U.S. military personnel will deploy to the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti and Suriname to conduct comprehensive humanitarian civic assistance exercises from February through September 2011. As part of the Beyond the Horizon & New Horizons exercise programs, troops specializing in engineering, construction and health care will provide much needed services to communities in need while receiving valuable deployment training and building important relationships with partner nations. Exercises in each nation will last several months.
Photos:
 PARAMARIBO, SURINAME -- Sgt. Christopher Niblick, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Washington D.C., and Staff Sgt. Rob Mineau, 820th Red Horse Expeditionary Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, distribute school supplies to 303 children from the O.S. Marienburg school, July 25 in Paramaribo, Suriname. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Theanne Tangen) |
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Overview:
Beyond the Horizon (BTH) and New Horizons (NH) are Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored joint and combined field training humanitarian exercises. During the exercises, U.S. troops will work with a variety of governmental and non-governmental agencies to train in civil-military operations skill sets while providing medical and dental care and engineering support to local populations. The exercises are planned and coordinated closely with multiple agencies and host nation governments to creatively address the level and scope of medical care and engineering assistance required.
U.S. Army South is the executive agent for the two BTH exercises in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador and for the NH exercise in Haiti. The NH exercise in Suriname will be led by U.S. Air Forces South.
Deploying U.S. personnel:
Hundreds of U.S. service members, representing National Guard and Reserve forces from all services will be in Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti and Suriname at any one time during each exercise. The vast majority of personnel deploy for short periods of time, not including long-term staff.
BTH and NH require units to carefully plan and conduct logistical operations to support these deployments to remote regions. Such mobilization and real-world execution provides unparalleled training that cannot be simulated in the United States.
Humanitarian services provided:
CONSTRUCTION: Troops will build/renovate schools, medical clinics, community centers, water wells, and road improvements.
MEDICAL: U.S. military health care professionals will conduct Medical Readiness Training Exercises (MEDRETEs) in each country, working with host nation medical personnel to provide general and specialized medical and dental services to thousands of citizens requiring care. The exercises also include veterinarian care, a vital service that ensures the health of valuable food sources and helps prevent diseases that could be passed from animals and livestock to a population. The training events enhance the medical readiness training of U.S. forces as well as provide sustained health benefit to the population.
Background:
Beyond the Horizon is a joint service, interagency Combined Field Training Exercise. Began in 2008, BTH continues U.S. Southern Command’s proud legacy of humanitarian civic assistance exercise programs.
BTH is a concept that integrates several U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH) events under one umbrella thereby making best use of resources. The Texas-based ARSOUTH is the coordinating authority for the planning and execution of this exercise, which is sponsored by U.S. Southern Command. The governments of each participating nation, the U.S. Department of State, and Department of Defense have carefully evaluated and approved these exercises.
New Horizons is an annual series of joint and combined humanitarian assistance exercises that U.S. Southern Command conducts in Latin American and Caribbean nations. Since New Horizons began in the mid-1980s, U.S. troops have deployed annually for the exercise.