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 Pennsylvania Air Guard members build clinic and forge bonds in Guatemala By Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond
                111th Attack Wing Public Affairs
 HORSHAM AIR GUARD STATION, Pa. - Nearly 100 members of the   Pennsylvania Air National Guard 201st Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy   Operational Repair Squadron Engineer units from here and Fort Indiantown Gap   deployed to build a medical clinic as part of exercise Beyond the Horizon in   La Blanca, Guatemala, Mar. 15-June 18. Once completed, the new clinic will supply basic medical care and serve as a   location to identify parasitic and insect-borne diseases, as well as   hepatitis, HIV and AIDS. Aside from the newly constructed facility, the closest medical resource to   the town is in Guatemala City, a treacherous five mile journey. "The clinic holds about eight to ten beds," said Senior Master Sgt.   Ronald Hinsey, 111th RED HORSE Squadron, Det. 1 structures superintendent.   "It has the capacity to see approximately 100 patients per day. So, this   allows medical personnel to check residents for illnesses that plague this   area, like hepatitis, AIDS, and the Zika virus." A humanitarian mission rooted with altruistic intentions was not without its   challenges. Upon initial excavation of the area, the ANG team quickly unearthed a myriad   of utilized medical supplies. The cache of used latex gloves, syringes and   vials revealed an obvious and unsettling conclusion: "We realized we   were working in a former medical waste dumping site," said Hinsey. The polluted location, a water shortage and swarms of disease-carrying   insects were a few of the many obstacles tackled by the team. Hinsey said   that the threats and security concerns were apparent, but "The   Horse" charged on. Even with the inconveniences and inherent risks, the Airmen succeed in their   fabrication efforts. "Pride," said Maj. Seth Foulkes, 111th Attack Wing RED HORSE   Squadron, Det. 1 operations flight commander. "In the RED HORSE   community, we take a lot of pride in what we do, and it doesn't matter how   challenging the environment. Our pride will not let us disappoint." As the Guardsmen forged structural bonds, they also crafted international   ones, according to Senior Airman Christopher Montague, 111th RED HORSE   Squadron, Det.1 heavy equipment operator. "Interacting with the local kids was definitely a highlight for   me," he said. "The villagers were very welcoming to us being there   - happy we were providing them with a clinic." Montague continued by telling how he and the other Air Guardsmen had   opportunities to spend time with the locals and even partake in a bit of   bartering. "It was great hanging out with the kids there; I even traded   one kid a soccer ball for a pair of socks." The Guatemalan military supplied the bed-down facilities for U.S. troops, as   well as the armed security support for all U.S. assets. However, partnerships created during the three-month mission weren't just   international. The RED HORSE members of the commonwealth also connected. "The crew was half [Fort Indiantown Gap] and half [Horsham Air Guard   Station], so we had the opportunity to work with people we don't normally   work with," Hinsey said regarding the six rotations of deployed Guard   members. Additionally, Horsham AGS's own squadron become closer during the time away   from home station. "Living, eating and working together daily, we were able to get to know   each other better than we do just on a drill weekend," said Hinsey.   "It makes us a tighter group." Foulkes reinforced Hinsey's statement, saying that while reserve forces   connect during unit training assemblies and annual tours, missions like this   one achieve enhanced results. "Forward deploying to an austere location is a great way to get to know   your folks," said Foulkes. "Because one-weekend a month you can't   do it as effectively -- so, it's a terrific opportunity." Overall, he stated that the mission was a tremendous success. The medical   clinic was properly erected for an area in desperate need, all while   strengthening local and international bonds. "The U.S. military cares," said Foulkes. "And we have a range   of military options that go beyond combat - in particular, humanitarian   assistance. "There's no better way of helping out another country than by providing   them with a facility that offers a degree of medical capacity to care for   their own people - and the RED HORSE was honored to do it."
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