FORT BLISS, Texas - Puerto Rican National Guardsman assigned to the 225th Military Police Company, 124th MP Battalion landed at the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group airfield Nov. 19 after a nine-month deployment in Honduras.
Under the command of Joint Task ForceBravo the unit provided humanitarian aid to Honduras with missions that included elements of translating, security, and peacekeeping operations while at the same time improving infrastructure.
Maj. Jose Roman, commander, 124th MP Bn., greeted the soldiers as they deplaned the Lockheed C130 Hercules that brought them stateside.
“[The soldiers] have the opportunity to touch the people and make a difference building schools, hospitals,” said Roman. “[We] been helping the Honduran community for more than 10 years.”
First Lt. Guillermo Ortiz, forward detachment commander, 225th MP Company, described the deployment as a success.
“We provided air base support security and law and order operations,” Ortiz said. “The operation tempo was really high and it feels great to be on U.S. soil, it will feel much better to be back home.”
The Army has been using the National Guard from Puerto Rico, whose native language is Spanish, as translators, a key to accomplishing JTF-B missions. In past experiences, JTFB ran into issues with the language barrier but with the utilization of the Puerto Rican National Guard, the concern has faded said Roman.
“[The Army] was looking for a force that not only understands the military process, [but] is able to translate,” said Roman.
Ortiz said the unit completed over 50 missions and being bilingual was definitely a benefit to both Honduran and American assets.
In the past, JTFB has provided disaster response to various Central American countries when requested. One notable example was providing Costa Rica with relief and recovery efforts in January 2009, after a 6.1 magnitude earthquake. Rotating between four different MP companies from Fort Buchanan, the Puerto Rican Army National Guard has been completing missions aimed at building confidence and improving relations with Honduras for over a decade.
Roman emphasized the importance of humanitarian missions and the positive effects U.S. forces have in other countries.
“[The mission was] to help the Honduran people, to help the government, to work together and create an environment of freedom,” Roman said.
While in Honduras, Soldiers in the unit received multiple “Hero of the Month” awards, along with the recognition from the local populace, regional commanders, and embassy officials for their performance throughout the deployment.
“It was awesome, the [Honduran] people were helpful,” said Spc. Luis DeJesus, patrolman, 225th MP Company.
Guardsmen deploying for the first time, this mobilization was enlightening; for Spc. Jesus Maldonado, acting desk sergeant, it was a learning experience in a number of ways.
“Honduras was way more advanced than I thought,” Maldonado said, being there changed his perception of Honduras from an impoverished nation to one in the midst of development.
“I was able to grow professionally and as a person,” Maldonado said of his time in Honduras.
“They are better soldiers, they have more knowledge,” Ortiz said of collective growth of the Unit. “I’m proud of my guys, they accomplished a lot.”
With the completion of the nine-month tour, many Soldiers look forward to seeing their families and return to their civilian lives in Puerto Rico, but not before completing the demobilization process with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security.
“We are 90 percent done with the mission, but not quite there yet,” Ortiz said. “It’s not complete until all the guys are back home.”