Engineers, assigned to the 615th Engineer Company, Fort Carson Colorado, assigned to Operation Beyond the Horizon 2018, El Salvador build a school at Santa Rita in the Zacatecoluca area May 20, 2018. Combined Joint Task Force – Hope, the name of the Task force executing BTH 2018, are working at five such sites building a total of four school buildings and one medical clinic expansion. American forces partner with the host nation’s military, the Salvadoran Army engineers in building these structures. Each of the five work sites are assigned linguists to accurately coordinate the building techniques used in construction. Most all of the raw materials used in these buildings are sourced locally. BTH 2018 is scheduled to run from the beginning of May until the end of July and will rotate Soldiers, from many different branches, units and services in a joint humanitarian effort.
As the final pieces of the mission fell into place, the true impact of the mission became more apparent.
“The construction mission was hugely successful. The warriors received hands-on training, which is very beneficial. But bigger than that, we made a positive impact on the El Salvadorian people,” remarked LTC Heidelberg. “Working with the El Salvadorian engineers on site with us – that was a positive and big relationship builder. In addition, our engineers worked hand in hand with local [residents], local community representatives, teachers, students and the doctors at the clinics that they worked with day in and day out – they really built relationships.”
The realization of how much they were helping this community in need spurred on a philanthropic spirit amongst the Soldiers. Warriors found themselves starting fundraisers, making donations, buying toys and school supplies and assisting parents and teachers with the transition into the new schools. Community engagement became a huge part of the mission.
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