SOUTHCOM activates permanent Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere

US Southern Command commander Gen. Francis Donovan activated Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM), a standing operational headquarters under US Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Kevin Jarrard, replacing the ad hoc Joint Task Force Southern Spear as the command's principal formation for counter-narco-terrorist operations. JTF-WHEM is designed to integrate military capabilities with the 18 A3C partner nations at the time of stand-up, ahead of Colombia's accession as the 19th member.