Commentaries

My Flag, A Journey
May 15, 2020 — Aviation is inherently dangerous. Every time that aircraft leaves the ground, your life is in the hands of the very precise and diligent efforts of maintainers who sustain a machine that must be carefully controlled by a trained aviator and crew. Yet amid the harmony between these electronics and metal parts, one day you may catch a glimpse of a doll in a flight bag, a trinket hanging down from the circuit breaker panel, or a pilot performing the sign of the cross before liftoff. Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager always carried a packet of Beemans gum on every one of his flights, including when he broke the sound barrier. Whether for good luck, personal or religious views, or just superstition – each has their own reason why... MORE

DOD, DHS combine cyber forces
December 18, 2018 — During the first two weeks of December, U.S. Southern Command Joint Cyber Center Arm and Navy Cyber Protection Teams 600 and 601 are combining forces with Department of Homeland Security civilians and U.S. Coast Guard personnel to conduct the first joint Defense Department-DHS cyber mission conducted outside of U.S. borders... MORE

Beyond the Horizons: Combined Joint Engineer Exercise in Central America
November 16, 2018 — Every summer, in the jungles of Central America you can find Air Force RED HORSE Squadron (RHS), Marine Corp Engineers, approximately 1,800 U.S. Army Engineers and the occasional Navy Seabee. This mixture of Active Duty Soldiers, Reservists and National Guard Service Members come together to form Task Force Engineer, the command & control agency... MORE

Kick for Nick: A wish that lives on
August 24, 2018 — At the heart of a soldier lie true Army values; loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. Pfc. Nicholas Madaras embodied the traits of a true soldier who left behind a legacy that survives his loss... MORE

Joint Task Force-Bravo: A Trusted Partner in Central American Security
February 7, 2018 — As a trusted partner, JTF-Bravo is a critical SOUTHCOM organization that contributes directly to the security and stability of Central America. Rapid response, support to law enforcement, and multilateral exercises are three areas that demonstrate the organization’s importance within the region... MORE

Community health, one on one
May 30, 2017 — The Medical Element is one of Joint Task Force-Bravo’s major supporting commands with the most visibility. The unit actively participates in many large medical readiness training exercises in Central America; supporting local ministries of health and providing care for thousands of people in under-served remote areas throughout the year... MORE

Boosting partner-of-choice focus in CENTAM
January 12, 2017 — In recent years, Joint Task Force-Bravo has bolstered our relationship with Department of Defense, Department of State, Interagency and Central American militaries through the Community of Interest and NCO-Leader Development programs. These programs build and maintain invaluable relationships, develop the capacity of our partner nations and strengthen the Partner-of-Choice focus in Central America... MORE

COMMENTARY: A Honduran Experience
December 16, 2015 — On my flight to Honduras, I didn't have the slightest idea of what to expect. Sure, I knew my job, I knew the types of missions I'd be part of, but I was not prepared for the culture shock I received after landing in Honduras.For the most part, Tegucigalpa, the nation's capital, isn't that different from an average city in the U.S. Malls, movie... MORE

Eliminating stigma: A leadership responsibility
September 2, 2014 — As a child, a close relative of mine committed suicide. In those days, mental health was only discussed in hushed tones and little support was available. I was shaped by this experience and in my military career, I have tried to create an environment where people feel comfortable discussing their problems and supported in their efforts to seek... MORE