U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command Maj. Reinaldo Munozpagan (left), lead planner for Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026, briefs Peruvian Army 5th Amazon Jungle Protection Brigade Commanding General Brig. Gen. Jose Chuquillanqui Narvarte (right) at the Mid-Planning Conference in Sauce, Peru, on April 4, 2026. While both leaders speak Spanish, First Sgt. Lee Pogue (center), 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist), Utah Army National Guard, stands by to translate for other conference attendees. The PERAR, in partnership with USAWHC, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers for this premiere exercise as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

The Peruvian Army Jungle School of El Sauce Director Col. Persi Fernandez Alata addresses the Jungle Operations Monitor Course during the class opening ceremony on May 5, 2026, along with distinguished guests from the U.S. Army who were at the school to attend Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 Mid-Planning Conference. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

Peruvian and American attendees of the Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 Mid-Planning Conference at the El Sauce Jungle School outside Tarapoto, Peru, on May 7, 2026. The Peruvian Army, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers for this premiere exercise as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

The Peruvian Army Jungle School Director Col. Persi Fernandez Alata (center left), U.S. Army Col. Jared Koelling (center right), and U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command planners attend the opening ceremony of Jungle Operations Monitor Course class AF-2026 on May 5, 2026, at the school in Sauce, Peru. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

Peruvian and American attendees of the Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 Mid-Planning Conference at the El Sauce Jungle School outside Tarapoto, Peru, on May 4, 2026. The Peruvian Army, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers for this premiere exercise as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

The Peruvian Army Jungle School in Sause, Peru, holds the opening ceremony for the new Jungle Operations Monitor Course on May 5, 2026, with U.S Army Soldiers in attendance at the invitation of school Director Col. Persi Fernandez Alata.The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School during the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

The Peruvian Army Jungle School Director Col. Persi Fernandez Alata (not pictured) invited U.S. Army Col. Jared Koelling (right) and U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command exercise planners to attend the opening ceremony of Jungle Operations Monitor Course class AF-2026 on May 5, 2026, at the school in Sauce, Peru. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

The Peruvian Army Jungle School Director Col. Persi Fernandez Alata (not pictured) invited U.S. Army Col. Jared Koelling (right) and U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command exercise planners to attend the opening ceremony of Jungle Operations Monitor Course class AF-2026 on May 5, 2026, at the school in Sauce, Peru. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

The Peruvian Army Jungle School Director Col. Persi Fernandez Alata (not pictured) invited U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command exercise planners to attend the opening ceremony of Jungle Operations Monitor Course class AF-2026 on May 5, 2026, at the school in Sauce, Peru. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

Peruvian and American attendees of the Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 Mid-Planning Conference at the El Sauce Jungle School outside Tarapoto, Peru, on May 5, 2026. The Peruvian Army, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers for this premiere exercise as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

U.S. Army Maj. Grushenka Avendano (center) and Maj. Ian Hernandez (right) listen as Peruvian Army Col. Augusto Hernandez Del Castillo, 5th Amazon Jungle Protection Brigade, discusses capabilities during an Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 planning meeting at the 5th Brigade’s headquarters in Tarapoto, Peru, on May 6, 2026. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Monica Ghersi, 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguists), Utah Army National Guard, interprets from Spanish to English for Lt. Joseph Shuler, U.S. Army South, during a manning and reception discussion during an Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 planning meeting at the 5th Amazon Jungle Protection Brigade’s headquarters in Tarapoto, Peru, on May 6, 2026. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rodmond Churchill, U.S. Army South (right) and Maj. Lance Spielmann, Force Health Protection, U.S. Army South (center), get a run-through of facilities from NAME at the Peruvian Army 5th Amazon Jungle Protection Brigade headquarters in Tarapoto, Peru, on May 6, 2026, during an Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 planning meeting. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

(From right to left) U. S. Army Maj. Ian Hernandez, Capt. David Butcher, Staff Sgt. David Garza, and Maj. Grushenka Avendano attend an Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 planning meeting at the 5th Amazon Jungle Protection Brigade’s headquarters in Tarapoto, Peru, on May 6, 2026. The PERAR, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers at the Jungle School for the premiere exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

U.S. Army Capt. Alix Dredd, a customs official with the North Dakoda Army National Guard, was part of an Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 Mid-Planning Conference group tour of Tarapoto Air Group, Peruvian Air Force, facilities on May 6, 2026, led by PERAF 2Lt. Alferez Felix Mantilla (left) and Maj. Marco Valverde (not pictured). The Peruvian Army, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers for this premiere exercise as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

Peruvian and American attendees of the Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 Mid-Planning Conference at the El Sauce Jungle School outside Tarapoto, Peru, on May 7, 2026. The Peruvian Army, in partnership with the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, is hosting Argentinean and Chilean soldiers to train alongside Peruvian and American soldiers for this premiere exercise as proof of enduring commitment to regional partnership and to strengthen multi-component forces for complex operations in a jungle environment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris)

The Peruvian Army (PERAR) hosted around 30 U.S. and 20 Peruvian soldiers and staff for the Exercise Southern Vanguard 2026 (SV26) Mid-Planning Conference (MPC) at the Jungle School of El Sauce in the San Martín Provence of Peru from May 4-7, 2026.

SV26 is a premiere multinational exercise hosted this year, for the first time, by Peru, with participation from Argentina, Chile and the United States. The multi-phase Army jungle operations exercise is designed to build interoperability through battalion headquarters and platoon-levelproficiencyin jungle mobility, survivability, tactical operations, and sustainment within restrictive jungle terrain and under austere conditions.

To deliver a high-value exercise, initial planning started a year out when U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH) asked if Peru would be willing to host SV26 after their initial Southern Vanguard participation in 2025, hosted by Chile.

ARSOUTH, soon to be the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command (USAWHC), and PERAR determined that the high jungle in and around the Jungle School in Sauce would provide a unique challenge and opportunity for the U.S. Army Soldiers to learn new skills and improve interoperability with Peruvian, Chilean and Argentine Army counterparts.

This week’s MPC was used to refine and solidify the operational concept asU.S. Army planners got valuable face time one-on-one with their PERAR counterparts at the Jungle School and 5th Amazon Jungle Protection Brigade, the host country’s lead unit.

Operating under SV26 Lead Planner Maj. Reinaldo Munozpagan, in addition to USAWHC and ARSOUTH staff, U.S. Army units with conference representation include:

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Army Security Cooperation Group – South

35th Corps Signal Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps

191st Military Police Company, North Dakota National Guard

300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguists), Utah Army National Guard

153rd Public Affairs Detachment, West Virginia Army National Guard.

“ARSOUTH is extremely pleased and grateful that the Peruvian Army agreed to host SV26.2, and we look forward to the shared growth in both our relationship and collective readiness to respond to any crisis in the future,” said Director of Training and Exercises for U.S. Army South Col. Jared Koelling.