Photo By Staff Sgt. Debra Cook | U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Jaylon Chavis, 301st Quarter Master Water Support Company,...... read more read more
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EL SALVADOR - Up winding hilly roads, nestled in the lush green jungles of El Salvador is Forward Operating Base (FOB) Miraflores, in La Paz, El Salvador, where you will find members of most branches of the United States military working side-by-side with the El Salvador army to build four schools, a medical clinic and provide medical service to the Salvadoran citizens during Beyond the Horizon 2018.
There are 48 modular tents, 45 showers, 44 latrines, 17 sets of washers and dryers, and six ice machines in place for personnel living on the FOB. Six trucks of water come in and out daily carrying over 30,000 gallons of water for processing.
The U.S. Army Reserve 301st Quartermaster Water Support Company out of Michigan purifies the water for the personnel living on the FOB. For three female soldiers in the 301st, this is their first experience on a humanitarian mission. Despite the heat and technical challenges their morale is high.
First Lt. Brandy Walkington said, “It empowers you because we’re all a part of something so much bigger. Here we are having this little piece in it, but at the end of the day we are a part of something bigger than ourselves and we’re having an impact.”
57-year-old preventative medical officer Lt. Col. John Schmitt, with the 330th Medical Brigade U.S. Army Reserves from Chicago, Illinois, is here for the duration of BTH 2018.
Schmitt ensures the drinking water is safe for personnel on the FOB, he enforces measures to reduce contamination, and makes sure latrines are functional and ready for use. Schmitt said that his primary mission is to keep down infectious, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases.
Sergeant 1st Class Claudia Antrobius, a reservist with the 390th Engineer Company from Chattanooga, Tennessee, is here for a six-week rotation. She is the Safety NCO at El Amate, one of the building sites for a new school house.
“I was most touched with the kids I get to interact with at the school. They gave me goodbye letters and it made me cry,” said Antrobius.
Sergeant Tammy Lane, also a reservist with the 390th Engineering Company, is on a rotation serving as a squad leader. She has done carpentry and cement form work during her time at BTH 2018. When her rotation is over she will return to her full-time job conducting admissions for a rehab nursing home.
“For me, having a chance to help people is really touching and has kept me going while I am here,” said Lane.
Beyond the Horizon 2018 is managed by a team of service members called Task Force Hope which promotes regional peace and stability and is a demonstration of the United States’ continued commitment to Central, South America and the Caribbean with hopes of providing long lasting benefits.
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.25.2018 14:50 |
| Story ID: | 282128 |
| Location: | SV |
| Web Views: | 385 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, LIFE ON FORWARD OPERATING BASE MIRAFLORES, LA PAZ, EL SALVADOR BEYOND THE HORIZON 2018, by SSG Debra Cook, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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