News

Tag: disaster relief

First responders conduct a simulated mass casualty drill.

June 11, 2018

Tradewinds 2018 helps prepare St. Kitts and Nevis Emergency Services

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis – St. Kitts and Nevis emergency agencies were challenged to respond to a simulated airplane crash with mass casualties scattered for approximately 200 yards June 9, 2018.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Jordan Becker, left, a cyber network specialist with Joint Task Force Matthew, offloads a generator from a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with the help of the Brazilian service members at Jeremie, Haiti, Oct. 15, 2016. After eight days of supply drop operations JTF Matthew has delivered over 478,000 pounds of supplies utilizing various military aircraft. JTF Matthew, a U.S. Southern Command-directed team comprised of Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen, is providing critical airlift capabilities during the initial stages of the U.S. Agency for International Development's disaster relief operations in Haiti while the international response builds.

May 22, 2018

Laying the groundwork for a multinational amphibious task force

MIAMI, Fl. — Personnel, aircraft, and equipment from key partner nations working shoulder to shoulder while serving together in a multinational amphibious task force within maritime areas of Latin America and the Caribbean – this is what the future looks like in the minds of Marines and Sailors from U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South and several other regional military forces.

U.S. Col. Michael V. Samarov, the commander of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, answers questions from Honduran press members after a closing ceremony at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Nov. 8, 2017. The unit held a closing ceremony to wrap up their six-month deployment to Central America and to thank interagency and international partners for their support. The Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF-SC have completed a successful deployment in Central America and are scheduled to return to the United States in mid-November 2017.

Nov. 21, 2017

SPMAGTF-SC Marines conclude their deployment in Central America

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command held a final formation at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 18.

U.S. citizens board a U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands at Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica, Sept. 24, 2017.

Sept. 26, 2017

Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands begins evacuation of U.S. citizens in Dominica

U.S. service members with Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands began evacuating U.S. citizens stranded on the Caribbean island of Dominica Sept. 24, 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters belonging to Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands take off from Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Sept. 18, 2017.

Sept. 19, 2017

Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands prepares for Hurricane Maria

U.S. service members with Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands moved their aircraft from San Juan to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Sept. 18, 2017, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Maria so they can continue their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission once the storm passes.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kyler S. Barrett, a landing support specialist with Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands, assembles the Lightweight Water Purification System at Orient Beach, Saint Martin, Sept. 16, 2017. The Marines arrived to assess possible locations to set up their LWPS in order to produce potable water for communities on the island most affected by Hurricane Irma. At the request of partner nations, JTF-LI deployed aircraft and service members to areas in the eastern Caribbean Sea impacted by the storm. The task force is a U.S. military unit composed of Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen, and represents U.S. Southern Command’s primary response to Hurricane Irma.

Sept. 19, 2017

Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands distributes water to the people of Saint Martin

ST. MARTIN, Leeward Islands — U.S. service members with Joint Task Force - Leeward Islands began water purification projects on Saint Martin, Sept. 14, in response to the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

U.S. Army Soldiers from Fort Eustis greet members of the 689th Rapid Port Opening Element after returning from Haiti at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Oct. 20, 2016. The 689th RPOE worked with members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Defense Logistics Agency and other Department of Defense assets as part of a joint task force in a massive effort to receive and sort supplies for those in need as a result of Hurricane Matthew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tristan Biese)

Oct. 21, 2016

Soldiers, Airmen return from Haiti relief mission

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Joint Base Langley-Eustis website — A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Dover Air Force Base, Deleware, transported about 20 members of the 689th Rapid Port Opening Element from Haiti to Joint Base Langley-Eustis Oct. 20, 2016. The Soldiers spent about two weeks supporting disaster relief and humanitarian assistance efforts as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

U.S. Marines with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command board a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Oct. 8, 2016, for a deployment to Port-au-Prince, Haiti where they will augment approximately 150 other Soldiers, Airmen and Marines from Joint Task Force-Bravo and SPMAGTF-SC who deployed earlier this week with two CH-53E Super Stallion, three CH-47 Chinook, and two UH-60L and two HH-60L Black Hawk helicopters to provide heavy and medium lift to support the U.S. Agency for International Development-led mission. While in Haiti, SPMAGTF-SC and JTF-Bravo personnel are part of Joint Task Force Matthew, a temporary command established by SOUTHCOM in Port-au-Prince, under the command of U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Cedric Pringle, to coordinate and execute the combined Department of Defense supporting elements that include the Marine and Army aircraft from Soto Cano and ships and aircraft from the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. David Liapis)

Oct. 8, 2016

SPMAGTF-SC, JTF-Bravo disaster relief in Haiti enabled by logistics, ‘Rapid Global Mobility’

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Joint Task Force-Bravo website — U.S. Air Force heavy airlift was called upon to support approximately 200 Soldiers, Airmen and Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command and Joint Task Force-Bravo who deployed this week to provide heavy and medium lift to support the U.S. Agency for International Development-led mission to alleviate human suffering and bolster Haitian disaster response capabilities.

Oct. 5, 2016

U.S. Southern Command Supports Caribbean Hurricane Response Efforts

WASHINGTON — U.S. Southern Command is supporting the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development in delivering and coordinating humanitarian relief to Haiti, which has been hard hit by Hurricane Matthew.