Members of the U.S. and Mexican militaries practice fire extinguishing techniques during Fuerzas Amigas 2024 in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. CATHRYN LINDSAY/U.S. AIR FORCE
THE WATCH STAFF
For the first time, members of the U.S. and Mexican militaries conducted a joint disaster response exercise outside of a military base as Fuerzas Amigas 24 broke new ground in cross-border collaboration between the partner nations. In this year’s scenario on June 28, downtown Juarez filled with smoke and 30 mock victims lying on the streets, as Mexican authorities requested cross-border assistance from the U.S. to help contain a chemical fire from tank cars on a rail line connecting Juarez to El Paso, Texas. The annual exercise demonstrated the increasing operational compatibility of Mexican and U.S. Armed Forces and the practical benefits of mutual aid in cross-border disasters.
About 220 U.S. and 280 Mexican service members participated in the five-day annual exercise, which had previously been conducted on U.S. and Mexican military bases. Mexican Army Maj. Jose Luis Cora Torres said the scenario called for the Mexican Army to relieve overwhelmed local first responders. “We proceeded to take over. We determined the fire to be intense, so we called for air support,” Cora told Border Report, a U.S. website dedicated to border issues.
U.S. forces deployed two UH-60 Blackhawks and a CH-47 Chinook to Mexico, along with essential lifesaving equipment, including breaching and breaking equipment, rope rescue, and jaws of life. A unit specialized in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense from Joint Task Force Civil Support (JTF-CS) was equipped with tools to respond to a chemical spill, according to the El Paso Times website, citing information from USNORTHCOM.
Earlier in the week, participants responded to a simulated stadium collapse, a chemical spill at a wastewater treatment plant, the collapse of an airport terminal, and practiced medical evacuations using transport helicopters in Juarez, according to the El Paso Times. The exercise concluded June 29, 2024, with a review of the training and an action plan to deal with future responses to disasters. If a disaster were to strike on the U.S. side of the border, Mexican forces are prepared to assist and support a U.S. response, Torres told Border Report.
Fuerzas Amigas is an annual exercise designed to increase collaboration between the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense, U.S. Army North and JTF-CS – components of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). Fuerzas Amigas supports each nation’s humanitarian assistance and disaster response policies and plans: Mexico’s National Defense Plan-III and U.S. Defense Support of Civil Authorities, respectively.
“The main purpose of [these exercises] is to improve our procedures,” Mexican Gen. Rubén Zamudio, the Mexican commander of the 5th Military Zone, said when the exercise began on June 25, 2024. “Our teams are working together to perfection. Year after year, we will continue to improve.” U.S. Brig. Gen. Tomika Seaberry said Fuerzas Amigas deepened the bonds between the U.S. and Mexican militaries. “The Mexican Army is our partner…our friend,” she said, according to the Times. “It is rewarding for us to save the lives of our citizens and use our combined resources to do that.”
Fuerzas Amigas, which means “friendly forces” in English, began in 2011 and has occurred yearly except during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2024 was the first time the exercise scenarios had been conducted in public view, causing considerable interest among residents of Juarez, reported the Times. “Fuerzas Amigas has enhanced humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities for both nations,” a USNORTHCOM spokesperson told the Times. “In recent years, the U.S. has assisted Mexico in responding to earthquakes and hurricanes, while Mexico has assisted the U.S. with wildfire operations.”