SAN ANTONIO — Through our military partnerships, there’s always a chance international service members can show up if we’re ever in a time of crisis.
JBSA-Lackland Air Force base is preparing for just that through Operation Jaguar. It features military members from 23 different Latin American countries.
Over 60 students in this cycle come from countries like Chile, Colombia, Peru.
The students have to put their skills to the test to keep everything under control.
In Tuesday's exercise the students have to eliminate their target and rescue a hostage.
Operation Jaguar is a 6 week program hosted by the Inter-American Air Force Academy (IAAFA).
IAAFA is the only division in the Air Force Institute where everything is taught in Spanish.
"We train a smaller cadre here in residence, and then they go back home and hopefully teach, a larger country back home," said Lt. Col. Max Olivine, IAAFA deputy commandant. "What that creates is hopefully a force, from that particular country that is, interoperable, with the U.S. military force."
Nicole Velez Rodriguez is an U.S. Air Force member and is on the intelligence team in Tuesday’s operation.
Rodriguez says this experience has expanded her horizons on how to serve.
"I'm learning a lot from them, and they're learning a lot from me, so I know that if I need to go serve overseas, I'm able to do it with a little bit more ease, because I already know a little bit about each country's culture," said Velez Rodriguez.
Through multiple partnerships through Latin America, Lt. Col. Olivine says collaboration is needed in today’s political climate.
With countries like China and Russia we're in a world where no country wants to fight alone and it is very much our intent to, support our allies by creating closer net relationships with them," said Lt. Col. Olivine.
After today's exercise, the students will go through their formal graduation ceremony on August 7.
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