COLÓN, Honduras –
U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps members with Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B), Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, deployed to the Department of Colón for a Global Health Engagement, June 29-July 1.
In collaboration with the Honduran military and non-government organizations, the U.S. military and Honduran medical teams performed a variety of services for locals living in northern Honduras. These services included medical care, surgeries and veterinary care for cattle.
Joint service members worked together to ensure command and control of operations and personnel during the medical operations.
“We’ve got the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps working together, today,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Izzak Zamora, future operations country planner with JTF-B. “By integrating and unifying our efforts together, in collaboration with partner nations, we build relationships, counter threats and increase our ability to respond rapidly to any crisis.”
The joint operations center deployed a joint tactical operations center with communications and joint operations area tracking capabilities.
In total, 682 patients were seen, 12 surgeries were performed and 499 cattle were treated with vaccines across four different locations including Trujillo, La Boveda, Cooperativa and Kilometra 35, Honduras.
In addition to the tactical operations center, JTF-B deployed a military working dog to perform routine security and counter threats. U.S. Army Private First Class Cade Brown, military working dog handler, and Corado, military working dog, visited each site during the three-day engagement.
“Corado and I deployed together to support JTF-B from Fort Bliss, [Texas], we’ve been working together for about two years,” said Brown. “Our job here is to patrol the area and to ensure the safety of our service members and the community.”
The mission was planned by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Amanda Hickman, medical planner with the Medical Element, JTF-B, and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Casey Burns, a medical planner with the Medical Element, JTF-B.
“To be a part of planning this medical mission has been a highlight in my career,” said Hickman. “Seeing our vision of the joint mission come to life, with Army, Air Force and Marines working together to help so many Hondurans, has truly made this a humbling experience.”
Joint Task Force-Bravo is one of three task forces under U.S. Southern Command. Located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, JTF-B operates a forward, all-weather day and night C-5-capable air base, organizes multilateral exercises and supports, in cooperation with partner nations, counter transnational organized crime, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts and the development of partner capacities, to promote regional cooperation and security in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.