Army Reserve Seeks Six Units for Southern Command

By Daniel Mercer Charlotte, NC · CUBA —

Published Updated 4 min read

The US Army Reserve requested feedback on six unit types for US Southern Command by September 25. The message indicated potential deployment needs within 90 to 120 days without specifying a location.

CUBA — The internal message did not specifically mention Cuba. It gave no indication that units had already received deployment orders. The message indicated that units would possibly be needed in 90 to 120 days. Commands were directed to provide feedback to Army Reserve headquarters by September 25.

The message sought six types of formations. These included a combat sustainment support battalion, an engineer battalion, and a medical brigade. The request also listed a military police brigade and an expeditionary sustainment command to oversee military logistics across a theater of operations.

A forward resuscitative and surgical detachment to provide emergency surgery and trauma care was also requested. The message did not identify how many troops would be needed. It did not specify where forces could be sent or what operation they would support.

Why It Matters

The US Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. US Southern Command is the command responsible for the South American area.

Timeline

On September 23, President Donald Trump predicted in his UN address that Cuba's communist government "will fall" and declared that "freedom will be coming to Cuba." On the same day, President Donald Trump said in his UN address that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was negotiating with Havana. Cuba’s delegation walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall during President Trump’s speech.

On September 25, a US Southern Command spokesperson stated, "Due to operational security concerns, we do not disclose details or comment on US operational movements or potential deployment timelines associated with current or future operations, contingencies, or planning." Also on September 25, a US Southern Command spokesperson stated, "However, US Southern Command continuously coordinates with the Joint Forces to assess a range of potential requirements across its [area of responsibility] in support of assigned missions." The US Army Reserve sent an internal message seeking feedback from subordinate commands on the availability of support units for US Southern Command on September 25. The message directed commands to provide feedback to Army Reserve headquarters by September 25.

What's New

In August, U.S. Southern Command conducted reconnaissance operations on the seafloor and maritime approaches surrounding Cuba, as reported by multiple U.S. military personnel, as part of ongoing military planning related to the island. In March, President Donald Trump publicly stated that he believed he would have 'the honor of taking Cuba,' indicating a long-standing rhetoric about potential military action against the island nation.

According to an internal memo from the U.S. Southern Command, the number of U.S. military personnel stationed in the Caribbean region has increased by 22% since 2020, with a focus on enhancing readiness for potential contingency operations. In September, the U.S. Army Reserve issued an internal message seeking feedback from subordinate commands on the availability of six types of formations, including a combat sustainment support battalion, engineer battalion, medical brigade, military police brigade, expeditionary sustainment com. In April, U.S. airpower components were placed on heightened readiness and directed to pre-stage personnel for potential deployment in response to military planning related to Cuba, though these plans did not result in actual deployment.

In July, U.S. military planners explored an Army-led air assault involving the 101st Airborne Division, the only unit trained for such a task, as part of contingency planning for potential operations in Cuba. Donald Trump has previously expressed intentions to take control of Cuba, stating in an interview that he would 'take Cuba' if elected.

How Sources Differ

Regarding southern command, a US Southern Command spokesperson stated, "Due to operational security concerns, we do not disclose details or comment on US operational movements or potential deployment timelines associated with current or future operations, contingencie." According to an internal memo from the U.S. Southern Command, the number of U.S. military personnel stationed in the Caribbean region has increased by 22% since 2020, with a focus on enhancing readiness for potential contingency operati.

Regarding the internal message seeking feedback, the US Army Reserve internal message states that the US Army Reserve sent an internal message seeking feedback from subordinate commands on the availability of support units for US Southern Command. US military examining potential action for Cuba | UNI India reports that in September, the U.S. Army Reserve issued an internal message seeking feedback from subordinate commands on the availability of six types of formations, including a combat sustainment support battalion, engineer battalion, medical bri.

Regarding internal information, Leaked Memo Points to a New US Military Move reports that according to an internal memo from the U.S. Southern Command, the number of U.S. military personnel stationed in the Caribbean region has increased by 22% since 2020, with a focus on enhancing readiness for potential contingency operati.

Regarding the internal message, US military examining potential action for Cuba | UNI India reports that in September, the U.S. Army Reserve issued an internal message seeking feedback from subordinate commands on the availability of six types of formations, including a combat sustainment support battalion, engineer battalion, medical bri. The US Army Reserve internal message states that the message sought an expeditionary sustainment command to oversee military logistics across a theater of operations.

Regarding the combat sustainment support battalion, US military examining potential action for Cuba | UNI India reports that in September, the U.S. Army Reserve issued an internal message seeking feedback from subordinate commands on the availability of six types of formations, including a combat sustainment support battalion, engineer battalion, medical bri. The US Army Reserve internal message states that the message sought a combat sustainment support battalion.

fact_check Facts

The internal message did not specifically mention Cuba.
Multiple US officials stated that the internal message was for continued military planning aimed at Cuba.
The internal message gave no indication that units had already received deployment orders.
The message directed commands to provide feedback to Army Reserve headquarters by September 25.
The message sought an engineer battalion.
The message sought a medical brigade.
The message sought a military police brigade.
US Southern Command spokesperson, Spokesperson
A US Southern Command spokesperson stated, "Due to operational security concerns, we do not disclose details or comment on US operational movements or potential deployment timelines associated with current or future operations, contingencies, or planning."
US Southern Command spokesperson, Spokesperson
A US Southern Command spokesperson stated, "However, US Southern Command continuously coordinates with the Joint Forces to assess a range of potential requirements across its [area of responsibility] in support of assigned missions."
US forces conducted reconnaissance operations on the seafloor and naval approaches around Cuba.
US military personnel stated that other US military forces were told to prepare for potential deployment.
US airpower components were placed on heightened readiness and directed to pre-stage personnel for potential deployment, but those plans did not come to fruition.

menu_bookBackground & Context

Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report.

US military officials stated that briefings were not a direct indication that President Trump or the Pentagon had decided to order a military operation against Cuba.
President Donald Trump predicted in his UN address that Cuba's communist government "will fall" and declared that "freedom will be coming to Cuba."
Cuba’s delegation walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall during President Trump’s speech.
President Donald Trump said in his UN address that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was negotiating with Havana.
According to a 2026 internal memo from the U.S. Southern Command, the number of U.S. military personnel stationed in the Caribbean region has increased by 22% since 2020, with a focus on enhancing readiness for potential contingency operations.
In September 2026, the U.S. Army Reserve issued an internal message seeking feedback from subordinate commands on the availability of six types of formations, including a combat sustainment support battalion, engineer battalion, medical brigade, military police brigade, expeditionary sustainment command, and forward resuscitative and surgical detachment, for potential deployment within 90 to 120 days.
In August 2026, U.S. Southern Command conducted reconnaissance operations on the seafloor and maritime approaches surrounding Cuba, as reported by multiple U.S. military personnel, as part of ongoing military planning related to the island.
Donald Trump has previously expressed intentions to take control of Cuba, stating in a 2019 interview with Fox News that he would 'take Cuba' if elected.
In March 2026, President Donald Trump publicly stated that he believed he would have 'the honor of taking Cuba,' indicating a long-standing rhetoric about potential military action against the island nation.
In 2024, the U.S. Army Reserve conducted similar readiness assessments for potential operations in the Caribbean, including a review of medical and engineering units for possible deployment in response to regional instability.
The U.S. Army Reserve has a documented history of mobilizing military police units for humanitarian and security missions in the Caribbean, including during Hurricane Maria in 2017, when a military police brigade was deployed to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In July 2026, U.S. military planners explored an Army-led air assault involving the 101st Airborne Division, the only unit trained for such a task, as part of contingency planning for potential operations in Cuba.
In May 2026, U.S. intelligence officials were assessing how Cuba would respond to possible U.S. military action, as part of a broader threat assessment that characterized Cuba as an enabling environment for foreign adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran.
US Southern Command is command responsible for South American area.

forum Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to comment.