MANTA, Ecuador -- Operating from Naval Base Jaramijó from April 17 to May 2, 2026, the exercise was designed to elevate the tactical proficiency of both militaries. Having been deployed and embarked on the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group since August 2025, the 22d MEU (SOC) leveraged its sustained operational tempo to integrate seamlessly and train advanced concepts with their Ecuadorian partners, further solidifying shared lethality between the two forces.
The bilateral training focused on a robust exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures. U.S. Marines led a Combat Instructor Training course and a Medical Subject Matter Expert Exchange, while both forces trained together on marksmanship, physical fitness, martial arts, and complex infantry fundamentals.
"Our mission in this region is to be postured as a capable, ready, and lethal force. Training alongside our Ecuadorian partners is a direct investment in that lethality," said Col. Tom Trimble, Commanding Officer of the 22d MEU (SOC). "This bilateral exercise strengthens our ability to respond decisively to any crisis, enhances the skills of our small unit leaders, and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to security and stability in U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility.”
Ecuador is a key regional partner actively countering transnational criminal and designated terrorist organizations within the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. Training alongside Ecuadorian Marines allowed the 22d MEU (SOC) to reinforce this partnership while building shared proficiency in skills essential to regional security.
Furthermore, this event represents the latest evolution in the 22d MEU (SOC)’s continuous readiness progression. Having conducted extensive training in diverse environments ranging from the jungles of Puerto Rico to sustained operations afloat, the Marines arrived highly prepared to train alongside their counterparts and maximize the value of the exchange.
Maj. Ross Gilchrest, the senior officer in charge of the 22d MEU (SOC) training force and company commander for Bravo Company, Light Armored Reconnaissance, Battalion Landing Team 3/6, emphasized how the Marines’ sustained deployment tempo paid immediate dividends in Ecuador.
“Our Marines have been operating at a high tempo since August, and that readiness allowed us to integrate seamlessly with our Ecuadorian counterparts,” Gilchrest said. “The exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures made both forces more capable and more prepared to operate together in the future.”
He emphasized that the most valuable outcome of the exercise was the performance of noncommissioned officers (NCOs) from both nations. “Throughout the exercise, U.S. Marine and Ecuadorian NCOs were challenged to lead and set the example,” he said. “Empowering junior leaders builds trust and initiative —and initiative wins battles.”
That leadership was tested during the culminating event, a demanding raid on an urban objective following a simulated beach landing. Despite heat, terrain, and language barriers, squads led by U.S. and Ecuadorian NCOs quickly formed a cohesive team. “We went from a collection of individuals to a family,” Gilchrest said. “What I saw was mutual trust, implicit communication, and initiative at the lowest level; the hallmarks of maneuver warfare.”
He added that the bond between the forces was strengthened by shared hardship and a common warrior ethos. “The Ecuadorian Marines welcomed us into their home, sharing meals, clotheslines, and tough, realistic training,” Gilchrest said. “Our shared values and amphibious roots make this partnership a natural brotherhood.”
Throughout its U.S. Southern Command deployment, the 22d MEU (SOC) has conducted multiple training evolutions across the region, building relationships and maintaining a high state of readiness. This bilateral training directly supports U.S. Southern Command’s priorities to deepen military cooperation with partner nations and reinforce shared efforts to counter illicit threats. As the 22d MEU (SOC) continues its mission, the tactical edge gained in Ecuador ensures it remains a capable, ready, and lethal force, postured to respond to any regional threat as one of the nation's premier crisis response forces.