From orbit to canopy: Guardians take on Panama’s jungle operations course

Maj. Alyson Gleason, assigned to United States Space Force Headquarters, and Capt. Stephen Brown, assigned to the 392nd Combat Training Squadron, became the first U.S. Space Force members to complete the Jungle Operations Training Course–Panama on Sept. 25, 2026, at Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón.

The 18-day course placed the Guardians alongside U.S. Army Soldiers and Panamanian partner forces in the jungle, where they learned survival skills such as moving tactically, finding food, and operating as a multinational team in dense terrain. Candidates faced a 5k run, a combat water survival assessment, a knots test, and a culminating event that tested everything taught during the course.

“I’m always interested in challenging myself and the jungle is a beast that we don’t get to tackle very often as Space Force Officers,” said Gleason. “I saw the opportunity, I wanted the chance to work with the Army and the Panamanian partners down here, and I thought this would be a unique place to challenge myself.”

For Guardians, whose main priority is the space domain, the training presented a markedly different operating environment. Their participation reflects expanding opportunities for Space Force members to train with other military services and partner nations, with cross-domain experiences seen as strengthening the Space Force and the U.S. military overall.

“I feel grateful for coming here to the jungle, because I try to go through every experience I can,” said Brown. “Not everybody is going to get the opportunity, so when that door opens I think you should always take it.”

JOTC–Panama was established as part of a broader U.S.–Panama effort to strengthen security cooperation and interoperability. Since its launch, the course has brought together members of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Panamanian partner forces. Guardians completing the course marks a success for both the Space Force and JOTC–Panama as participation grows to create stronger, more capable forces across the two nations.

“I think it’s something that if any Space Force person wanted to challenge themselves physically or mentally and get an opportunity to work with the other services this is the place I would do it,” said Gleason. “ It was incredible.”