Foreign Disaster Relief 

We support U.S. government efforts to reduce human suffering in the aftermath of natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes. The goal is to help set the stage for long-term recovery. 

Jamaican Defence Force soldiers, U.S. service members with Joint Task Force-Bravo, and a U.S. Navy sailor with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), load food supplies on a U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk with 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force-Bravo, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Nov. 9, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to Jamaica at the direction of U.S. Southern Command to provide immediate, lifesaving assistance following Hurricane Melissa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

We are poised to direct U.S. military forces to help a nation in the aftermath of a disaster. Any such mission is in support of the designated lead U.S. federal agency for foreign disaster relief efforts. 

Support must be requested by the host nation. Under our direction, U.S. military forces support the comprehensive U.S. government disaster response.

U.S. forces have helped partner nations in dire need numerous times. The most significant recent operation was in Jamaica in 2025 in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

As part of the U.S. military response, nine aircraft were allocated to support the effort, including three CH-47 Chinooks and three UH-60 Black Hawks from the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, JTF-Bravo, and three CH-53E Super Stallions from the 22nd MEU(SOC), operating from the USS San Antonio. In total, the team flew 249 hours across 133 flights, transporting more than 779,000 pounds of life-saving assistance, including approximately 600,000 pounds of food and water, 179,000 pounds of equipment, and 428 critical personnel movements.