Army South’s 2012 brought new leaders into top positions, conducted robust exercises, engagements

Maj. Gen. Frederick S. Rudesheim (left), the U.S. Army South commanding general, presents Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis C. Zavodsky (right),Army South command sergeant major, with a sword during a change of responsibility ceremony here Nov. 2.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - (December 21, 2012) This year has been a very busy period for U.S. Army South with personnel changes in our senior command positions, while simultaneously conducting, hosting or participating in several multinational exercises here and in our area of responsibility of Central and South America and the Caribbean.

This year has been a very busy period for U.S. Army South with personnel changes in our senior command positions, while simultaneously conducting, hosting or participating in several multinational exercises here and in our area of responsibility of Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Army South’s top five key leaders changed in 2012 with the arrival of Col. Bill V. Hill III, as the chief of staff, Kate Bentley, command foreign policy advisor, Sgt. Maj. Dennis C. Zavodsky, command sergeant major, Brig. Gen. Orlando Salinas, deputy commanding general and in September Maj. Gen. Frederick S. Rudesheim, commanding general.

Army South began 2012 planning and then successfully executing the Beyond the Horizon exercise in the countries of Honduras and Guatemala.  BTH is an Army South and U.S. Southern Command exercise deploying military engineers and medical professionals for training, while providing services to rural communities with medical, dental and engineering/facility construction.  

During the three month BTH operation, several medical readiness and training exercises took place with more than 43,500 people receiving medical and dental treatment and 17,000 animals being vaccinated.  The U.S. military personnel made up of 2,200 Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve, National Guard and active-duty troops, also constructed or renovated six schools and five medical clinics in Honduras and Guatemala.

BTH was not the only partner nation involvement for Army South in 2012. The command also hosted or traveled to conduct bilateral annual Staff Talks with armies from Brazil, Chile, El Salvador and Colombia. The Staff Talks are conducted annually on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Army and have been instrumental in enhancing the interoperability and cooperation between the partner nations’ armies, which contributes to increased security and stability in the region. 

Army South hosted the annual Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX exercise here with armed and security forces from 17 nations.  Commonly known as PANAMAX, the exercise brings together sea, air and land forces in a joint and combined operation focused on defending the Panama Canal from attacks by a fictitious violent extremist organization as well as responding to natural disasters and pandemic outbreaks in various locations.  The exercise took place simultaneously at Fort Sam Houston, Miami, Fla., Suffolk, Va., and in Panama Aug. 6-17.

Army South personnel also participated in Peacekeeping Operations Americas exercise which took place in phases in Chile and the Dominican Republic.  PKO-A is an annual exercise that trains personnel for U.N. peacekeeping initiatives in Central and South America and the Caribbean. 

The command also sponsored a Conference of American Armies’ legal conference with military attorneys from 15 partner nations here in San Antonio. In addition, Army South hosted dozens of visitors and senior military leaders from its partner nations.

Army South is a flexible, agile and responsive Army Service Component Command capable of simultaneously conducting Theater Security Cooperation and contingency operations for SOUTHCOM  and the Department of the Army. 

In the New Year the command will continue to successfully execute its mission of conducting and supporting multinational operations and security cooperation in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility in order to counter transnational threats and strengthen regional security in defense of the homeland.

“Army South personnel must continue to be prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice to support our combatant commander,” said Rudesheim.