Joint Task Force-Bravo helps provide 1,400 Hondurans with medical care

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras (Aug. 22, 2014) -- Joint Task Force-Bravo helped provide medical care to more than 1,400 Hondurans and performed 11 surgeries during a Medical Readiness Training Exercise and Mobile Surgical Team engagement, Aug. 11-15.

The expeditionary Medical Readiness Training Exercise, known as an MEDRETE, team convoyed to the communities of San Juan del Sitio and Correderos, while the Mobile Surgical Team, or MST, group convoyed to the Santa Barbara Hospital to perform the surgeries.

"The communities of San Juan del Sitio and Correderos are greatly under-served medically," said Maj. Daniel Gardner, mission commander and pharmacist with the JTF-Bravo Medical Element. "Some residents received timely and effective treatment for acute conditions that potentially could have produced long-term problems. Examples include antibiotics for acute infections, respiratory treatments, and dental extractions."

The JTF-Bravo team, the Honduran Ministry of Health and the Honduran military worked together to provide preventative medical information, anti-parasitic treatment, much-needed dental services, and a range of primary care services, including treating and controlling a head lice outbreak in San Juan del Sitio.

An unusual case presented to the MEDRETE team required the removal of a bullet located in a man's chest, which had been there for two years.

"The bullet was left over from an incident in 2012, and had worked its way up just under the skin," Gardner said. "The procedure was straightforward and performed under field conditions by a physician assistant and medic."

U.S. Army and Honduran surgeons performed open cholecystectomy, hernia and appendectomy surgeries to include an emergency appendectomy. The operations provided to the under-serviced and impoverished community didn't cost them anything, while the surgical team also helped shrink the surgery waiting list, provided materials necessary to perform some procedures and helped local medical professionals repair medical facilities and equipment.

"These surgeries were provided to the patients at no cost, which helped those who did not have the money to pay," said Maj. Karen Santiago, MST mission commander and medical element chief nurse. "The Santa Barbara Hospital had a 50-patient backlog that was reduced to 39, and they could not perform the hernia surgeries because they didn't have any (surgical) mesh, so we provided it."

Both medical teams commended the Honduran Ministry of Health and military personnel for a job well done, even in the toughest of conditions.

"I was impressed by the high quality performance and professionalism of Joint Task Force-Bravo, Honduran Ministry of Health, and military personnel," added Gardner. "But I was also awed by the profound lack of healthcare resources available in these remote communities, and the ability of the Ministry of Health personnel to stretch those limited resources."

Joint Task Force-Bravo has been conducting medical readiness training exercises since October 1993. They have treated more than 349,000 medical patients, 69,000 dental patients and 14,400 surgical patients throughout Central America.

 http://www.army.mil/article/132493/Joint_Task_Force_Bravo_helps_provide_1_400_Hondurans_with_medical_care/

 By Capt. Steven Stubbs, Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs

SAPPER LEADER COURSE

In the U.S. Army, Sappers are combat engineers or other personnel who support the front-line infantry, and they have fought in every war in American history. A sapper may perform any of a variety of combat engineering duties. Such tasks typically include bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defenses as well as building, road and airfield construction and repair.

 http://www.goarmy.com/soldier-life/being-a-soldier/ongoing-training/specialized-schools/sapper-leader-course.html

Combat Engineer (12B)

Combat engineers primarily supervise, serve or assist as a member of a team when they are tackling rough terrain in combat situations. They provide their expertise in areas such as mobility, countermobility, survivability and general engineering.

Job Duties

• Construct fighting positions, fixed/floating bridges, obstacles and defensive positions
  
• Place and detonate explosives
  
• Conduct operations that include route clearance of obstacles and rivers
  
• Prepare and install firing systems for demolition and explosives
  
• Detect mines visually or with mine detectors

 http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/browse-career-and-job-categories/construction-engineering/combat-engineer.html

4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade troops dive into water operations training

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Aug. 25, 2014) -- Soldiers from the 94th Engineer Battalion's Forward Support Company spent a morning outside of their comfort zone, as they conducted a water operations training exercise here, Aug. 14.

Troops from the Forward Support Company, 94th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, were challenged with various tasks, including boat drills and swimming with waterproofed gear.

The water training was a different experience for the participating troops, whose daily tasks primarily deal with transportation, supply, maintenance, and food service support.

"I'm actually terrified of the water," said Spc. Davina Francis, a Ramah, New Mexico, native and light-wheeled vehicle mechanic.

Fear didn't stop Francis, though, as she, along with her fellow Soldiers, paddled a Zodiac inflatable boat out into the waters of the Training Area 250 Lake. They capsized the boat, and then worked as a team to flip it over, and get everyone back into the watercraft.

"It helps to be a well-rounded and trained Soldier in today's Army," Francis said of the experience. "This gives you better insight of what goes on outside of the motor pool."

Capt. Darren Templeton, FSC commander and Greenville, South Carolina, native, pointed out that the reason his Soldiers train, is to maintain trust and build confidence in themselves, their equipment and their leaders.

Judging by the reactions of many FSC Soldiers, the training met the commander's intent.

"If we ever have to do something like this, we know we won't drown and that we can depend on each other," said Pfc. Gerard Jean-Baptiste, a welder and machinist, originally from Orlando, Florida.

The exercise also allowed another group to hone their skills. The Fort Leonard Wood Fire Department's water rescue team not only made sure the Soldiers remained safe as they trained, but the crew also rehearsed their response skills as they rescued Soldiers, who portrayed overboard boaters and swimmers in distress.

"I appreciate the chance to come out here and train and get hands-on experience," said Robert Koeppel, a firefrighter and EMT and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, native, who is in training to be a water rescue technician. "It's a great team-building exercise."

Although the FSC Soldiers were drained from a morning full of rowing and swimming, they enjoyed their day on the water.

Pfc. Orozco Luis, an Oxnard, California, native, joked that his day was probably more interesting than those of his Army fueler brethren who were assigned to different units.

"I'm doing this with a smile on my face," Luis said. "It's not false motivation."

 http://www.army.mil/article/132073/4th_Maneuver_Enhancement_Brigade_troops_dive_into_water_operations_training/

 By Staff Sgt. Mark Patton

Paratroopers, Special Forces Soldiers, Fayetteville community celebrate National Airborne Day

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 20, 2014) -- Young and old alike turned out to celebrate National Airborne day Aug. 16, at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville.

The museum lawn was filled with military static displays depicting equipment used on and off the battlefield. Soldiers showcased traditional equipment, such as the Army's Artillery M777 Howitzer and newer technology like the Avenger Air Defense System (AN-TWQ-1), and the Light Military Tactical Vehicle. Vintage jeeps, actors depicting World War II Soldiers, and various static displays showed the evolution of the Airborne from the first official Army parachute jump, which took place on Aug. 16, 1940, through a modern jump on the ASOM grounds during the event.

The celebration opened up with ceremonial music by the 82nd Airborne Division's "All American" band, an airborne demonstration with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command parachute team, the Black Daggers, and the U.S. Army's parachute demonstration team, the Golden Knights, followed by a ceremony and dedication.

In a fitting tribute of the day, organizers dedicated the newest outer loop corridor connecting Fort Bragg to the new I-295 corridor, naming it the Airborne & Special Operations Highway.

Retired Brig. Gen. Tony Tata, now secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, offered opening remarks on the naming of the highway.

"Their incredible commitment and selfless sacrifice will be remembered forever in this road," said Tata, a former brigade commander with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Brig. Gen. Kurt Sonntag, USASOC deputy commanding general, also offered remarks.

"Just as this highway connects from I-95 to the All American Freeway, it also represents the connections made among our military and civilian communities over the years," he said.

Other speakers included Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson, and the 82nd Airborne Division Commander Maj. Gen. John Nicholson Jr.

Following the sign's unveiling, Soldiers representing both the Airborne and Special Operations community, placed a wreath at the foot of Iron Mike, the iconic 15-foot statue, an airborne Soldier -- who is always watching, waiting and alert; a symbol of the thousands of airborne Soldiers past and present -- on point and ready to defend American liberties.

 http://www.army.mil/article/132129/Paratroopers__Special_Forces_Soldiers__Fayetteville_community_celebrate_National_Airborne_Day/

 By Cheryle Rivas, USASOC

Metropolitan Community College-Longview Community College is an Army Concurrent Admissions College

Metropolitan Community College-Longview Community College is an Army Concurrent Admissions College.  New Soldiers can opt to attend Longview Community College and join the Army Reserves to gain job experience and an education at the same time provided qualifications are met.  Visit an Army Career Center to find the right school and job for your career.

http://www.mcckc.edu/explore/campuses/longview/Welcome.asp

GoArmy.Com

The 43rd Army Reserve Engineers are recruiting to enlist, train, and employ horizontal engineers

The 43^rd Army Reserve Engineers are recruiting to enlist, train, and employ horizontal engineers. Horizontal construction engineers use bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy equipment to move tons of earth and material to complete construction projects for the Army.

http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/browse-career-and-job-categories/construction-engineering/construction-equipment-operator.html

Visit an Army Career Center for employment information.