Fort Drum soldiers reported to be taking part in Latin America training

Soldiers from Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division are reported to be taking part in jungle training in Panama as part of a broader U.S. counter-drug campaign in Latin America. The development affects Fort Drum families and the Watertown-area community, while public reports differ sharply on the number of soldiers involved.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama, as relayed in reports, said 120 10th Mountain Division soldiers were participating in a two-week jungle course at Panama’s invitation. That account said the course was expected to end Oct. 25, with the soldiers returning to Fort Drum.

Other reports have described the deployment as involving about 600 soldiers. One account said the first troops from a roughly 600-soldier battalion had begun traveling to a jungle training facility in Panama, with later training planned in Colombia and Honduras. Another report said several hundred additional 10th Mountain soldiers would help staff a new Western Hemisphere command in Miami.

The reports also said some soldiers could guard U.S. helicopters or support Special Operations advisers if partner-force raids encounter trouble. They did not say the Fort Drum soldiers would conduct raids themselves.

The Army has continued expanding jungle training with partner nations. Its Jungle Operations Training Course-Panama ran from Feb. 3 through Feb. 20, 2026, as an 18-day combined U.S.-Panamanian course. The Army said it was the largest U.S. participation since the training was revived in August 2025. Panama’s course had been shut down in 1999.

The 10th Mountain Division also received a no-notice alert in January 2025 to deploy to the southern border in support of Border Patrol efforts against cartel drug running and smuggling. Reports have described increased Pentagon counter-cartel activity in the Western Hemisphere in recent months.

What it means for Fort Drum

Fort Drum soldiers, their families and communities in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties are the groups most directly affected by the reported movement of troops. Fort Drum is a major part of the Watertown-area community and regional economy.

The reported Oct. 25 return date is especially relevant to families. A separate Mountain Peak exercise involving the 1st Brigade Combat Team is listed for Oct. 20 through Oct. 29 at Fort Drum, ahead of a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Those activities have not been linked to the Latin America training.

Upcoming activities

A Southern Vanguard exercise is expected in late October, although reports differ on whether it will take place in Colombia or Peru. Later rotations in Colombia and Honduras, as well as staffing for the Miami command, were also described as part of the broader activity.

Fort Drum public affairs, U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Embassy in Panama are the official sources for updates. The Army’s account of the Panama jungle training course provides background on the joint training program. The Army announcement of the 10th Mountain Division command change said Brig. Gen. Joseph Ewers took command Oct. 8, 2026, from Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann.