SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras –
Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo), a unit under the U.S. Southern Command (U.S. SOUTHCOM) and based out of Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, will participate in Exercise Mercury iii, the third iteration of a Joint Humanitarian and Disaster Relief exercise (HADR) that falls under Panama’s larger Joint Exercise known as Panamax Alpha. Mercury iii is designed to build on the training audiences’ capability to plan and respond to a HADR event in Panama, March 23 – April 1. The joint exercise will include participation with the Panamanian National Aeronaval Service and National Border Service.
JTF-Bravo routinely trains for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and can rapidly respond with its unique airlift capabilities and medical team to save lives and mitigate suffering in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters.
During this exercise, JTF-Bravo will conduct flying operation with the use of U.S. Army CH-47 and UH-60 helicopters and a Global Health Engagement near Sambu, Panama, 28 March-1 April.
During the health engagement, the joint medical team will perform preventive medicine, primary care, dental, and pharmacy services.
As part of U.S. SOUTHCOM’s enduring promise to its regional partners, JTF-Bravo continues to work with our U.S. government teammates, and allies and partners in the region, to provide rapid support and medical care when requested.
Approximately 150 U.S. service members will deploy from Soto Cano Air Base to Panama in support this mission.