Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 143rd Infantrymen join Hondurans on range, in sky By Sgt. 1st Class Brenda Benner
                Texas Military Forces Public Affairs
 SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras - Airborne infantrymen from the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division shared their small weapons training expertise with an elite group of Honduran military professionals on Sept. 11-13. After two days of aiming at targets, paratroopers from both countries aimed at something much larger: the terra firma lying 1,500 feet below them. Members of the 143rd Infantry Detachment (Long Range Surveillance) supported one of the training and mentoring programs of U.S. Army South (USARSO) by joining their Honduran counterparts for weapons familiarization and urban infantry tactics to enhance their skills. Repetitive training benefits not only students, but also instructors and demonstrators. Plans officer Maj. Clarence Henderson said he expects USARSO's small unit familiarization program (SUFP) to gain momentum next year under the leadership of Col. Rick R. Riera, USARSO's director of operations, who is a strong supporter of multinational training. The SUFP pairs U.S. Soldiers with those from Central and South America partnership nations to foster an environment of mutual learning, respect and familiarity with their brothers-in-arms. "When people think of USARSO, they think of humanitarian missions because that's what everybody sees," said Henderson. "That's great, but also these coalition training missions "¦ when our guys are standing next to others '11-bravo to 11-bravo,' this is where the high payoff of training [originates]. It's simple Army talk. Soldiers share their common goals and problems and find out that they aren't that different from one another." Just like brothers-in-arms indeed -- such as enjoying their shared challenge of hitting that perfect bull's-eye or bailing out of a perfectly functioning CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Airborne Ranger Capt. Matt Perritte, commander of the 143rd Infantry Detachment, said his infantrymen have valuable insight to share based on their combat experience. Eighty percent of his detachment's members have been to Iraq. The first day of weapons training had a different look to it than is customary on a range. Clad in matching desert tan unit T-shirts and blue jeans, the 36th Infantry Division Soldiers didn't let their temporarily lost luggage and gear situation hamper their mission. Just as expected, they made do with what they had plus a few borrowed Kevlar helmets. Their Honduran forces counterparts consisted of a team of 30 pulled from a 130-man detachment of Army, Navy and Air Force professionals who currently form a rapid response team known as the Peacekeeping Operations Battalion. Many of those in attendance were preparing for their U.N. peacekeeping mission to Haiti by learning additional urban operations tactics. Honduran Army Col. Raul Gutierrez, the liaison officer between his army and Soto Cano-based Joint Task Force Bravo, explained besides responding to natural disasters in the Central American region, the unit also provides local security for U.S. forces during USARSO's medical readiness training exercises and New Horizons humanitarian missions. He said working together helps build upon relationships necessary to provide support for USARSO's "Beyond the Horizons" mission during 2008. Staff Sgt. Andres Flores, who is sniper qualified, had many helpful hints for the Honduran infantrymen as they reinforced their firing skills. After stationary single-shots, they began firing multiple shots while turning and moving forward. "In the real world we shoot more than just one bullet," Flores said candidly. "We'll progress to target discrimination drills in which we use black, orange and red targets. I will quickly call out a color for them to engage when they turn around." Flores said everyone would spend one day with M-16 rifles and another with M-9 pistols. He said he suspected that many of the Honduran enlisted had never fired pistols before. Honduran Army 2nd Lt. Javier Perez, a jumpmaster and a graduate of the U.S. Army's Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga., said he rarely gets the opportunity to shoot lots of ammunition. He said he had shot more during the first day with the U.S. Army-supplied ammunition than during several previous qualification outings combined. Besides perfecting their marksmanship, the Honduran forces learned the finer points of entering and clearing buildings while in stack or file formations. They also practiced safe techniques for going around corners. "We're expanding beyond the army field manuals to include our practical field experiences," explained Sgt. 1st Class Jesse L. Kennis II,operations sergeant for the LRS detachment. "We're always learning how to handle weapons for more realistic scenarios." While Kennis acknowledged rifle skills were the primary focus for the training, he admitted to what most airborne qualified Soldiers really enjoy -- jumping. "We'll jump together from a Chinook, then do a wing exchange," Kennis said. "We are authorized to wear foreign jump wings on our Class A uniforms. A lot of our younger Soldiers don't have foreign wings, so they are looking forward to it." Perez echoed the exact same thoughts on behalf of his troops. "None of our airborne soldiers here have jumped with Americans before," said Perez. "They want to wear the U.S. jump wings." The lieutenant said the coalition training was a good idea. "It would be great for us to train with the U.S. Army two to three times a year."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Washington Guard, Royal Thai Army Conduct Expert Exchange
 By Joseph Siemandel,
  Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park
 By Lt. Col. Darrin Haas,
  Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match
 By Master Sgt. Charles Johnston,
  More
 Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park Guard News • 22 hours ago
 Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match Guard News • yesterday
 West Virginia Air National Guard Wing Conducts ’Super Drill’ Guard News • yesterday
 Idaho Medical Airmen Train in Field to Boost Readiness Guard News • 2 days ago
 Alaska Air National Guard rescues 6 plane crash victims Guard News • 2 days ago
 2024 (189)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil