U.S. Soldiers Prepare M142 HIMARS for Southern Fenix 24
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Alfonso Cruz, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Crewmember assigned to 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, checks the boom on an M142 HIMARS during Southern Fenix 24 in Pozo Almonte, Chile, Aug. 25, 2024. Southern Fenix 24, a multilateral exercise with Chile and Argentina, is the first U.S. Army-led exercise where the M142 HIMARS platform has been deployed to the Southern Command area of operation. The exercise aims to increase technical and procedural interoperability while strengthening hemispheric cooperation and collaboration. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Liggio) VIEW ORIGINAL

IQUIQUE, Chile — More than 600 military personnel from the Chilean, Argentinian, and the United States armies are set to participate in Exercise Southern Fenix 24, a multinational exercise focused on enhancing interoperability for multi-domain operations in the Atacama Desert of Chile Aug. 27 to Sept. 5, 2024.

SF24 will be the first U.S. Army-led exercise to deploy the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System platform within the U.S. Southern Command area of operations, pioneering new warfighting concepts in collaboration with the Chilean Army.

This landmark exercise aims to enhance technical and procedural interoperability between the Chilean and U.S. Armies while fostering stronger hemispheric cooperation and collaboration. The activities conducted during SF24 are aligned with the SOUTHCOM Campaign Plan and the U.S. National Defense Strategy, contributing to the broader objective of strengthening security and defense partnerships throughout the region.

U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Leslie Hernandez-Castro, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Crewmember assigned to 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, mounts an antenna on an M142 HIMARS during Southern Fenix 24 in Pozo Almonte, Chile, Aug. 25, 2024. Southern Fenix 24, a multilateral exercise with Chile and Argentina, is the first U.S. Army-led exercise where the M142 HIMARS platform has been deployed to the Southern Command area of operation. The exercise aims to increase technical and procedural interoperability while strengthening hemispheric cooperation and collaboration.
U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Leslie Hernandez-Castro, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Crewmember assigned to 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, mounts an antenna on an M142 HIMARS during Southern Fenix 24 in Pozo Almonte, Chile, Aug. 25, 2024. Southern Fenix 24, a multilateral exercise with Chile and Argentina, is the first U.S. Army-led exercise where the M142 HIMARS platform has been deployed to the Southern Command area of operation. The exercise aims to increase technical and procedural interoperability while strengthening hemispheric cooperation and collaboration. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph Liggio) VIEW ORIGINAL

SF24 will involve the deployment of aiproximately 200 U.S. Army personnel, to include Soldiers from U.S. Army South, 11th Airborne Division, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Security Forces Assistance Brigade, Joint Task Force Bravo, Joint Communications Support Element, Texas Army National Guard, the Utah Army National Guard, the New York National Guard, linguist support and the Inter-American Air Force Academy. These U.S. forces will train alongside over 300 Chilean Army personnel assigned to the 6th Division, as well as representatives from the Argentine military.

The exercise will include the expeditionary deployment of a M142 HIMARS section and fire direction center, as well as a U.S. Army Airborne company. Key training events will feature a combine forceable entry; airfield seizure; HIMARS rapid integration; reception, staging, onward movement and integration; and a combined field training exercise culminating in two live-fire exercises — one with maneuver and one with rocket artillery forces.

SF24 represents a critical opportunity for all participating nations to refine their operational capabilities, demonstrating the power of their combined forces and their commitment to ensuring regional security and stability.

Follow the stories, photos and videos throughout Southern Fenix 2024 on DVIDS.