Joint Task Force Bravo

Located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, JTF-Bravo
is comprised of approximately 550 U.S. military personnel
and more than 650 U.S. and Honduran civilians.

They work in six different areas including the Joint
Staff, Air Force Forces (612th Air Base Squadron),
Army Forces, Joint Security Forces and the Medical
Element. 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, a
U.S. Army South asset, is a tenant unit also based at
Soto Cano. The J-Staff provides command and control for JTF-B.

The Air Force Forces has among its functions; weather
forecasting, fire protection, and maintaining a 24-hour
C-5-capable runway. The Army Forces operate finance, food
service and transportation. Joint Security Forces is comprised
of Air Force, Army and Marine force protection personnel
who patrol the base and downtown areas frequented by U.S.
servicemembers.

Health care services are performed by the Medical
Element. The 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment
performs a variety of airlift support missions throughout
Central and South America with UH-60 Black Hawk and
CH-47 Chinook helicopters. U.S. forces are guests here
on the base which is the home of the Honduran Air Force Academy.

Joint Task Force-Bravo is the third in a series of
headquarters for the command of U.S. forces and exercise
activities in Honduras. Established in August 1984,
JTF-Bravo is headquartered at Soto Cano Air Base, a
Honduran air base that is also home of the
Honduran Air Force Academy.

Combatant command of JTF-Bravo falls under the
command of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command,
Miami, Fla. The missions of JTF-Bravo are:

Conduct and support U.S. joint, combined and interagency
operations designed to enhance regional cooperative security.

Support U.S. interagency operations in coordination with U.S.
Military Groups and U.S. Embassy country teams.

Support regional Humanitarian and Civic Assistance, disaster
relief and contingency missions as directed by USCINCSO.

Exercise OPCON of selected deployed forces in the joint area
of operations, other than those conducting security assistance
related operations.

Provide security support to USMILGRPs within JTF-Bravo area
of operations as directed by USCINCSO.

Provide support for regional exercises/deployments as directed by USCINCSO.

Support regional disaster relief and contingency operations
as directed by USCINCSO.

Plan, coordinate and conduct regional search and rescue
operations as directed by USCINCSO.

JTF-Bravo accomplishes the mission using a Joint Mission
Essential Task List. Included within this JMETL are: exercise
OPCON of deployed forces in the joint area of operations,
other than those forces conducting defense attache or security
assistance operations; command and control U.S. base operations
and the participation in combined airfield operations at Soto
Cano Air Base in coordination with the Honduran Air Force;
plan, coordinate and provide support to exercises and deployments
as directed by USCINCSO, with aviation, staff and security
augmentation when necessary; and military forces; coordinate
and support regional counter drug operations as directed by
USCINCSO; plan, coordinate and support nation assistance,
disaster relief, search and rescue, and other contingency
operations as directed by USCINCSO in coordination with
appropriate U.S. agencies; provide logistical and security
support to USMILGRP activities.

As early as 1965, the U.S. and Honduran Armed Forces
conducted combined training exercises. In 1983, the
number and size of these exercises increased when the
U.S., at the request of the Honduran Government, began
maintaining a visible military presence in the face of
threats from foreign forces. This initial joint force
was designated JTF-11.

Since 1983, the joint task force has provided support
for joint and combined training exercises involving
active and reserve components. The location and climate
of Honduras combine to provide U.S. military members an
opportunity to train in an overseas, semi-tropical,
austere environment.