First Air Force Graduate Completes Revived Army Jungle Course in Panama
Air Force Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul became the first Air Force member to graduate from the U.S. Army's revived Jungle Operations Training Course at Panama's Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón. The 18-day course, reopened in October 2025 after being closed since 1999, includes jungle survival, small-unit tactics, and waterborne operations. Paul trained alongside Army and Panamanian troops, earning the Jungle tab. The revival is part of broader U.S. military efforts to reestablish bases and training partnerships in Latin America.
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
First Airman Graduates from Army’s New Jungle School, with More to Follow
Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul, a Security Force Airman from the 824th Base Defense Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, became the first Airman to graduate from the U.S. military's rebooted Jungle Operations Training Center-Panama (JOTC-P) in April-May 2025. The 18-day course, held at the former Fort Sherman location in Panama, includes jungle survival skills, combat tactics, and a culminating three-day exercise. Two more defenders from the 824th are scheduled to attend, and TACP and PJ Airmen from XVIII Airborne Corps units have submitted packets for future rotations. The course, reestablished in 2025, prepares service members for jungle combat in the Pacific theater and is taught jointly by U.S. and Panamanian instructors.
Air & Space Forces MagazineFirst Airman Graduates from Army’s New Jungle School in Panama
Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul, a Security Force Airman from the 824th Base Defense Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, became the first Airman to graduate from the U.S. military's rebooted Jungle Operations Training Center-Panama (JOTC-P) in April-May 2025. The 18-day course, held at the former Fort Sherman location in Panama, is a joint U.S.-Panamanian effort focusing on jungle survival and combat tactics. Paul trained alongside Soldiers, Marines, and Panamanian security forces. Two more Airmen from the 824th are scheduled to attend, and personnel from Tactical Air Control Party and Pararescue units have submitted packets for future rotations. The course, reestablished in 2025, includes three phases: jungle skills taught by Panamanian instructors, small-unit tactics led by U.S. instructors, and a three-day culminating exercise featuring the 'Green Mile' obstacle course. The training prepares service members for jungle environments, particularly in the Pacific theater.
Air & Space Forces MagazineFirst Airman Graduates from U.S. Army's Reestablished Jungle Warfare Course in Panama
Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul, a Security Force Airman from the 824th Base Defense Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, became the first U.S. Air Force member to graduate from the newly reestablished Jungle Operations Training Center-Panama (JOTC-P). The 18-day course, which opened in January 2026, is held at the former Fort Sherman location in Panama and is designed to prepare service members for jungle combat, particularly in the Pacific theater. Paul trained alongside U.S. Marines, Soldiers, and Panamanian security forces, completing a three-phase curriculum covering jungle survival skills, small-unit tactics, and a culminating three-day exercise. Two more defenders from the 824th are scheduled to attend the next class, and other Airmen from Tactical Air Control Party and Pararescue units have submitted packets for future rotations. The course features extreme conditions including heat, humidity, dense terrain, and biting insects.
Air & Space Forces MagazineSecurity Forces airman becomes first Air Force graduate of Army’s revived jungle school
Air Force Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul, a Security Forces airman assigned to Moody Air Force Base, became the first Air Force member to graduate from the U.S. Army's revived Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama. The 18-day course, held at Panama's Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón (formerly Fort Sherman), was reopened in October 2025 by the Army Security Cooperation Group-South. Paul trained alongside Army soldiers and Panamanian troops, earning the Jungle tab. The course includes three phases: jungle survival fundamentals taught by Panamanian instructors, small-unit tactics including ambushes and casualty evacuation, and waterborne operations. The school's original version, known as the 'Green Hell,' closed in 1999 when the U.S. turned Fort Sherman over to Panama. The revival is part of a broader U.S. military effort to reestablish bases in Latin America.
Task & PurposeSecurity Forces airman becomes first Air Force graduate of Army’s revived jungle school
Air Force Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul, a Security Forces airman assigned to Moody Air Force Base, became the first Air Force member to graduate from the U.S. Army's revived Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama. The 18-day course, held at Panama's Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón (formerly Fort Sherman), reopened in October 2025 after being closed since 1999. Paul trained alongside Army soldiers and Panamanian troops, earning the Jungle tab. The course includes three phases: jungle survival fundamentals taught by Panamanian instructors, small-unit tactics like ambushes and waterborne operations, and a final exercise. Paul is assigned to the 474th Air Expeditionary Group under Air Forces Southern and participated in a training partnership with Panama's presidential security force. The revival of the school is part of broader U.S. military efforts to reestablish bases in Latin America.
Task & PurposeSecurity Forces airman becomes first Air Force graduate of Army’s revived jungle school
Air Force Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul, a Security Forces airman assigned to Moody Air Force Base, became the first Air Force member to graduate from the U.S. Army's revived Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama. The 18-day course, held at Panama's Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón (formerly Fort Sherman), was reopened in October 2025 by the Army Security Cooperation Group-South. Paul trained alongside Army soldiers and Panamanian troops, earning the Jungle tab. The course, once known as the 'Green Hell,' includes three phases: jungle survival fundamentals taught by Panamanian instructors, small-unit tactics (movement, ambushes, casualty evacuation, waterborne operations), and a final exercise. Paul is assigned to the 474th Air Expeditionary Group under Air Forces Southern and participated in a training partnership with Panama's presidential security force. The revival of the school coincides with the U.S. military reopening several bases in Latin America.
Task & PurposeSecurity Forces airman becomes first Air Force graduate of Army’s revived jungle school
Air Force Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul, a Security Forces airman assigned to Moody Air Force Base, became the first Air Force member to graduate from the U.S. Army's revived Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama. The 18-day course, held at Panama's Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón (formerly Fort Sherman), was reopened in October 2025 by the Army Security Cooperation Group-South. Paul trained alongside Army soldiers and Panamanian troops, earning the Jungle tab. The course, once known as the 'Green Hell,' includes three phases: jungle survival fundamentals taught by Panamanian instructors, small-unit tactics, and waterborne operations. Paul is assigned to the 474th Air Expeditionary Group under Air Forces Southern and participated in a training partnership with Panama's presidential security force. The revival of the school is part of a broader U.S. military effort to reestablish bases in Latin America.
Task & PurposeSecurity Forces airman becomes first Air Force graduate of Army’s revived jungle school
Air Force Staff Sgt. Duchaine Paul, a Security Forces airman assigned to Moody Air Force Base, became the first Air Force member to graduate from the U.S. Army's revived Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama. The 18-day course, held at Panama's Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón (formerly Fort Sherman), was reopened in October 2025 by the Army Security Cooperation Group-South. Paul trained alongside Army soldiers and Panamanian troops, earning the Jungle tab. The course, once known as the 'Green Hell,' includes three phases: jungle survival fundamentals taught by Panamanian instructors, small-unit tactics, and a final exercise. Paul is assigned to the 474th Air Expeditionary Group under Air Forces Southern and participated in a training partnership with Panama's presidential security force. The school's revival is part of broader U.S. military efforts to reestablish bases and training programs in Latin America.
Task & Purpose