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HomeMediaNews

# Beyond the Horizon civic assistance exercise opens in Guatemala

By Lt. Col. Carol McClellandArmy South Public Affairs

                Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston  –              
Guatemalan and U.S. forces stood side by side in formationduring a ceremony to open a joint-foreign military humanitarian civicassistance exercise called Beyond the Horizon April 7 in San Marcos, Guatemala.

Nestled between lush, green fields scattered with grazingcows, a variety of military vehicles displayed in an arch formation showcasedsome 

Guatemalan army equipment. 

Nearby, Soldiers from the Guatemalan Mountain Brigadedemonstrated their capabilities as they repelled from trees and across ropes asdifferent colors of smoke wafted through the air. A military band playedceremonial music and the Color Guard, which included flags from both nations,marched to the center of the field. 

Speakers took turns with translations shifting from Spanishto English for an audience that included the Guatemalan Minister of Defense anda number of other Guatemalan government cabinet members, as well as seniorranking military officials from both countries.

“This will be a tremendous achievement and proof that partnershipsdo work,” said Brig. Gen. Richard Torres, Army South deputy commanding general,formally kicking off the 15-week event that began in March. “Thanks to therelationships built and sustained with our Guatemalan partners through previousexercises and operations, we are able to build upon our training andinteraction to enhance security and stability in the region.”

Beyond the Horizon is a U.S. Southern Command joint trainingexercise that takes place annually in designated countries. 

As the land service component to SOUTHCOM and the leadexecutive agent, U.S. Army South works closely with partner nation armies inCentral and South America and the Caribbean to strengthen security cooperationthroughout the Western hemisphere. 

The planning for 

Beyond the Horizon 2016 in Guatemala began about 18 monthsearlier, according to planners who said sharing knowledge and skills andworking together helps enhance partner nation capacity and the ability torespond collectively to real-world threats. 

Active, Reserve and National Guard forces are taking part,as well as participants from Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Peru and Canada. Themajority of the U.S. participants rotate for several weeks at a time but thereare also some long-term duration staff. 

Plans for this exercise include the completion of fiveengineering projects – three medical clinics and two schools, giving servicemembers from the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marines and Guatemalan forces theopportunity to work together with governmental and non-governmental agencies. 

But Dr. Marylin de Sosa, Guatemalan Ministry of Healthinternational cooperation coordinator saw the exercise as a much more importantopportunity for her country.

“There are problems in Guatemala because of corruption,” deSosa said. “We want to change that, but we can’t do it alone. There are toomany infrastructure and equipment problems and we can’t fix everything quickly.But the population requires that we fix problems as quickly as we can becausethere are people dying. We are very thankful for the help that’s being offeredthrough this program, especially the medical centers and all the equipmentthat’s going to be in there as well.” 

In addition to the planned construction projects, thisBeyond the Horizon exercise includes three medical assistance events that willprovide public health and preventative medicine, adult and pediatric medicine,medical education, immunizations, and nutritional counseling as well asdentistry to remote communities. Medical providers are prepared to treat up to1,000 patients a day at each location.

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