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During a Honduran and American Anti-terrorism/Force protection exercise, here, U.S. Army Sgt. David Bouaphakeo, Joint Security Force’s Charlie flight chief, communicates with security forces members and augmentees as a local terrorist organization tried to gain access to the flight line July 17, 2013. JTF-Bravo conducts ATFP exercise to ensure personnel readiness, which ensures service members are ready for real world events at a moment’s notice. (Photo released by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jarrod Chavana)

July 18, 2013

JTF-Bravo partners with Honduras military for joint-base exercise

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — During a Honduran and American Anti-terrorism/Force protection exercise, here, Joint Task Force-Bravo simulated a two- fold scenario simultaneously, one a nonviolent demonstration and the other being an attack from a terrorist organization July 17. The exercise was conducted to ensure personnel readiness, exercise the incident command system,

Joint Task Force –Bravo Commander, Col. Thomas Boccardi accepts an appreciation award from the Honduran First Presidential Designate Maria Antonieta Guillen de Borgran (Honduran equivalent to the U.S. vice president) and the Honduran Armed Forces (HOAF), during an award ceremony in Tegucigalpa for providing Medical Readiness Training Exercises, which aided its one-million Honduran citizen, July 13. JTF-Bravo conducts MEDRETEs throughout Central America each year in support of U.S. Southern Command's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief programs. In coordination with the Offices of Security Cooperation and partner nation Department of Health Officials in all seven Central American countries, JTF- Bravo has treated more than 341,500 medical patients, 67,400 dental patients and 14, 300 surgical patients over the past 20 years.

July 15, 2013

JTF-B receives award for helping Honduras reach milestone

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Joint Task Force -Bravo Commander, Col. Thomas Boccardi accepted an appreciation award from the Honduran Armed Forces (HOAF), during an award ceremony in Tegucigalpa for providing Medical Readiness Training Exercises, which aided its one-million Honduran citizen, July 13.The award was presented by Honduran First Presidential Designate Maria

Master Sgt. Steven Fadden, J4 maintenance noncommissioned officer in charge, hands out ice-pops to children during the June 29, 2013, Chapel Hike. More than 100 volunteers from JTF-Bravo gathered together for the bi-monthly Chapel Hike to deliver 120 bags of groceries and supplies to 86 families.

July 11, 2013

Members of JTF-Bravo deliver food to more than 120 villagers

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — At 7:30 a.m. on June 29, more than 100 volunteers from Joint Task Force-Bravo gathered together in front of the base chapel for the bi-monthly Chapel Hike to pick-up groceries and supplies, which would be delivered to an impoverished village.The 109 Chapel Hikers would then get inside two buses and travel about 15 miles to La Villa De Amatillo

Members of Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 1-228 Aviation Battalion flight crew U.S. Army Warrant Officer-1 Zachary Lugu(top left),pilot, U.S. Army Sgt. U.S. Army Sgt. Travis Mayo, flight medic(left front), U.S. Army SPC Robert Clement (right front), crew chief, and U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer-3 Jay Hanshaw pose for a photo infront of a Utility Helicopter-60 (UH-60) here July 9, 2013. The flight crew supported U.S. Southern Command’s coordinated search and rescue efforts, which located a stranded vessel and saved the lives of two Americans, one Canadian and six Hondurans, July 3.

July 10, 2013

1-228 comb’s the Caribbean Sea to save the lives of nine drifters

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — On July 2, a U.S. Army Utility Helicopter-60 from the 1-228 Aviation Battalion at Soto Cano Air Base was dispatched to the Caribbean Sea to help locate two Americans, one Canadian and six Hondurans, which had last been seen June 30."We flew in a snake pattern for nearly seven hours and covered more than 450 miles searching for them the first day,

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Martha Hugo, a 1-228 Aviation Regiment Alpha Company pilot, flies one of the two Utility Helicopter-60 Blackhawks from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, to the Island of Utila in order to comply with her training scenario June 11, 2012. During the mission the pilots had to rely on their instruments and training as they fly through mountains and over the Caribbean Sea.

July 3, 2013

JTF-Bravo helps save 9 passengers off coast of Honduras

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — A UH-60 helicopter crew from Joint Task Force-Bravo's 1-228 Aviation Battalion rescued two Americans, one Canadian and six Hondurans today from a vessel reported missing off the coast of Honduras, near the island of Roatán.JTF-Bravo supported U.S. Southern Command's coordinated search and rescue efforts that began on July 2. United States Coast

The Honorable Lisa Kubiske, the American ambassador to Honduras, visited the remote village of Barra Patuca, Gracias a Dios, June 25,2013, while service members of Joint Task Force-Bravo and the Honduran Ministry of Health conducted a medical readiness training exercise in the region. She donated more than 75 books of all reading levels to the school called Lempira. “I can’t explain to you how important it is to have an education and to further it once your studies are completed here,” said Kubiske to a class full of students. “One’s education doesn’t stop at 12th grade, but can be furthered in a university or vocational training, which will in turn help your people.”

July 1, 2013

American ambassador to Honduras brings educational material to remote village

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — The American ambassador to Honduras visited the remote village of Barra Patuca, Gracias a Dios, June 25, while service members of Joint Task Force-Bravo and the Honduran Ministry of Health conducted a medical readiness training exercise in the region. Lisa Kubiske, the American ambassador to Honduras, not only visited with the medical team, she

U.S. Army Maj. Stephen Poe, Medical readiness training exercise officer-in-charge, carries medical supplies from a Utility Helicopter-60 during a MEDRETE held in the remote region of Bara Patuca, Gracias a Dios, June 25-26, 2013. JTF-Bravo conducts MEDRETEs throughout Central America each year in support of U.S. Southern Command's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief programs in order to strengthen civil-military cooperation between the United States and nations in the region. In coordination with the Offices of Security Cooperation and partner nation Department of Health Officials in all seven Central American countries, JTF- Bravo treated more than 11,000 patients, last year.

June 28, 2013

JTF-Bravo conducts MEDRETE at Barra Patuca

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Joint Task Force-Bravo, in conjunction with the Honduran Ministry of Health, conducted a medical readiness training exercise, June 25-26, inside of a school named Lempira in the remote village of Barra Patuca, Gracias a Dios, where patients received dental, preventative medicine and well-being check-ups. "The MEDRETE was conducted to validate the

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Martha Hugo, a 1-228 Aviation Regiment Alpha Company pilot, checks the avionic department of the Utility Helicopter-60 Blackhawk, at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, for loose wires and to ensure the security of the electronics June 17, 2013 before flying the aircraft. The 1-228 ARAC provided their junior pilots with a mission scenario and had them create a mission plan from start to finish and then perform the task.

June 20, 2013

1-228th Alpha Company provides simulated covert training for junior pilots

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — On June 12, members of 1-228th Aviation Regiment Alpha Company trained junior pilots here on a scenario were a covert team is flown to the Island of Utila to counter a transnational organized crime syndicate. While the covert team was actively engaged on their mission, Alpha Company would fly to the Island of Roatan, refuel and wait for the special

Army Col. Thomas D. Boccardi assumes command of Joint Task Force- Bravo, at Soto Cano Air Base, Republic of Honduras by accepting the guidon from Marine Gen. John F. Kelly, the U.S. Southern Command commander June 20, 2013. Col. Boccardi assumed command from Army Col. Guy A. LeMire. Joint Task Force-Bravo operates on the Honduran military installation, Soto Cano Air Base, in central Honduras and is comprised of more than 600 U.S. military personnel and more than 650 U.S and Honduran civilians. JTF-Bravo works to build partnerships with Honduras and other Central American countries to foster security, stability and prosperity for the Americas. JTF-Bravo conducts a variety of missions in Central America from supporting U.S. Government operations to counter transnational crime to humanitarian assistance/disaster relief and building partner capacities. The successful completion of these missions allows JTF-Bravo to promote security throughout the region, which is the foundation for stable and productive societies.

June 20, 2013

Joint Task Force-Bravo welcomes new commander

SOTO CANO, AIR BASE, Honduras — The Joint Task Force-Bravo welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony here today on the base's parade ground. Army Col. Thomas D. Boccardi assumed command from Army Col. Guy A. LeMire with Marine Gen. John F. Kelly, U.S. Southern Command commander, officiating. "I'm honored to serve here side by side with each of you and to be

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- Air Force Lt. Col. Ray P. Matherne (center), the 612th Air Base Squadron commander, salutes Air Force Col. Jonathan VanNoord (left), the 612th Theater Operations Group commander, during the 612th change of command ceremony here June 7. Matherne assumed command from Air Force Lt. Col. Robert J. Pedersen (right). The 612 ABS provides air base support to JTF-B and 12th Air Force, which includes air traffic control, logistics, base civil engineering, the fire department, airfield operations and personnel functions.

June 14, 2013

The 612th Air Base Squadron change of command

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