryn Westman, the officer in charge of the course. "[It] fosters real-time interoperability, survival techniques, and shared tactics."

The course is about more than unity between nations - it's about the partnership between people. Each service member, whether from Camp Lejeune or Panama City, is expected to work alongside international counterparts throughout the course: developing mission plans, executing tasks, and building cooperation from the ground up. This extends beyond the students; every role within the course's structure is balanced between U.S. and Panamanian service members, from instructors to medics.

"Our role as medics, working hand-in-hand [with the Panamanians]," said Sgt. Rafael Morales, a U.S. Army medic serving as course staff, "is to establish a safe training environment, and use preventative medicine to ensure every candidate makes it to graduation.

That same collaboration extends beyond individual tasks and into the course's overall mission. Every phase of CJOTC is planned and executed jointly, blending Panamanian experience in the terrain with U.S. Army expertise in training and sustainment. From field exercises to safety oversight, both nations contribute equally to ensuring the course meets the highest standards of readiness and professionalism. Together, the two countries continue to build the interoperability and trust essential to strengthening regional security and responding effectively to future challenges.

"Our unity fosters adaptability, innovation, and mutual understanding," said Westman. "Ultimately, while interoperability is inherently challenging, it remains our greatest strength and the foundation of the course's success."

As the CJOTC continues to grow, so too does the partnership between Panama and the United States. Each iteration brings new lessons learned, improved techniques, and stronger ties between the service members who face the jungle together.

"During these 21 days, you have proven that our alliance is stronger than the terrain," said Col. Ada Cotto, commander of the JSCG-P while addressing the students at their graduation. "You have built a brotherhood that transcends uniforms, languages, and institutions."