Beyond the Horizon Builds Relationships in San Ignacio

128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Sgt. Scott Wolfe

Date: 04.21.2017
Posted: 04.28.2017 21:23
News ID: 232032
Blackhawk and Jaguars

SAN IGNACIO, Belize -- Service members assigned to Beyond the Horizon 2017 took time off from their busy schedule to participate in a community relations event April 21, 2017 at the Santa Elena Sports Complex in San Ignacio, Belize.

BTH 2017 is a partnership exercise between U.S. Southern Command and the Belize Government and consists of multiple construction projects and health care events in three districts of the country. San Ignacio is the second of three health fairs and follows the recently completed project at Ladyville which served over 3500 people.

“The purpose of this get together is to introduce ourselves (the members of Beyond the Horizon 2017) to the communities of San Ignacio and the surrounding area and let them know why we are here in Belize, specifically in San Ignacio,” said Sgt. 1st Class Lashawn Yelling, a team leader in the 413th Civil Affairs Battalion.

The Soldiers, Marines and Airmen arrived by helicopter and ground transport. The gathering was a way for the communities in and around San Ignacio and U.S. service members to meet before the next medical services event scheduled May 8-16, 2017.

Col. John Simma, Task Force Jaguar commander, engaged with the crowd and listed some of the services that will be available at the next free medical clinic. Some of the services that will be offered include pediatrics, dentistry, optometry and women’s health.

While there, the troops played basketball and soccer with the local children and gave them a tour of a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter. The children were also given snacks and small gift bags filled with school supplies.

Scouts with the local Santa Elena Jaguar Scouts Troop #27 were in attendance and lent a hand with distributing the bags and snacks.

“It is so great to see you out here and working with our community,” said Ces Flowers, the troop leader. “We can’t wait for you to come back.”

While the task force personnel and the local community were happy for the opportunity to interact with one another, the gathering served more of a purpose than just having a good time.

“It introduced us to the community and gave us a foundation to build our relationships on,” said Master Sgt. Chris Castilleja, a civil affairs specialist with the Beyond the Horizon task force.