News

U.S. Army Spc. Mariah Ridge, a military working dog handler assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Joint Security Forces, laughs at her MWD, Jaska, during K9 hoist evacuation training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, August 15, 2016. Although the MWDs and their handlers were training in 90 degree, 100 percent humidity weather, they managed to stay in good spirits.

Aug. 18, 2016

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Joint Task Force-Bravo has been a consistent presence in the Central American region since 1984, and is known by many for its helicopter support for humanitarian aid, disaster relief and counter-transnational organized crime operations and its medical readiness exercises; however, the scope of capabilities here go well beyond those primary missions.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) James Smith, Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element general surgeon, performs surgery on a patient during a MEDEL Mobile Surgical Team operation at the Dr. Salvador Paredes Hospital in Trujillo, Honduras, July 28, 2016. The MST performed 11 surgeries during the team’s three-day operation in Trujillo.

Aug. 11, 2016

Every move counts for JTF-Bravo’s Mobile Surgical Team

COLÓN, Honduras — The Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element's Mobile Surgical Team completed 11 surgeries at the Dr. Salvador Paredes Hospital in Trujillo, Honduras from July 27-29.

A young girl has her ear inspected by U.S. Army Spc. Kerry Holmes, Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element medic, during a Medical Readiness Training Exercise operation in Trujillo, Honduras, July 29, 2016. MEDEL conducts MEDRETEs throughout Central America to provide a variety of medical services to the local populations, who otherwise would be unable to receive medical care from licensed providers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Siuta B. Ika)

Aug. 8, 2016

Merging Civil Affairs and Medical Exercises for long-term success

COLÓN, Honduras — Soldiers under the command of Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-B), Medical Element (MEDEL), executed a medical readiness training exercise for the first time in the village of La Boveda, Trujillo July 28-29, 2016, serving a total of 1,072 patients of all ages during the two-day event that involved key leaders from both JTF-Bravo and Honduras.

A member of the Belize Coast Guard climbs a Jacobs Ladder to board a CH-47 Chinook assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment during training off the coast of Belize City, July 18, 2016. For many of the BCG participants, this was the first time they were part of helocast and recovery operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Siuta B. Ika)

Aug. 3, 2016

1-228th AVN, SOCSOUTH enhance Belizean CTOC capabilities

BELIZE DISTRICT — Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment deployed UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters to conduct a variety of training scenarios throughout the Belize District with members of the Belize Special Assignment Group and Belize Coast Guard -- who were supported by members of Special Operations Command South -- July 18 through 21.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Amber El-Amin, Joint Task Force-Bravo Operations Medical Planner, and Senior Airman Synethia Robinson, JTF-Bravo medical operations noncommissioned-officer-in-charge, pose behind a 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment CH-47 Chinook helicopter July 25, 2016 at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. The aircraft is being loaded in preparation for a Medical Readiness Exercise mission in the Colón department of Honduras. The duo spends approximately 180-200 hours over 12 weeks preparing for each MEDRETE - events that have been the backbone of JTF-Bravo’s humanitarian mission in Central America for the past 23 years and have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, built partner nation capacity and fostered goodwill towards the U.S. in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Siuta B. Ika)

Aug. 1, 2016

Air Force duo key to Army medical aid in Central America

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Medical Readiness Training Exercises, Military Partnership Engagements and Mobile Surgical Team deployments have been the backbone of Joint Task Force-Bravo’s humanitarian mission in Central America for the past 23 years and have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, built partner nation capacity and fostered goodwill towards the U.S. in the region. These missions are almost completely run and supported by the U.S. Army … almost.

Soldiers assigned to the 544th Military Police Company, Puerto Rico Army National Guard, board a flight for a nine month deployment to Honduras July 11.

July 28, 2016

Puerto Ricans Soldiers continue humanitarian legacy

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES — The 544th Military Police Company, Puerto Rican Army National Guard, has taken on missions in Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, for several years, and after completing training with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security here, a platoon-sized element from the company continued the tradition and departed from the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group for a nine-month deployment July 11.

Members of Joint Task Force-Bravo and the Honduran air force pay their respects to U.S. Army Spc. Kyle Gantt during Gantt’s memorial service at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, July 24, 2016. Gantt is survived by his wife, two children, mother, and father. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Siuta B. Ika)

July 26, 2016

JTF-Bravo honors life and service of fallen Soldier

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — More than 300 members of Joint Task Force-Bravo, Special Marine Air-Ground Task Force and the Honduran air force gathered Sunday evening on the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment’s “Warrior Ramp” to remember and honor the life and service of U.S. Army Spc. Kyle Gantt.

Members of the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment from Joint Task Force-Bravo and Special Operations Command South conduct aircraft familiarization training on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with Salvadorian military May 24 in El Salvador. JTF-Bravo and other U.S. Military elements such as U.S. Army South Regionally Aligned Forces and Special-Purpose Marine Air, Ground Task Forces, under the auspices of U.S. Southern Command, routinely conduct combined training and exercises with Partner Nation security forces in multiple Central American nations, improving the safety and security in the CENTAM region and southern approaches to the United States. (Courtesy Photo Illustration)

July 17, 2016

Joint Task Force-Bravo supports combined Salvadorian, U.S. military training

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Members of the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment from Joint Task Force-Bravo conducted combined exercises with Salvadorian military forces and the SpecialOperations Command South members that included open water rescue, rappel and fast rope training, and helicopter loading/unloading May 23-26 in El Salvador.Salvadorian military members

Comayagua, Honduras – U.S. Army Col. Douglas Lougee (left), Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element commander, presents Honduran Army Col. Julio Cesar Urquia (right), Director of the Experimental Center of Agricultural Development and Ecological Conservation (CEDACE), with a certificate of appreciation for the professional exchange and mutual support during a Military Partnership Engagement in San Sebastian, Comayagua, Honduras, July 9, 2016. JTF-Bravo participated at the request of the CEDACE Director, providing an opportunity for JTF-Bravo to assist the Honduran military in providing humanitarian aid to locals, as well as a chance for service members to train and prepare for a humanitarian crisis in support of U.S. partner nations in Central America. (U.S. Army photo by Maria Pinel)

July 13, 2016

JTF-Bravo partners with Honduran military to bring humanitarian aid to locals

Honduran construction workers take a rest from building a new water well in Comayagua, Honduras, June 14, 2016, where members of Joint Task Force-Bravo’s Medical Element Preventive Medicine team visited to test the water. The MEDEL team provides the community with water purification testing and education on different ways of maintaining a clean water supply in cooperation with the Honduran Ministry of Health of Comayagua. (U.S. Army photo by 1Lt Jenniffer Rodriguez)

July 13, 2016

JTF-Bravo partners with Honduran health officials to ensure safe drinking water for locals

COMAYAGUA, Honduras — Soldiers under the command of Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element Preventive Medicine section traveled to the community of Comayagua to obtain water samples and provide education to locals on how to maintain clean and drinkable water for the public, June 14.The Preventive Medicine team performs such missions on a weekly basis with their main