Articles
USS MESA VERDE, Panama — An Air department Sailor guides in an Army UH-60 Blackhawk, assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo, onto the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during deck landing qualifications Sept. 14. Mesa Verde is underway for Fuerzas Alidas (FA) PANAMAX 2009. FA PANAMAX is an annual U.S. Southern Command joint and multi-national training exercise tailored to the defense of the Panama Canal, involving civil and military forces from around the world. (U.S. Navy photo/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Grieco).

Sept. 21, 2009

JTF-Bravo participates in PANAMAX ‘09

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Chief Master Sgt. Walter Deason, 612th Air Base Squadron senior enlisted advisor, speaks to the runners of the Air Force's 62nd birthday celebration 5k run near the base operations building here Sept. 18. About 175 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen participated in the 5k run around the base runway (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson).

Sept. 18, 2009

Soto Cano celebrates 62nd Air Force birthday with 5k flight-line run, luncheon

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Air Force Staff Sgt. Isaac Bermudez, JTF-Bravo, Medical Element surgical technician, prepares surgical instruments for an operation in a local hospital Sept. 16 in Comayagua, Honduras. Sergeant Bermudez is part of a four-person team that goes to La Paz and Comayagua hospitals Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to perform surgeries and lessen the burden on local doctors during medical readiness training exercises, or MEDRETE (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson).

Sept. 17, 2009

JTF-Bravo surgical team helps local community in Comayagua

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — A four-person surgical team from Joint Task Force-Bravo performed four surgeries Sept. 16 at a hospital in Comayagua, Honduras. The surgeries were part of a weekly medical readiness training exercise, or MEDRETE, where JTF-Bravo's Mobile Surgical Team, or MST, assists with surgeries in La Paz and Comayagua hospitals. The four surgeries performed

A U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter circles as it approaches the landing zone to pick up people and supplies returning from medical operations in remote, mountainous Costa Rica Sept. 11, 2009. A team of members representing the Costa Rica Ministry of Health and Joint Task Force-Bravo provided medical care and education to nearly 400 patients in need during the two-day exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond)

Sept. 15, 2009

Medical exercise concludes in remote Costa Rica; nearly 400 treated

XIOMARA, Costa Rica — A two-day Medical Readiness and Training Exercise, or MEDRETE, concluded here Sept. 12, after bringing necessary medical care and supplies to more than 375 villagers from the remote Turrialba region of this Central American nation.A combined team of more than 30 representatives of Joint Task Force-Bravo -- based at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras --

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Army Capt. Diana Parzik, volunteer coordinator for the project, receives a certificate of appreciation from Ramiro Martinez, Habitat for Humanity Honduras coordinator, Sept. 12 in La Paz for all the work she has done helping with Habitat for Humanity. JTF-Bravo members have been working with Habitat since March 28, and since then they have helped Habitat with a total of 11 houses in La Paz and Comayagua (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson).

Sept. 15, 2009

JTF-Bravo, Habitat for Humanity Honduras build homes for La Paz families

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Twenty volunteers from Joint Task Force-Bravo met in the La Paz area Sept. 12 to help Habitat for Humanity Honduras work on two families' homes. "Each project JTF-Bravo helps with saves the families about $200," said Army Capt. Diana Parzik, volunteer coordinator for the project. "And that equates to about two or three months of mortgage payments

Just before dawn breaks at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, U.S. Army Capt. John Osterman, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bill Flores, and Army Lt. Col. Curtis Anderson finalize the airlift plan for three Blackhawk helicopters supporting the Medical Readiness and Training Exercise in the remote Turrialba region of that Central American nation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond)

Sept. 12, 2009

Costa Rica, JTF-Bravo team up, offer medical care to remote villages

TOLOKICHA, Costa Rica — For many with cold and flu-like symptoms, relief is just a few minutes away through a local drug store or visit to the family physician. But here in this remote, mountainous and heavily forested region of Costa Rica it's a lot more complicated. Rogelio and Melli Segura and their five children - all under 10 years old - walked an hour and a half up

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Capt. Margaret Baucom, Joint Task Force-Bravo protocol officer, paints Dunia Mazariegos face during the JTF-Bravo’s “kid’s day” Sept. 10 near the base soccer field. More than 100 children from local orphanages were transported to base for the day The children participated in a variety of events the volunteers organized including a HH-60 Blackhawk static display, military working dog demonstration and fire truck display. The children also got to participate in soccer, kickball and a water balloon toss. A free lunch was also served and the children were given a “goodie” bag containing small toys and candy as the left base (U.S. Air Force photo/Martin Chahin).

Sept. 11, 2009

JTF-Bravo celebrates “kid’s day” for local orphanages

U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, Miami — Army Col. Christopher Gehler recieves the Joint Task Force-Bravo guide-on for from Marine Corps Brig. Gen David Garza, chief of staff, U.S. Southern Command, during a change of command ceremony at the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Miami September 3. Joint Task Force-Bravo is one of three task forces under U.S. Southern Command. JTF-Bravo's primary mission is to provide command and control, administrative and logistical support for exercises, deployments and humanitarian and civic assistance projects conducted throughout Central America (Courtesy photo).

Sept. 3, 2009

New commander assumes command of JTF-Bravo

U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, Miami — Army Col. Christopher Gehler assumed command of Joint Task Force-Bravo from Army Col. Richard Juergens during a ceremony at the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Miami September 3. "This is truly a unique organization with a storied history," Colonel Gehler said during the ceremony. And he is ready to join the JTF-Bravo team in completing its

SAN FERNANDO, El Salvador — Aurelia Lopez, 87, receives medicine from a Honduran soldier after seeing an American doctor in the medical readiness and training exercise here Aug. 26. Ms. Lopez walked two hours round-trip to the medical exercise, where she received medical care for the first time in 40 years. A team of personnel from Joint Task Force-Bravo, the Salvadoran military and the Salvadoran Ministry of Health worked together during the two-day medical exercise to provide free medical care to more than 900 patients (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Jennifer Richard).

Aug. 31, 2009

MEDRETE provides free medical care to El Salvador villagers

SAN FERNANDO, El Salvador — Eighty-seven year-old Aurelia Lopez walked two hours round-trip through the mountains of El Salvador to receive free medical care -- the first time she had seen a doctor in 40 years. Ms. Lopez suffered from arthritis and stomach pain, in addition to a large goiter on her neck. She received free treatment from a team of U.S. and Salvadoran personnel

Aug. 27, 2009

U.S., Salvadoran team concludes medical exercise in El Salvador

SAN FERNANDO, El Salvador — A combined U.S., Salvadoran team provided medical care to more than 900 patients during a medical readiness and training exercise, or MEDRETE, held at Centro Escolar in San Fernando, El Salvador Aug. 25 and 26.Twelve members of Joint Task Force Bravo's Medical Element worked together with representatives of the Salvadoran army and the Salvadoran