From the Mountains to the Jungle: The 10th Mountain Division (LI) takes on the Jungle Operations Training Course - Panama

COLON, PANAMA (Oct. 23, 2026)– “Through the heat or cold or snow,” the words of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) song reflect a legacy of perseverance through tough and demanding conditions. On Oct. 14, 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, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), attended the 12-day Jungle Operations Training Course - Panama as a unit. This opportunity allowed organic leadership throughout the course, while receiving instruction from the experienced Jungle Instructors, transforming the Army’s JOTC-P course into a collective training environment.

“You're attending the same classes, wearing the same uniform, eating the same chow next to them,” said 1st Sgt. Geoffrey Tate, senior enlisted advisor for Black Hawk Company, 2-14 INF BN, 3BCT, 10TH MTN DIV (LI). “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 offers opportunities for units to train together as a cohesive force, helps build more lethality in units by teaching soldiers to adapt under pressure, rely on one another and work together to overcome the challenges of the jungle. “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," said Tate, “It really is a bonding experience and maybe a little trauma bonding, but bonding nonetheless.”

As Soldiers face the demands from the course it gives leaders the chance to observe how they make decisions and communicate while facing adversity. “The biggest lessons that I hope these soldiers learn is that they synthesize all of the tactics and techniques that they learn here,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ero Wainio, the senior survival instructor at JOTC-P. “And that they're able to develop course of actions and standard operating procedures, which will enable them on their mission.”

While combat training centers such as National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, provide demanding field training environments, JOTC-P opens opportunities for units to come and train in an unknown environment that you can’t find in the United States. “This environment is nothing like you'll encounter at JRTC, NTC or any training center that we currently have.” Said Tate.

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,” said Wainio. “Because the environment is challenging, they get to see their organic leaders and their Soldiers operating in an environment that they're unfamiliar with.”

Movement 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.” Said Tate. “Communications aren't reliable in this environment.” These new challenges require Soldiers to adapt in new ways to sharing information and coordinating movements.

This experience gave Black Hawk Company the opportunity to identify areas for improvement, strengthen communication and build confidence in one another in an unfamiliar environment. “The skills that they learn here, once jungle tested, helps them understand that they can survive anywhere.” Said Wainio.

For Tate, seeing members of his unit endure the course firsthand was the most rewarding aspect of this experience. “Coming out to Panama to train with my company has been a valuable experience," said Tate. “Watching them grow in the face of adversity and dealing with this stress of negotiating obstacles has been absolutely rewarding for me as a first sergeant.”

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