NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Participants in the Tradewinds 2018 military exercise from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom performed community outreach at the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled school, on June 20, 2018.  Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and Chief of Defence for the Tradewinds 2018 Exercise Commodore Tellis Bethel and Major General Robert M. Branyon of the United States Southern Command joined with other officers and stakeholders in showing support for the initiative.  Tradewinds 2018 participants painted, removed debris, cut down dead trees and assisted with general maintenance of the facility and property.

Tradewinds 2018 is an annual regional military training exercise that is being held in The Bahamas June 14-21; this year's exercise focuses on Countering Transnational Organized crime in the region. The main objective of the military event is to foster training for security forces that is "tailored for the region by the region," and is sponsored by the United States Southern Command.  Twenty-two partner nations of the Caribbean region, wider Americas and Western Europe comprising over 800 troops are participating in the exercise.  The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2009.  (BIS Photos/Eric Rose)