NACO, Honduras – A Missouri Army National guardsman is serving as the force protection officer for Beyond the Horizon 2012 Honduras, a civil-military exercise that is dedicated to working together with the Hondurans to provide and humanitarian and engineering assistance.
Capt. Daniel Richards, of Shawnee, Kan. and member of the 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Kansas City, wears a dual hat as the force protection and anti-terrorism officer as well as the personnel recovery officer for U.S. military members participating in the BTH exercise.
“I work with Capt. Oscar Silva, together we coordinate with the host nation for all aspects of security in the area of operations and at the forward operating base,” Richards said. “We also ensure security for visitors and VIPs.”
Beyond the Horizon Honduras is an Army South exercise deploying military engineers and medical professionals to Honduras for training, while providing services to rural communities. U.S. Army engineers working with host nation personnel are building medical clinics and schoolhouses for the local Hondurans.
The force protection team works to ensure security is maintained at the construction sites.
“We conduct site visits several times a week,” Richards said. “We visually see the progress the soldiers are making, but we also observe the host nation security forces at the work sites. We also observe the public observing us. Through our observations we validate and verify the force protection plans we have in place.”
Richards comes from a military police background, but this particular exercise is outside of what he has previously been familiar with.
“Working with the host nation officers and the security operations here gives me an exposure to a different type of security operation,” Richards said.
The exposure and experiences working with the host nation officers has been the best and most challenging part of the BTH mission for Richards, he said.
“The language barrier between us has been the hardest part,” Richards said. “Silva is fluent in Spanish so he is able to help with the communication flow. His presence has truly been invaluable.”
Richards arrived in Honduras in the middle of March and is scheduled to return home in July.
“I look forward to seeing my wife, first and foremost,” Richards said. “I’m also looking forward to being reunited with the rest of my family and friends.”
Richards also has two vacations planned after his return to the U.S.
“I’m going on a motorcycle trip in July where we’ll ride through five different states,” Richards said. “I also have a weeklong trip to Mexico planned in the fall.”
Richards has served in the U.S. military for 25 years. He started out in the Marine Corps for six years before joining the Missouri National Guard. He deployed to Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and to Kosovo in 2008.
Richards is supported in his military career by his wife of 13 years and two stepsons.