SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras –
Before the Berlin Wall fell, before the wreckage from the Titantic was discovered and before the Summer Olympics opened in Los Angeles, California — Joint Task Force-Bravo began its unyielding presence and dedication in Honduras and the Central American region in August 1983.
For 41 years, JTF-Bravo has worked alongside its Honduran counterparts, promoting regional cooperation and security within Central America.
Each year hundreds of U.S. service members rotate in and out of Soto Cano Air Base to fill positions in various units propelling multilateral exercises, providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and countering transnational organized crime.
The continuity of JTF-Bravo is furnished by the essential Honduran Foreign Service Nationals, who have witnessed the U.S. military’s longest joint task force's growth for the past four decades.
These FSN’s professions range from education, photography, administrative, environmental, medical, electricians, culinary, etc.
Over 80 FSN are employed at Soto Cano Air Base, and 39 of them have been working for more than 20 years.
One of the longest employed FSN is Jose Mendieta, who was hired as a Contracting Specialist assigned to the 410th Contracting Squadron only three years after JTF-Bravo was established.
“I am proud of my job at JTF-Bravo, because I'm helping the people of my country and those in the Central American region,” said Mendieta.
For Mendieta and his family, stability and security are their biggest priorities.
To promote a stable and secure Central America, the U.S. military has significantly invested in communities by providing medical and veterinary care, building crucial infrastructure, fostering regional economic growth, and coordinating numerous multinational exercises.
One such investment was JTF-Bravo and the Honduras military’s exercise Ahuas Tara II with over 12,000 participants.
The exercise included engineering and logistics training by upgrading airstrips in Puerto Castilla, Catacamas and Choluteca. Additionally, administering medical and veterinary services to nearly 50,000 patients and 40,000 animals in the local community.
At Palmerola, the former name of Soto Cano Air Base, over $280,000 was spent during the exercise on the combined military base’s facilities and a hospital.
“When I first started, we worked in a small wooden ‘hooch” (a makeshift shelter) and used typewriters,” said Rita Chahin, JTF-Bravo's language specialist.
Rita has been at Soto Cano Air Base almost as long as Mendieta, who both joined the JTF-Bravo family 38 years ago.
Throughout the years, JTF-Bravo has demonstrated its commitment to Central America with its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response.
In 1998, JTF-Bravo rapidly responded to Hurricane Mitch, the second deadliest Atlantic hurricane killing over 11,000 people.
Martin Chahin, who was recruited by his wife, Rita, is a 25-year FSN and JTF-Bravo's photographer. He recollects his contributions and experience to this response.
“I remember that all the airports in Honduras were closed, except for Palmerola,” said Martin. “Many aircraft carrying donations came through, and JTF-Bravo was a huge help by providing medical assistance, housing for people, using helicopters and rebuilding infrastructure.”
Soto Cano Air Base became an immediate staging base for over 2,000 personnel and 3 million pounds of cargo and medicine. JTF-Bravo's personnel flew more than 700 flight hours to deliver aid in remote areas and medically treated over 4,000 hurricane victims.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, the 42nd U.S. President Bill Clinton visited the 50th Honduras President Carlos Roberto Flores at Soto Cano Air Base to discuss relief efforts and reconstruction of damaged areas in Honduras.
Martin was one of the photographers assigned to take photos of the presidents meeting and recalls it as one of the most special moments throughout his tenure.
“It was beautiful to be a part of that experience,” said Chahin. “When I looked at the photos in the newspapers during this time all the cutlines said my name.”
Since then, JTF-Bravo has built its infrastructure and solidify its operational objectives to address threats, strengthen partnerships and build its team.
“Now, almost all the facilities have been drastically improved and seeing these changes makes me appreciate what we have,” said Rita. “JTF-Bravo has given us a lot of opportunities and me especially, a lot of training.”
JTF-Bravo's motto, Progress Through Unity, wouldn’t be possible without the FSN, who contribute to the mission every day.
Rita, Martin and Mendieta have been connected to the history of this base and to service members that have worked side-by-side with them to promote peace, prosperity, and democratic values to the people of Central America.