Soto Cano AB, Honduras –
Joint Task Force-Bravo and Army Forces Battalion welcomed 32 new Civil Affairs (CA) team members from the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, 1st Mission Support Command, Puerto Rico last week. The soldiers, all Army Reserve members, will support JTF-Bravo's mission in Central America.
They will be stationed across four countries within U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility, ensuring a consistent presence in the region, working to understand local challenges, foster relationships with communities and partner nations, and provide assistance through the Humanitarian Assistance Program and other means.
"I value CA teams for their persistent presence in the region," said Col. Daniel Alder, JTF-Bravo Commander. "You are given a lot of trust and autonomy, rightly so. I trust you to be professionals and experts in your jobs because what you do is important."
The team, fluent in Spanish, completed extensive training in Puerto Rico before their deployment. For some, this marks their first deployment experience.
"One of the most important parts of a good CA team is unit cohesion," said 1st Sgt. Waldemar Ortiz, Civil-Military Operations Center Chief. "It's important they get along and understand each other, especially since they will be spending the next nine months to a year living under the same roof."
Capt. Felix Ndumbu, a team leader, expressed his enthusiasm for cultural exchange and community engagement. "I love experiencing other cultures and I'm hopeful we can help the community through larger events like school visits and medical and veterinary readiness exercises," he said. "But also through smaller events that still have a lot of impact, like cooking meals, supporting local orphanages, and schools."
Staff Sgt. Giovanie Franco, on his first deployment as a CA team sergeant, emphasized his eagerness to support the mission. "I’m looking forward to supporting our team leader and helping him plan our events, track our support, and liaising with the local community," he said.
Alder urged the teams to collaborate and share best practices. "It’s invaluable information to share what a country is doing well and how we can share that information with our partner countries," he said.
JTF-Bravo, the longest-standing U.S. military task force in the region with over 40 years of service, continues to strengthen partnerships and promote regional security and cooperation in Central America.