Tolemaida Air Base


Tolemaida Air Base is a Colombian military air base located in Melgar, a municipality of the Tolima department in Colombia.

Facilities

The air base resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has two runways: 04/22 has an asphalt pavement measuring and 04L/22R with a concrete surface measuring.
It is the home of the Colombian National Training Center.

History

A "joint commission" of the Colombian government and FARC released a "report" in 2015 documenting the alleged rape of at least 54 girls by United States military personnel between 2003 and 2007 concentrating in and around the Tolemaida Air Base and Melgar. Due to bilateral immunity agreements the men were immune from prosecution by Colombia.
In January 2020, the United States and Colombian troops conducted airborne insertion from U.S. and Colombian C-130 Hercules aircraft and then carried out exercises simulating the capture of an airfield. Consisting of around 75 paratroopers from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division and 40 personnel from U.S. Army South working with Colombian troops, the airborne assault exercise allowed personnel from both countries to corporate and exchange strategic and tactical expertise.

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