About this Unit
The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) J-2 is the Directorate of Intelligence, responsible for providing timely and accurate intelligence to support military operations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Established as part of the command structure, the J-2 has played a critical role in countering transnational threats, such as narcotics trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime, since USSOUTHCOM’s reorganization in the late 1980s. Throughout its history, USSOUTHCOM J-2 has worked closely with interagency and international partners to enhance regional security and situational awareness. The directorate continues to leverage advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to inform decision-making and support U.S. strategic objectives in the region.
Historical Facts
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Founding Mission: The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) J-2 is the intelligence directorate, playing a vital role in providing timely, accurate, and relevant intelligence to support military operations and security cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Regional Focus: J-2’s area of responsibility covers 31 countries and 16 dependencies, stretching from Mexico’s southern border to the tip of South America, including the Caribbean Sea—making it one of the most diverse and complex intelligence environments in the U.S. military.
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Counter-Narcotics Operations: Since the 1980s, J-2 has been at the forefront of intelligence support to counter-narcotics missions, helping disrupt transnational criminal organizations and drug trafficking routes in the region.
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Humanitarian Assistance: The unit’s intelligence has been critical for disaster response efforts, such as during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, where J-2 provided situational awareness and support for humanitarian and security missions.
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Multinational Collaboration: J-2 regularly works with partner nation intelligence services, fostering cooperation and information sharing to address shared security challenges like organized crime, terrorism, and illicit trafficking.
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Support to Peacekeeping: Intelligence from J-2 has supported U.S. and multinational peacekeeping initiatives, including those in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and other regional stability operations.
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Focus on Non-Traditional Threats: Unlike other combatant commands, USSOUTHCOM J-2 often deals with non-state actors, natural disasters, pandemics, and other unconventional threats along with traditional military intelligence tasks.
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Languages and Cultural Expertise: Due to the region’s diversity, J-2 incorporates analysts with expertise in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and many Caribbean Creole languages to ensure accurate intelligence assessments.
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First Use of Advanced ISR in the Region: USSOUTHCOM J-2 was among the first U.S. military units to employ advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, like the JSTARS and P-3 Orion, for counter-narcotics and disaster response operations in Latin America.
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Women in Leadership: In recent years, USSOUTHCOM J-2 has been recognized for advancing diversity, with women holding prominent roles in intelligence leadership and analysis.
