The ARFOR Battalion mission is to provide Command and Control of forces for Base Operational Support -Integration services, Joint-Reception, Staging, onward-movement, and integration to rotational forces. Additionally, the Battalion provides operational support to JTF-B. The five companies that enable the mission are: Headquarters and Support Company,  Military Police, Civil Affairs, Field Hospital, and Preventive Medicine. Rotational Forces include PCS, 9-month rotations and individual augmentees.

The battalion has served in the Republic of Honduras since 1985 and is ready to deploy anywhere within the Central America Joint Operations Area as a resilient, integrated team, capable of executing diverse mission sets in the most demanding operational environments.

Motto: "Corazón de Bravo" (The Heart of Bravo)

Battalion History

The history of the Army Forces Battalion dates back to 1985 with the formation of the battalion as part of Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. Throughout the 1980s, ARFOR assisted JTF-Bravo in coordinating numerous large and small-scale exercises in Honduras, participated in missions focused on supporting the United States national security objectives and helped deter the expansion of communism in Central America.

In the 1990s, the battalion’s focus shifted to providing logistics support and assisting in the training of the Honduran Military in their fight against drug trafficking. Throughout this period, ARFOR also provided logistic support to virtually all deployment activities by members of the US military to Honduras. Additionally, the battalion assisted in hurricane relief and infrastructure development in the region.

Presently, the battalion’s focus remains on providing logistic support to JTF-Bravo and the major supporting commands for both daily and contingency operations, with the additional mission to man, equip, and train JTF-Bravo’s SOUTHCOM Situational Assessment Team, tasked with gaining situational awareness and providing recommendations to further military deployments during a disaster response.

The Medical Element / Surgeon Cell is comprised of Army Reserve members, providing a wide range of medical services for military personnel stationed at Soto Cano Air Base, operating from a clinic on base with personnel that range from X-ray technicians, dentist, veterinarians, to surgeons. 

The medical personnel not only maintain the health of our service members, but also coordinate medical and surgical readiness training exercises with Central American ministries of health to conduct persistent-engagement missions throughout the region.

Global Health Engagements

JTF-Bravo medical personnel have been conducting Medical Readiness Training Exercises in Honduras since Oct. 1992. Since that time, they have executed more than 300 missions and treated more than 326,000 medical patients and 70,000 dental patients all across Central America. Now known as Global Health Engagements, these missions are conducted to strengthen relationships with regional military forces and local civilian organizations, while supporting the host nation’s Ministry of Health efforts to provide medical care to the population and enhancing our medical capabilities and readiness. 

The average mission involves providing primary care at remote locations in conjunction with the local Ministry of Health, including, but not limited to: preventive medicine education, primary medical care, immunizations, and dental services including dental extractions and oral hygiene education.
 

The Military Police Detachment is comprised of members of the Puerto Rico National Guard. The MP Detachment conducts law enforcement and security operations for Joint Task Force-Bravo personnel and equipment. The team provides on-base security and protection during exercises and operations the task force participates in anywhere within the U.S. Southern Command area of operations.

The Puerto Rico National Guard soldiers also engage in community relations and subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation forces. The State Partnership Program links the Puerto Rico National Guard to Honduran forces, where soldiers participate in engagements that mutually strengthen and enhance readiness, while promoting interoperability.

The Civil Affairs Company conducts civil engagements, civil reconnaissance, and civil network development in order to improve DoD visibility, access and influence throughout the CENTAM JOA. This enables USSOUTHCOM and JTF-B to identify stakeholders at the local and national level, develop partnerships, promote US influence, and coordinate future operations in order to strengthen host nation partnerships, improve quality via mutual prosperity, and strengthen host nation ability to respond to natural disasters.

The Headquarters Support Company (HSC), operating from Soto Cano Air Base, provides mission command and conducts foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (FHA/DR) for up to 14 days in support of JTF-Bravo and U.S. governmental agencies within the CENTAM JOA to enhance regional security, stability, and cooperation. Their mission includes: HA/DR: fuel operations, slingload, transportation/MHE support, personnel augmentation, and base support functions such as: finance, postal, and military working dogs.