Overview

Beyond the Horizon and New Horizons are U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, joint-foreign military humanitarian civic assistance exercises. During the exercises, U.S. troops work with host nation counterparts and a variety of governmental and non-governmental agencies to train in civil-military operations skill sets while providing medical and dental care and engineering support to local populations. 

The exercises are planned and coordinated closely with multiple agencies and host nation governments to creatively address the level and scope of medical care and engineering assistance required.

U.S. Army South is the executive agent for the Beyond the Horizon exercise in El Salvador. The New Horizons exercise in Panama is led by U.S. Air Forces Southern.

Deploying U.S. Personnel

Hundreds of U.S. service members, representing National Guard, Active and Reserve forces from all services are in El Salvador and Panama at any one time during each exercise. The make-up of the forces is primarily U.S. military engineers and medical professionals.

Beyond the Horizon and New Horizons require units to carefully plan and conduct logistical operations to support these deployments to remote regions. Such mobilization and real-world execution provides unparalleled training that cannot be simulated in the United States.

About Medical Services Provided

During both exercises, U.S. military health care professionals are working with host nation medical personnel to provide general and specialized medical and dental services to thousands of citizens requiring care. The training events enhance the medical readiness training of U.S. forces and provide sustained health benefits to the population.

About Engineering Support & Construction Projects

U.S. military civil engineers are working with counterparts from each nation to provide construction and renovation services in select communities.

Projects in El Salvador

Five engineering projects: Four schools and one clinic.

Projects in Panama

Five engineering projects: Three schools, two clinics and one community center

Background

Beyond the Horizon is a joint foreign military interaction/humanitarian exercise. Begun in 2008, Beyond the Horizon continues U.S. Southern Command’s proud legacy of humanitarian civic assistance exercise programs in the region.

New Horizons is an annual series of joint and combined humanitarian assistance exercises that U.S. Southern Command conducts in Latin American and Caribbean nations. Since New Horizons began in the mid-1980s, U.S. troops have deployed annually for the exercise.

The governments of each participating nation, the U.S. Department of State, and Department of Defense carefully evaluate and approve these exercises.

See "Beyond the Horizon | New Horizons 2017" info page