News

Archive: May, 2019

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.

May 29, 2019

U.S. Military Helps Provide Medical Care in Guatemala

Medical, dental and vision care was provided by multiple organizations that include Soldiers from the Missouri National Guard Medical Detachment, U.S. Army Reserve 185th Dental Company, U.S. Air Force Reserve 87th Medical Support Squadron, Guatemala Ministry of Public Health, non-governmental organization Florida International University and Guatemalan forces over five days and helped provide needed medical and dental care for citizens of San Sebastian, Huehuetenango.

May 29, 2019

Coast Guard Cutter Valiant Crew Returns Home Following 9-week Counter-drug Patrol

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Valiant returned home Monday to Naval Station Mayport following a nine-week counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific. While on patrol, the crew interdicted two go-fast smuggling vessels, seized 2,718 lbs of cocaine, worth over $41 million, and apprehended three suspected drug smugglers.

May 25, 2019

Southcom Chief Outlines Keys for Success in South America

Despite terrorist groups, narcoterrorism and the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, South America remains "the largest, free and peaceful ... most prosperous democracy region in the world," the commander of U.S. Southern Command said.

U.S. and Colombian Navy leaders conduct annual Maritime Staff Talks.

May 23, 2019

U.S.-Colombian Maritime Staff Talks Conclude at Castillo de San Marcos

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, Rear Adm. Sean Buck, hosted the Colombian Commander of Naval Operations, Vice Adm. Gabriel Perez and other senior Colombian naval officers to conduct Maritime Staff Talks (MST) at the Florida National Guard headquarters in St. Augustine, May 15-17.

May 17, 2019

Past Disasters Amplify Relevance of FA-HUM Exercise

Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarias, which in English translates to Humanitarian Allied Forces, is an annual U.S. Army South-sponsored disaster relief exercise where governmental and non-governmental organizations from the United States, host nation and partnering nations coordinate their assets and capabilities to simulate disaster-relief efforts in a large-scale exercise.

U.S. service members perform postoperative checks on the last ophthalmology center patient during New Horizons exercise 2019 at Port Mourant, Guyana, May 16, 2019.

May 17, 2019

New Horizons Ophthalmology Teams Give 262 Guyanese the Gift of Sight

U.S. military ophthalmology teams deployed in support of New Horizons exercise 2019 and partnered with Guyanese doctors at the Port Mourant Hospital in Port Mourant, Guyana, May 6-16, 2019.

U.S. Army Col. Manuel Iravedra, Joint Task Force – Bravo Medical Element dentist, consoles a young child during a dental examination as part of a Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) May 10, 2019, in El Paraiso, Honduras. Members of JTF-B partnered with the Honduran Military and Ministry of Health to provide health care services for more than 1,300 Honduran citizens; reaching a third of the citizens in the towns of Argelia, Santa Maria and Las Dificultades in the El Paraiso Department. The goal of the mission was to provide the medical staff training in their areas of expertise as well as strengthen partnerships with the Honduran allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.)

May 16, 2019

U.S. service members support health efforts in El Paraiso

El Paraiso, Honduras — Members of Joint Task Force - Bravo’s Medical Element (MEDEL) conducted a training event from May 8 – 12. The training comprised of a Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) and Medical Civil Action Program (MEDCAP) provided medical care for more than 1,300 Honduran citizens in the eastern region.

U.S. Navy hospital corpsmen demonstrate proper intravenous application at a Comite Permanente de Contingencias (COPECO) facility as part of a subject matter expert exchange with Honduran emergency response medical personnel.

May 15, 2019

Southern Partnership Station 2019 Begins

The U.S. Navy has deployed adaptive force packages (AFPs) in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2019 to the Caribbean, Central and South America to conduct subject matter expert exchanges from May to October 2019.