News

Archive: 2019

Vice President Mike Pence, second lady Karen Pence, and Adm. Craig S. Faller, commander, U.S. Southern Command, visit the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20).

June 18, 2019

Pence Tours USNS Comfort Before Its Latin America Deployment

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, toured the USNS Comfort at the Port of Miami as the ship prepares to embark on a five-month deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean to address the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and to strengthen partnerships in the region.

A Soldier from the Florida Army National Guard advises a Haitian Soldier on the proper handling technique of a shotgun.

June 17, 2019

Florida Guard unit completes mission at Exercise Tradewinds 2019

Over the past two weeks, Soldiers from the Florida Army National Guard's 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade teamed up with allies from throughout the Caribbean as part of U.S. Southern Command's exercise Tradewinds to bolster Caribbean defense capacity and strengthen regional ties. For the Soldiers of the FLARNG 54th SFAB, this marked their first overseas unit mobilization in the unit's history.

U.S. Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) gets underway from Naval Station Norfolk, June 14.

June 15, 2019

Hospital Ship USNS Comfort Departs Norfolk for Medical Mission

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) left from Naval Station Norfolk, June 14, to begin its deployment to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. During its deployment, Comfort will provide medical assistance in support of regional partners and in response to the regional impacts of the Venezuela political and economic crisis.

U.S. Army Sgt. Carlos Solver, Puerto Rico National Guard Security Forces Training (SFT) instructor, provides guidance to a Honduran soldier firing an M-16 rifle during the SFT course June 8, 2019, at the 1st Artillery Battalion in Zambrano, Honduras. Honduran Army soldiers participated in the two-week SFT course led by U.S. Army Puerto Rico National Guard service members assigned to Task Force ¬¬– Borinqueneer. The course taught them about security techniques and procedures to include formation, breaching, weapons training, casualty care, vehicle searching and tactical control points. The training was hosted as way to strengthen the host nations counter threat ability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.)

June 13, 2019

Honduran soldiers complete U.S. Army led Security Forces Training

ZAMBRANO RANGE, Honduras — Members of the Honduran Army completed Security Forces Training (SFT) conducted by the U.S. Army with a graduation ceremony June 11, 2019, here. Puerto Rico U.S. Army National Guard members assigned to Task Force - Borinqueneer trained 45 Honduran service members during a two-week course on security forces techniques and procedures.

June 11, 2019

Fuerzas Comando 2019 Set to Take Place in Chile

Special operations forces from 20 countries will participate in Fuerzas Comando 2019 in Santiago, Chile, June 17-27.

Military Sealift Command’s hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) pulls into Naval Station Norfolk, Dec. 18.

June 10, 2019

Hospital Ship to Depart Norfolk for Medical Mission

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) deploys from Naval Station Norfolk on Friday, June 14 at 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. During its five-month deployment, Comfort will provide medical assistance in support of regional partners and in response to the regional impacts of the Venezuela political and economic crisis. While deployed, Comfort will conduct mission stops in Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.

A crew group photo on the deck of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton.

June 7, 2019

Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloads 26,000 pounds of cocaine, 1,500 pounds of marijuana at Port Everglades

The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL-753) crew offloaded approximately 26,000 pounds of seized cocaine and 1,500 pounds of seized marijuana Thursday at Port Everglades.

Air Advisors from the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron and partner nation students participate in a medical exercise using moulaged patients during a mobile training team mission in Belize. The 571st MSAS conducted a first-ever air, land and sea training mission with the Belize Air Wing, Belize Defence Force, and Belize Coast Guard from May 3 -18. (Courtesy photo)

June 4, 2019

USAF Conducts First Belize Air, Land, Sea Mobile Training Team Mission

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) — The 571st MSAS mobile training team’s goal was to enact, change and build capabilities for each of the three Belizean forces, while building partner nation relationships. The team accomplished this by conducting various training courses, including an aircrew flying hour program, aircraft scheduling program, tactical first aid course, aircrew flight equipment program management course, hands-on radio course and an information technology principles course.

U.S. Army Spc. Colin Yap, Joint Task Force – Bravo Medical Element medic, pricks the finger of young girl to measure her hemoglobin levels during a Pediatric Medical Readiness Training Exercise May 23, 2019 in La Paz, Honduras. MEDRET missions allow JTF-B medical personnel to train in their areas of expertise, while providing a service and strengthening partnership with the host nation. The service members saw approximately 120 patients during the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.)

May 31, 2019

JTF-B Assess, Educates Honduran Community

LA PAZ, Honduras — Medics from Joint Task Force - Bravo’s Medical Element (MEDEL) and 1st Battalion 228th Aviation Regiment partnered to help assess the needs of Florida de San Jose, a small community of La Paz, Honduras, during a Pediatric Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE), May 22-23.

U.S. Army Sgt. Alicia Baum, 1st Battalion 228th Aviation Regiment flight paramedic, analyzes the condition of a simulated aircraft casualty during a search and rescue exercise, May 21, 2019, in Comayagua, Honduras. Members from various units on Joint Task Force – Bravo participated in the exercise that simulated a HH-60 Blackhawk crashed during a routine flight carrying personnel. The exercise practiced notification, recall, search and rescue, on-scene medical care, recovery of personnel from low and high angle austere terrain, and medical care once the injured returned to base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.)

May 30, 2019

Helicopter Exercise Tests JTF-B Rescue Capabilities

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — What started off as a routine passenger transport flight resulted in a search and recovery mission for Joint Task Force – Bravo. The simulated scenario tested the base’s capabilities and procedures during a personnel recovery exercise, here, May 21.