Joint task force takes first steps to securing future > 940th Air Refueling Wing > Article View

3/21/2006 - LOS GIRASOLES, Honduras -- Air Force Reservists and Honduran soldiers greet local children near the worksite where the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron is building a school here. New Horizons 2006-Honduras is a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government that will improve the quality of life for the local people. When the exercise concludes in May, the Joint Task Force here will have constructed a maternity clinic, four schools and provided free medical care at 14 different locations in and around La Ceiba. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William A. Smith William, Jr.)

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Friends for the future

3/21/2006 - LOS GIRASOLES, Honduras -- Air Force Reservists and Honduran soldiers greet local children near the worksite where the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron is building a school here. New Horizons 2006-Honduras is a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government that will improve the quality of life for the local people. When the exercise concludes in May, the Joint Task Force here will have constructed a maternity clinic, four schools and provided free medical care at 14 different locations in and around La Ceiba. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William A. Smith William, Jr.)

3/21/2006 - LOS GIRASOLES, Honduras -- Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Nnodim, superintendent of utilities (left), and Master Sgt. Joseph Abitongof, liquid fuels craftsman, the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron, builds a cinder-block wall to be part of a school here. New Horizons 2006-Honduras is a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government that will improve the quality of life for the local people. When the exercise concludes in May, the Joint Task Force here will have constructed a maternity clinic, four schools and provided free medical care at 14 different locations in and around La Ceiba. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William A. Smith, Jr.)

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Building the future, one block at a time

3/21/2006 - LOS GIRASOLES, Honduras -- Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Nnodim, superintendent of utilities (left), and Master Sgt. Joseph Abitongof, liquid fuels craftsman, the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron, builds a cinder-block wall to be part of a school here. New Horizons 2006-Honduras is a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government that will improve the quality of life for the local people. When the exercise concludes in May, the Joint Task Force here will have constructed a maternity clinic, four schools and provided free medical care at 14 different locations in and around La Ceiba. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William A. Smith, Jr.)

3/21/2006 - LA CEIBA, Honduras -- Col Mike Higginson, 940th Mission Support Group commander, poses with local children near the worksite where the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron is building a school in Honduras March 21, 2006. New Horizons 2006-Honduras is a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government that will improve the quality of life for the local people. When the exercise concludes in May, the Joint Task Force here will have constructed a maternity clinic, four schools and provided free medical care at 14 different locations in and around La Ceiba. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

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Building the future

3/21/2006 - LA CEIBA, Honduras -- Col Mike Higginson, 940th Mission Support Group commander, poses with local children near the worksite where the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron is building a school in Honduras March 21, 2006. New Horizons 2006-Honduras is a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government that will improve the quality of life for the local people. When the exercise concludes in May, the Joint Task Force here will have constructed a maternity clinic, four schools and provided free medical care at 14 different locations in and around La Ceiba. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

3/21/2006 - LOS GIRASOLES, Honduras -- Air Force Reservists from the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron build a school here: from left: Staff Sgt. John Ertel, heavy equipment craftsman; Staff Sgt. Jason Sanchez and SSgt Andrew Butler, both Engineer assistants. New Horizons 2006-Honduras is a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government that will improve the quality of life for the local people. When the exercise concludes in May, the Joint Task Force here will have constructed a maternity clinic, four schools and provided free medical care at 14 different locations in and around La Ceiba. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William A. Smith, Jr.)

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Partnership for the future

3/21/2006 - LOS GIRASOLES, Honduras -- Air Force Reservists from the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron build a school here: from left: Staff Sgt. John Ertel, heavy equipment craftsman; Staff Sgt. Jason Sanchez and SSgt Andrew Butler, both Engineer assistants. New Horizons 2006-Honduras is a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government that will improve the quality of life for the local people. When the exercise concludes in May, the Joint Task Force here will have constructed a maternity clinic, four schools and provided free medical care at 14 different locations in and around La Ceiba. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William A. Smith, Jr.)

LA CEIBA, Honduras (AFPN) – Civil Engineers from the 940th Air Refueling Wing are working here as part of a four-month long joint training exercise between the U.S. military and Honduran government, dubbed Operation New Horizons 2006.

Joint Task Force, or JTF, Asegurar el Futuro, or “Securing the Future,” conducted the New Horizons mission and provides engineer, medical and support training for U.S. and Honduran forces. When the mission is completed in late spring, the JTF will have built four schoolhouses, a maternity clinic and provided humanitarian medical assistance in 14 different locations in the coastal city of La Ceiba and its surrounding areas.

“New Horizons allows us to work hand-in-hand with the Honduran government and get some very valuable training,” said Maj. Toney Riley, New Horizons 2006 -- Honduras commander. “The exciting part is that as a result of our training, we’re making life a little better in this part of Honduras.”

Construction and medical sites were chosen by the Honduran government based on the specific needs of certain areas. In fact, some work sites are near cinder-block homes built by the U.S. government after the area was decimated by Hurricane Mitch in the late ’90s.

To make this exercise a success, the JTF draws upon the expertise of active duty, Guardsmen and Reservists from the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy.

Before the exercise is complete, more than 115 Air Force Reservists from Beale Air Force Base will participate.

“All of our folks are doing an outstanding job; they are way ahead of schedule,” said Chief Master Sgt. Donald Pope, of the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron.

(940th Air Refueling Wing public affairs contributed to this report.)