# 99026. Joint Security Unit Guards the Force in Honduras

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By Pfc. Chrishaun Peeler
Special to the American Forces Press Service

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- The 53 airmen and soldiers 
of the Joint Task Force�Bravo Joint Security Force here 
have one of the most important jobs of all -- keeping U.S. 
personnel and their equipment safe and secure.

"The Air Force and the Army both bring strengths to the 
table. We blend those strengths together to learn from each 
other," said Air Force Maj. Brady Reitz, security force 
commander. "We're working together to accomplish a common 
goal." Airmen serve a one-year assignment while soldiers of 
the 66th Military Police Company, Fort Lewis, Wash., serve 
six-month rotations.

"Even though we have our way of operating and the Army has 
its way, we're all policemen. We may not do everything the 
same, but we're flexible. We adapt and overcome," said Air 
Force Staff Sgt. Hermel Monterio, noncommissioned officer-
in-charge of physical security. "It all works out. 
Everybody gets a taste of what the other one is doing. That 
helps the airmen and soldiers gain more respect for each 
other."

"It's critical that we get along, or it wouldn't work," 
Reitz said. "We have to be a team. We integrate the shifts 
and do everything possible to work together."

Since Hurricane Mitch, JSF has had to increase its 
operations tempo. First of all, the air base population 
today is four times its normal size. The force patrols the 
base, guards the flight line, performs escort duties 
throughout Honduras and secures forward bases. It also 
provided security during visits by Hillary Clinton, Tipper 
Gore and Army Secretary Louis Caldera.

"When Mitch hit, everybody kicked in," said executive 
officer Army 1st Lt. William Poole. "They're getting up 
every morning and doing real-world missions, seeing results 
each time. We're helping doctors, vets and anybody else who 
needs it. A lot of the airmen and soldiers went on relief 
missions, and it gave everybody a sense of pride, because 
we were helping to rebuild the country and making an 
impact."

"Besides guarding the soldiers, vehicles and supplies, I 
helped with the work. I did anything I could to help out, 
from spraying bugs to carrying water," said Army MP Pfc. 
Broderick Kimble. "I want to help out anyway I can. I feel 
pretty good about myself because I'm actually going out 
there and helping to make a difference."

The Joint Security Force has been joined by Marine and Navy 
law enforcement officers, which Poole said has been a big 
help. "They're going around to the living areas and clubs 
to make sure everything stays cool. They're doing a great 
job," he said.

All the Americans are working with Honduran security forces 
as well. "Even though there might be a language barrier, 
we're still learning from each other," Reitz said. "We have 
joint patrols every day -- Air Force, Army and Honduran."

"I like working with the Hondurans. We help each other out, 
and it's almost like working with another U.S. service 
member," Kimble said. "We're doing the same job, but just a 
little different. They have their rules and I have mine, 
but we're accomplishing the same mission."

"Everybody's come together to help make this relief mission 
a success," Poole said. "No one service could have done it 
alone."

[Pfc. Chrishaun Peeler of the 49th Public Affairs 
Detachment (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., is assigned to the 
U.S. military relief effort in Honduras.]

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