WHO

Begun originally as road and bridge building exercises (first in Panama 1984-1985 then Honduras, this exercise program had integrated since 1990 vertical construction projects (constructing or repairing schools, medical clinics, basic sanitation facilities, and other public-use facilities) and drilling potable water wells. (From 1990 through 1995, these exercises were called Fuertes Caminos --Spanish for Strong Roads, and various other names between 1984 and 1990. Also, other names for the exercises were used for certain countries in coordination with those governments.)

From 1984 through 2005, such engineering exercises have been conducted by U.S. forces working with host nation personnel in Panama (except 1987-1989 due the increasing political crisis there), all six countries in Central America, six South American countries, and 11 island nations in the Caribbean (the last since the area came part of the Southern Command's area of operational responsibility for U.S. military activities in 1996). (See chart 1 - Humanitarian Assistance Engineering/Medical Exercises in the Region Since 1984 - by Year and Chart 2 - Humanitarian Assistance Engineering/Medical Exercises in the Region Since 1984 - by Country.)

OBJECTIVES

These military engineering activities have become a major component of the United States Southern Command's strategy of peacetime engagement: namely, nation assistance, promoting democracy, and enhancing the role of the military in a democratic society. Nation assistance activities contribute to the ultimate goal of host nations establishing self-sustaining institutions and capabilities for nation building and development.

These exercises are designed to:

First and foremost, provide unique realistic training for U.S. military units (particularly U.S. National Guard and Reserve units) in deployments to and operating in unfamiliar remote, austere environments overseas they might see in future operations (such as natural disaster relief assistance). Projects are designed to provide training in their engineer, medical, or support specialties while working with host nation military and civilian personnel in construction projects. Upon completion of the exercise, the forces redeploy to their home stations. By participating in these exercises, U.S. military personnel practice their skills in tangible projects and test their readiness which leads to enhancing U.S. military operational readiness through honing their military specialties.

The results of such exercises are not only improved skills and greater inter-operability between the Reserve component forces and active-duty military units (as well as host-nation militaries and/or civilian agencies) but also services and products for the benefit of the most underserved people in the host nations -- namely, improved or new roads and bridges, educational and medical facilities, potable water wells, and medical and dental care. (Such training opportunities are not available in the United States where the military is prohibited by law from competing with private enterprise.)

Assist host nations in their efforts to develop, restructure, and reinforce democratic institutions. They assist in enhancing the nations' humanitarian and civic action capabilities, specifically those of their security forces, for the benefit of their people. (Such exercises took on additional significance in El Salvador and Nicaragua beginning in the mid-1990s following their civil wars throughout the 1980s.

Foster goodwill and improve relations between the United States and the host nation.

Demonstrate continued United States support in strengthening democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Reserve Component (Army and Air National Guards and the Army, Air Force, and Navy/Marine Reserves) -- which has about 75 percent of the total U.S. military engineering personnel and equipment -- continues to be a primary contributor to the Southern Command's missions throughout Central and South America, particularly for engineering exercises. Through the New Horizons program alone, approximately 12,000 military engineers and medical personnel from the Reserve Component and active military units deploy each year to the region. The "citizen-soldiers" of the Reserve Component conduct their two-weeks (for National Guard and 21 days a year for the Reserves) of annual active duty training through overseas deployment for training opportunities.

Other units that participate in this exercise programs have included the Air Force's 820th Red Horse Squadron of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, the Marines’ 8th Engineer Support Battalion of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Naval Mobil Construction Battalion. (Red Horse is an Air Force acronym for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, Engineer.)

Most of the engineering exercises are joint (that is, involving more than one U.S. military service) and all of them are combined (with host nation military and/or civilian government agencies, such as ministries of public works, education, and health). An engineering exercise can last from a few weeks to six months and are conducted normally during the dry season in the host countries.

Following coordination and preparation by an advance team for the arrival of the exercise participants, heavy engineering equipment is deployed from the United states into the host country, including tractors, bulldozers, rock crushers, water purification units, and other heavy machines. A temporary base camp is generally established to house the task force for the duration of the exercise. Security during the exercise is provided by the host nation military or civilian police and U.S. military police.

Engineers focus on building road, bridges, schools and medical or multipurpose clinics, as well as drilling wells and improving existing roads and bridges. Most of these engineering exercises include medical readiness training exercises (MEDRETES). In addition to providing medical support to the task force conducting the engineering exercises, U.S. military medical personnel, along with host nation military and civilian medical personnel, provide basic medical and dental care to remote communities where medical care is not readily available. Doctors, dentists and technicians extract teeth, give inoculations, conduct basic health screening, de worm, and provide tips on dental and personal hygiene. Veterinarians inoculate livestock, spray them for parasites, and give farmers tips on how to maintain healthy animals.