Panamax 2009: A U.S. Military Exercise to Train Soldiers to Impose Pandemic Martial Law

By Mass Communication Specialist David P. Coleman, FA PANAMAX 2009 Public Affairs

Representatives from 10 U.S. government agencies are holding a two-day table-top exercise in cooperation with the government of Panama to assist in responding to any future influenza pandemic Sept. 16.The agency representatives are in Panama in conjunction with Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2009, a 12-day military security training exercise involving 20 countries.The representatives discussed how the United States and the Panamanian government can manage an influenza outbreak by utilizing their agencies’ assets to combat a pandemic.“Our goal is to work as close as possible with the Panamanians in case there is a real threat, such as a pandemic influenza,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Miguel A. Cubano, a medical doctor and command surgeon for the U.S. Southern Command. “We want to help them set up a plan so a pandemic outbreak does not have a great impact on their economy, stop people from going to work and school and stop the operations of the Panama Canal.”...

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Picture Left:U.S. Navy Capt. Miguel A. Cubano, command surgeon for U.S. Southern Command, speaks during a pandemic influenza table-top exercise in Panama City. The exercise was held in conjunction with Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2009. PANAMAX is a multinational exercise tailored to the defense of the Panama Canal involving 20 countries and more than 4,500 personnel from the U. S. Southern Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David P. Coleman/Released)