News

Tag: Belize

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Southern Command 19 Opening Ceremony

June 21, 2019

Multinational task force begins deployment during hurricane season to Latin America, Caribbean

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command officially kicked off their 2019 deployment with an opening ceremony at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, June 21.

Belize Youth Challenge Program cadre mentor YCP cadets during the agriculture class at the Belize YCP near Belize City, Belize. The Belize YCP is a two-phase program designed to teach 15-17 year old at risk males how to be productive members of their communities. The program in Belize is modeled after the Louisiana National Guard's YCP.

April 25, 2019

La. Guard trains Belize Defence Force YCP Cadre

The Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program welcomed staff from Belize’s Youth Challenge Program to attend the Challenge Program Instruction Course at Gillis W. Long Center in Carville, March 31 - April 13.

A UH-60 Blackhawk from the 1-228th Aviation Regiment aims to extinguish a simulated wildfire to show the additional capabilities of Joint Task Force - Bravo during the Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences (CENTAM SMOKE) exercise, April 11, 2019, at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. CENTAM SMOKE brought together firefighters from Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador to train with U.S. Air Force members as well as develop bonds and understandings of one another’s culture with team building exercises. The weeklong training included aircraft and structural fires, vehicle extrication, and a firefighter combat challenge. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.)

April 16, 2019

JTF-B burns cultural barriers during CENTAM SMOKE

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Firefighters from five Central American countries and Joint Task Force - Bravo participated in Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences (CENTAM SMOKE) exercise, from April 8 - 12, here.

A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook sits in a field during aerial gunnery training in Belize, Feb. 11, 2019.

Feb. 22, 2019

Winged Warriors maintain combat capabilities in Belize

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, HONDURAS — The air hangs quiet and humid over a jungle landscape glowing only by the light of stars and fireflies that decorate the scene; the night would be like any other in the small country of Belize, except for the distant lights of U.S. Army helicopters and their M-240H Machine Guns.

Master Sgt. Christopher Bates, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron fuels management air advisor, trains members from the Belize Defense Force Air Wing on fuels and emergency management techniques. (Courtesy Photo)

Aug. 10, 2017

MSAS Airmen increase Belize Defense Force aviation capability

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — A mobile training team of eight Airmen assigned to the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron recently deployed to the Belize Defense Force Air Wing in Ladyville, Belize, July 12-29.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Dustin J. Houghton, an infantry trainer with the Belize Detachment, Ground Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, trains service members with the Belize Defence Force in basic combat marksmanship near Ladyville, Belize, July 20, 2017. The training was part of basic infantry skills course taught by the detachment to members of the BDF. The Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF-SC are deployed to Central America from June to November 2017 to conduct security cooperation training and engineering projects with their counterparts in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Aug. 3, 2017

SPMAGTF-SC Marines conduct security cooperation training across Central America

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — U.S. Marines with the Ground Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, are conducting training with host nation militaries while deployed in Central America, June - November, 2017.

Completion of the new building at the Ladyville Health Clinic is officially marked at the ribbon-cutting ceremony June 9 in Ladyville, Belize. Shown cutting the ribbon (from left): Chief Warrant Officer 3 Herminio Romero, site project manager and member of the 448th Engineer Battalion from Puerto Rico; Col. John Simma, Beyond the Horizon 2017 Task Force Jaguar commander; Adrienne Galanek, Chargé d’Affaires for the U.S. Embassy Belize; Ramon Figueroa, CEO of the Belize Ministry of Health; Lance Cpl. Gladden of the Belize Defence Force and Lt. Col. Robert Ramsey, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché for the U.S. Embassy. Construction was accomplished during Beyond the Horizon 2017, a collaborative training event between U.S. Army South, the Belize Defence Force, other Central American nations and local and international NGOs, providing medical and engineering services throughout Belize.

June 19, 2017

Beyond The Horizon 2017: New clinic in Belize lays foundation for future

LADYVILLE, Belize — Members of the Beyond the Horizon Task Force and the Belize Ministry of Health hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 9 for a newly constructed addition to the Ladyville Health Clinic in Ladyville, Belize. BTH 2017 is a partnership exercise between U.S. Army South and the Government of Belize providing five construction projects and three medical events throughout the country.

Marines with the Aviation Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force –Southern Command, taxi down the runway in CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters June 1, 2017, at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. The main body of SPMAGTF-SC arrived in Honduras to begin their six-month deployment in Central America. The task force, comprised of approximately 300 Marines from both active and reserve components, will operate in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras from June to November to conduct engineering projects and build upon security cooperation efforts and established relationships in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ian Leones)

June 1, 2017

Marine task force deploys to Central America

Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, the rapid response force assigned to U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility, arrived in Central America June 1.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Crystal Palmatier, a pediatrician with the 96th Medical Support Group from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, checks a patient's heart beat at a medical readiness event in Dangriga, Belize, May 22, 2017. This is the third and final medical event scheduled for Beyond the Horizon 2017, a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, Army South-led exercise designed to provide humanitarian and engineering services to communities in need, demonstrating U.S. support for Belize. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kelson Brooks) (RELEASED)

May 30, 2017

U.S. troops provide medical care in Belize

As part of the Beyond the Horizon 2017 humanitarian and civic assistance exercise, U.S. military medical personnel are working with the Belize Defense Force and the Ministries of Defense, Health and Education to provide care to Belizeans during an eleven-day medical event in Dangriga.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Derrick Kooker, a medical provider with the Wyoming National Guard assigned to Beyond the Horizon 2017, checks the inner ear canal of a patient during a medical readiness event held at Macal River Park in San Ignacio, Belize May 8, 2017. This is the second of three health events held by BTH 2017. Beyond the Horizon is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, Army South-led exercise designed to provide humanitarian and engineering services to communities in need, demonstrating U.S. support for Belize.

May 10, 2017

Wyoming National Guard provides medical care in Belize

Soldiers from the Wyoming National Guard kicked off the second of three medical readiness events as part of Beyond the Horizon 2017 at Macal River Park in San Ignacio, Belize May 8. BTH 2017 is a U.S. and Belize partnership exercise designed to provide humanitarian and engineering services to communities in need, demonstrating U.S. support for Belize.