An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

U.S. Southern Command

Search
Search

Search

-  Home		 
-  About    -  About Main             
  -  Area of Responsibility             
  -  Leadership             
  -  SOUTHCOM Components and Units             
  -  History             
  -  SOUTHCOM Inspector General 
-  Commander's Priorities    -  Commander's Priorities Main             
  -  Strengthen Partnerships      -  Theater Maintenance Partnership Initiative (TMPI) 
  -  Counter Threats             
  -  Build Our Team 
-  Media    -  Media Main             
  -  News             
  -  Press Releases             
  -  Photos             
  -  Videos             
  -  Speeches | Transcripts             
  -  Special Coverage             
  -  SOUTHCOM Podcast 
-  USAG-M / Military-Family Services    -  U.S. Army Garrison-Miami      -  Equal Employment Opportunity Office 
  -  Overview of Services at SOUTHCOM             
  -  About the SOUTHCOM Installation and Local Community             
  -  Miami Family and MWR      -  Army Community Services             
    -  Child, Youth and School Services             
    -  Leisure Travel Services             
    -  Fitness Center 
  -  Visiting SOUTHCOM             
  -  Army Health Clinic SOUTHCOM             
  -  Hurricane Preparedness Info             
  -  Conference Center of the Americas             
  -  Theater Clearance Info             
  -  SOUTHCOM Chaplain             
  -  TEAM SOUTHCOM - Total Engagement for All Members of U.S. Southern Command             
  -  Logistics Readiness Center-Miami             
  -  Public Notice – Environmental Assessment for the Construction of a Military Housing Development             
  -  SHARP (SAPR) 
-  Newcomers    -  Newcomers Main             
  -  Sponsor Request             
  -  Directions to SOUTHCOM             
  -  Army Newcomers             
  -  Navy Newcomers             
  -  Air Force Newcomers             
  -  Marine Corps Newcomers             
  -  Coast Guard Newcomers             
  -  Reserve Newcomers             
  -  Civilian Newcomers             
  -  Contractor Newcomers             
  -  Family Member Newcomers             
  -  Newcomers to Overseas Locations in SOUTHCOM 
-  Work With Us    -  Employment | Careers             
  -  Public / Private Cooperation             
  -  Operational Contract Support             
  -  SOUTHCOM Industry Engagement 
-  FOIA    -  FOIA Main             
  -  How to file A FOIA Request             
  -  FOIA Fees and Exemptions             
  -  Your FOIA Rights             
  -  ​FOIA Reading Room 
-  Contact    -  Contact SOUTHCOM             
  -  Community Requests             
  -  FAQ             
  -  Contact SOUTHCOM Inspector General             
  -  Directions to SOUTHCOM 

HomeMediaPress Releases

# RELEASE: Joint Task Force-Leeward Islands relocates base of operations

**Press Release POCs:** CDR John Ferrari: (818) 421-3062  |  Capt. Jeremy Croft: (786) 452-4650  |  Jose Ruiz: (305) 437-1205

MIAMI (Sept. 23, 2017) – The U.S. military task force supporting U.S. foreign disaster relief to St. Martin and Dominica is relocating its base of operations from Puerto Rico to three Caribbean locations in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Joint Task Force-Leeward Islands (JTF-LI) is moving its main command and control element to Martinique while shifting the bases for its fixed-wing aircraft to Barbados and rotary-wing aircraft to Guadeloupe.

The relocation was necessary due to the impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico and the need to have supporting U.S. forces closer to St. Martin and Dominica. JTF-LI had been primarily operating out of Muñiz Air National Guard Base in San Juan. The move includes about 300 military personnel, eight helicopters, and four C-130 Hercules aircraft.

U.S. Southern Command first deployed JTF-LI to the Caribbean Sept. 9 to support the evacuation of U.S. citizens and provide assistance to the Dutch and French governments on St. Martin in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Yesterday, U.S. Southern Command expanded the JTF-LI mission to include support to the government of Dominica after Hurricane Maria. The expanded mission includes the addition of the U.S. Navy amphibious ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) to join JTF-LI. 

JTF-LI missions are in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development/Office of U.S Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), which serves as the lead U.S. federal agency for foreign disaster relief efforts. Evacuation of U.S. citizens is in support of the U.S. State Department.

JTF-LI suspended operations Sept. 18 as Hurricane Maria approached the Leeward Islands, sheltering personnel and aircraft at Muñiz Air National Guard Base and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen in Puerto Rico. A small element of the task force remained in St. Martin to work with French and Dutch authorities and resume support of relief operations as quickly as conditions allowed.

The task force is comprised of about 300 military personnel ashore and about 1,100 personnel aboard USS Wasp. The task force includes USS Wasp (LHD 1), the support of 10 helicopters (two from USS Wasp), and four C-130 Hercules aircraft. Previously, USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) delivered aid to St. Martin.

In St. Martin, JTF-LI has purified more than 22,000 gallons and distributed more than 7,000 gallons of water, delivered nine water purification systems, as well as high-capacity forklifts and vehicles to help the Dutch and French governments offload and distribute aid to the island’s residents.

JTF-LI forces are currently providing C-130 evacuation flights for U.S. citizens in Dominica from Douglas-Charles (Melville) Airport during daylight hours. For U.S. citizens who are injured or otherwise unable to traverse the island, the U.S. military is providing a limited number of helicopter flights from Portsmouth to the Douglas-Charles Airport. 
JTF-LI missions are in support to foreign relief efforts led by USAID/OFDA. U.S. military support to relief in U.S. territories is being led by U.S. Northern Command in Colorado, which is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies’ aid to Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. 

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT                

## Related Links

U.S. State Department Hurricane Maria notice to citizens

## Related Factsheets

USAID Relief to the Caribbean

U.S. Military Support to Hurricanes Irma and Maria Relief in the Eastern Caribbean