The U.S. Marines are conducting live-fire training at Camp Santiago in Salinas, Puerto Rico according to a recent White House announcement on the social media platform X.
What is Camp Santiago?
Named after Specialist Four Héctor Santiago-Colón, a Medal of Honor recipient, the camp is a training facility under the direction of the Puerto Rico national guard. It is currently being renovated and expanded. The project, described by the military as “massive,” began with reconstruction of the Ammunition Supply Point destroyed during Hurricane Maria, and is slated to cost $300 million.
The Borinqueneers were the first group to be trained at Camp Santiago. In 1941, they trained there before being deployed to Panama to protect the Panama Canal. Since then, it has been an important military training center for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marines.
Camp Santiago, located in Salinas, about 50 miles from San Juan, is also used for civilian purposes. It has provided housing for athletes at the Central American and Caribbean Games and is the site of the Puerto Rico Rifle and Pistol Association annual state championship.
What is live-fire training?
Live-fire training is conducted with real ammunition, using constructed targets. It is carefully planned and supervised for safety, with careful coordination among local and national organizations. The objective is often to train personnel on the use of specific weapons, and that appears to be the primary goal in this case.
The training focuses on the M240B machine gun, the M3E1 recoilless rifle, and individual small arms. Camp Santiago was used last month to certify marines in the use of first-person view drones for the first time. Military statements emphasize that mastering these weapons will allow a high level of readiness for conflicts globally, as well as preparation for continued anti-narcotics efforts under the Southern Command.
Strategic importance of Puerto Rico
The use of Camp Santiago for U.S. military training with a view toward global needs reinforces the strategic importance of Puerto Rico for the United States.
