SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras –
A joint group of U.S. Airmen and Soldiers gained insight of their host nation's Honduran Military Training Academy, the educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the Honduran Army.
The day's agenda began with Honduran Academy staff explaining the institutions history, mission and vision followed by JTF-Bravo personnel shared knowledge about how the U.S. Department of Defense educates officers and enlisted personnel.
Two Joint Task Force-Bravo representatives took the opportunity to share with the Honduran academy's staff and senior cadets basic information relating to U.S. service academies.
Air Force Academy graduate Maj. Tiffany Morgan briefed the Honduran cadets and staff on the nature of the U.S. service academies including location, application process, duty commitments and cadet's military, academic, physical and character development processes. She also explained how education in the U.S. military continues throughout one's career and includes stops at service's professional military education colleges.
Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Kendrick then explained the importance of each service's noncommissioned officer academies and the function continuous enlisted professional military education plays in the career of U.S. military's enlisted corps.
Following the information briefings, the JTF-Bravo contingent of 11 Airmen and two Soldiers got a glimpse into the daily life of academy cadets preparing as future leaders of the Honduran Army.
As the group toured academy facilities and landmarks, it gave the Hondurans and JTF-Bravo personnel time to acquaint themselves and learn about each others services, missions.
Major Morgan said because JTF-Bravo operations are based out of Soto Cano Air Base, home of Honduras' air force academy, JTF-Bravo personnel already had a pretty good understanding of the Honduran government's commitment to developing strong military leadership.
She said visiting the Honduran Military Training Academy cemented her view of the professionalism shown by her other "brothers in arms."
"At Soto Cano, we're exposed to cadet activities and getting to visit the Honduran Army's service academy gives me a positive feel for Honduras' military's dedication to the profession of arms," she said.
"Their U.S. academies and the Honduran academies are very similar in that they put great influence on the four pillars of excellence of the cadet training program: character development, academic, athletic, and military training."
Although this is the third visit by a group from JTF-Bravo, Lt. Col. Raynel Funes, the Honduran Military Training Academy deputy director, said it's the first time information about each other's militaries was exchanged formally.
He said enhanced relations with the U.S. military is what he hopes his staff and cadets get out of future extended visits with JTF-Bravo personnel.
"Any future cultural exchanges and experiences will help us gain a better understanding and hopefully enhance how we train our future leaders," Colonel Funes said.