(BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Tradewinds 2018 military training participants from the Royal Bahamas Defence and Police Forces, the United States and Mexico, performed the final exercise with the scenario of rescue and extraction of hostages on June 20, 2018, at the South Beach Pools, in Nassau, The Bahamas.  Two Black Hawk helicopters and RBDF military vehicles assisted in the extraction portion of the exercise.  Among the stakeholders present for the exercise were a number of leaders of local and international uniformed forces, including Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and Chief of Defence for the Tradewinds 2018 Exercise Commodore Tellis Bethel, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ken Strachan, Acting Commissioner of Correctional Services Bernadette M. Thompson-Murray, and Major General Robert M. Branyon of the United States Southern Command.

(BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

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)

(BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

(BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

(BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

(BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

Tradewinds 2018 Military Training Drill at South Beach Pools