Army Mountain Division Takes on Panamanian Jungle

“Through the heat or cold of snow,” the words of the 10th Mountain Division song reflect a legacy of perseverance through tough and demanding conditions. Earlier this month, the legacy took on a new environment as soldiers entered the jungles of Panama.

For the first time in decades, Black Hawk Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Mobile Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, attended the 12-day Jungle Operations Training Course – Panama as a unit. This opportunity allowed soldiers to develop leadership throughout the course while receiving instruction from experienced instructors, transforming the course into a collective training environment.

“You’re attending the same classes, wearing the same uniform [and] eating the same chow,” said Army 1st Sgt. Geoffrey Tate, company senior enlisted advisor. “Training together as an organic unit — it’s beneficial to units because it gives leaders the chance to see their subordinate leaders and soldiers within their unit work in real time.”

This experience offered opportunities for units to train together as a cohesive force, building lethality by teaching soldiers to adapt under pressure, rely on one another and work together to overcome challenges.

“One thing I’ve learned out here in the jungle that will stick with me is that it’s an unforgiving terrain in an unforgiving environment,” Tate said. “It really is a bonding experience, and maybe a little trauma bonding, but bonding nonetheless.”

As soldiers faced the demanding course, leaders observed how they made decisions and communicated under pressure.

“The biggest lessons that I hope these soldiers learn is that they synthesize all of the tactics and techniques that they learn here,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Ero Wainio, jungle course senior survival instructor. “And that they’re able to develop courses of action and standard operating procedures, which will enable them on their mission.”

While combat training centers such as the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, provide demanding field training environments, the jungle course gives units opportunities to train in an unknown environment not found in the United States.

“This environment is nothing like you’ll encounter at JRTC, NTC or any training center that we currently have,” Tate said.

For most units, training stays within their home station, leaving soldiers lacking experience in unfamiliar terrains.

“The course offers a lot of opportunities to identify strengths and improvements,” Wainio said. “Because the environment is challenging, they get to see their organic leaders and their soldiers operating in an environment that they’re unfamiliar with.”

Moving through the jungle presents challenges that go beyond navigating through heavy vegetation and difficult terrain.

“The biggest difference that I’ve noticed, with training out in the jungle versus training at my home station, is that technology is not reliable in this environment,” Tate said. “Communications aren’t reliable in this environment.”

These new challenges required soldiers to adapt in new ways. This experience gave Black Hawk Company the opportunity to identify areas for improvement, strengthen communication and build confidence in one another.

“The skills that they learn here, once jungle tested, help them understand that they can survive anywhere,” Wainio said.

For Tate, seeing members of his unit endure the course firsthand was the most rewarding aspect of the experience.

“Coming out to Panama to train with my company has been a valuable experience,” he said. “Watching them grow in the face of adversity and dealing with the stress of negotiating obstacles has been absolutely rewarding for me as a first sergeant.”