Joint Task Force Bravo
| Joint Task Force-Bravo | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 1983 — present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Joint |
| Part of | US Southern Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Soto Cano Air Base |
| Motto(s) | "Progress Through Unity." |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Brian T. Hughes |
Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) is one of two task forces under United States Southern Command. JTF-Bravo is headquartered at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras (formerly known as Palmerola Air Base), located 10 miles south of the Honduran city of Comayagua.
JTF-Bravo operates a forward, all-weather day/night C-5-capable air base, organizes multilateral exercises and supports, in cooperation with partner nations, counter transnational organized crime, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief and building partner capacities, to promote regional cooperation and security in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Mission statement
"Joint Task Force-Bravo, as guests of our Honduran host-nation partners and the senior representative for USSOUTHCOM at Soto Cano Air Base, conducts and supports joint operations, actions, and activities throughout the joint operations area maintaining a forward presence in order to enhance regional security, stability, and cooperation."
History
When the task force was first established in 1984 as Joint Task Force 11 (not to be confused with the similarly named U.S. Navy Task Force 11 during World War II), then Joint Task Force Alpha (JTF-A), JTF-Bravo's mission was to support US forces in Central America, provide training and advisory support for the armed forces of Honduras and Guatemala, as well as at least some indirect support for the Nicaraguan Contras.
Additionally, JTF-B has provided disaster response support to various Central American countries upon request. For example, in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 they played a vital role in civilian search and rescue efforts as well as supporting host governments' post-disaster recovery operations. JTF-Bravo continues to engage in Operation New Horizons that are designed to help build local infrastructure through the construction of roads, bridges, school, clinics, wells, etc. Units permanently assigned to JTF-Bravo perform this work routinely, often in conjunction with other US military active duty, reserve, and national guard medical and engineer units that travel to Central America to assist with Medical Rediness Training Exercises (MEDRETEs) and New Horizons.
Other examples of humanitarian aid rendered by JTF-Bravo include relief missions responding to Hurricane Stan in Guatemala in October 2005, Hurricane Beta and Hurricane Gamma in Honduras in November 2005, a medical mission to León, Nicaragua in September 2006 in response to widespread alcohol poisoning, and a relief effort in response to massive flooding in Colón, Panama in November 2006.
New Horizons efforts have included El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic in 2006 and Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, and Panama in 2007.
In August 2007 JTF Bravo dispatched teams to Peru in response to an 8.0 magnitude earthquake.[1] JTF-Bravo also sent a team to Belize following Hurricane Dean.[2] In September a teams was sent to aid Honduras and Nicaragua following Hurricane Felix.[3]
In September 2008, JTF-Bravo sent a team of medical professionals to the border of Costa Rica and Panama to participate in a three-day medical readiness exercise. While in November of that year a team was dispatched to assist with flood relief in Costa Rica and Panama.[4] In January 2009 members from JTF-B returned to Costa Rica and in conjunction with USAID assisted with relief and recovery efforts following a 6.1 magnitude earthquake.[5]
Recent humanitarian projects (2016) have included medical readiness exercises in the Mosquita Coast of Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as in Costa Rica. JTF-Bravo has also supported firefighting efforts in Tela, Honduras and in the Darien Province, Panama, and assisted humanitarian efforts to Haiti following Hurricane Matthew.
Previous designations
- Joint Task Force -11 is established and later re-designated Joint Task Force-Alpha (1983)
- Joint Task Force-Bravo (1984–present)
Assigned geographic area
Major supporting commands
- Army Forces Battalion (ARFOR) is a dynamic Joint Expeditionary Battalion that provides administrative and logistical assistance in support of Joint Task Force-Bravo, to enhance regional security, stability, and cooperation throughout the Central America (CENTAM) Joint Operations Area (JOA).
- 612th Air Base Squadron provides air base support to Joint Task Force-Bravo and 12th Air Force including air traffic control, logistics, base civil engineering, fire department, airfield operations and personnel functions. In addition, the squadron maintains Soto Cano Air Base as the United States' only strategic gateway to Central America for United States Southern Command.
- Medical Element (MEDEL) The Medical Element consists of U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force service members, as well as Honduran medical liaisons, working together to provide a wide range of health care services through Medical Readiness Training Exercises in Central America, while providing health service support and mobile surgical teams to US Forces deployed in theater.
- Joint Security Force (JSF) Joint Security Forces conducts Law Enforcement and Security Operations for JTF-Bravo personnel and equipment anywhere within the Central American area of operations. JSF is composed of Air Force and Army personnel who patrol the base and monitor security in areas frequented by U.S. service members, while also providing expeditionary force protection in support of Joint Task Force-Bravo's lines of effort.
- 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment (1-228 AVN) under U. S. Army South, supports the U. S. Southern Command's engagement and security cooperation strategy, providing heavy lift, medical evacuation, general aviation and VIP support, spanning the area of responsibility, in support of Joint Task Force-Bravo. The regiment actively participates in counter narcotics missions and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief efforts throughout Central America.
