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Joint Task Force Bravo [JTF 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.