Southern Vanguard 2026 revs up for Field Training Exercise

SAUCE, Peru — Warfighters from Argentina, Chile, Peru and the U.S. Army completed the instruction portion of Southern Vanguard 2026 and transitioned into the field training exercise, a three-day culminating event designed to put their newly mastered skills to the test on Sept. 15, 2026 in Sauce, Peru.

For three consecutive days, Soldiers operated in the Amazon jungle in teams organized by nation, navigating unforgiving terrain and moving between a series of mandatory checkpoints where instructor-led exercises and challenges awaited them.

The FTX began with a foot march to Laguna Azul. Upon arrival, each Soldier employed a rucksack raft, dove into the lake from a platform and conducted a 340-meter tactical group water crossing.

After reaching the opposite shore, the teams began tactical movements through the jungle toward their assigned checkpoints. Along the route, water and medical stations helped ensure Soldiers remained hydrated and healthy. Jungle instructors observed their movements, reinforced safety procedures and assessed their application of skills learned during the training phase.

Exercise planners also incorporated casualty and ambush scenarios throughout the movements, challenging Soldiers to provide first aid under simulated combat conditions while simultaneously navigating the threat of opposing forces in an austere jungle environment.

As daylight faded, the training continued. Soldiers moved through the night and established patrol bases, where they conducted work-rest cycles before continuing their movement through the jungle.

The second day of FTX was focused on survival techniques in the jungle, building huts with natural materials, making primitive fires, and foraging the food of the forest.

On day 3, soldiers woke up early to move into their next and main objective-detain a high value target. After completing the last kinetic check on learning, soldiers rucked back to base. High-ranking leaders, jungle instructors, and supporters welcomed soldiers back to base to congratulate them on their achievements.

Over the course of the three-day FTX, each Soldier trekked approximately 22 miles. Instructor-observed events incorporated skills taught throughout the six-day training phase, including jungle first aid, survival techniques, waterborne operations and jungle tactics.

The completion of the FTX marked the culmination of Southern Vanguard 2026's intensive jungle training, bringing together Soldiers from four nations to apply their skills in one of the world's most demanding environments.

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