Lieutenant Col. Maisie Wong (front right) and Sgt. Luis Velazquez (back right), civil affiars specialists from 4th Civil Affairs Group, take a photo with local firefighters at the fire station in Trujillo, Honduras on Aug. 26, 2015. The firefighters will be helping with crowd control and escorting patients during Operation Continuing Promise. Operation Continuing Promise is a mission in which the United States military works with host nations to provide humanitarian assistance and execute civil-military operations alongside various partner nations within the Caribbean and Central and South America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kirstin Merrimarahajara/released)
TRUJILLO, Honduras - Beyond an iron gate in the middle of Trujillo, Honduras sits a giant crimson truck sporting a golden title that reads “Bomberos de Honduras”. The small group of visitors that entered the fire station for a tour on Aug. 26, 2015, knows those colors well, because they match the colors of their own organization: the United States Marine Corps.
The groups of Honduran firefighters and civil affairs Marines noticed that they had even more in common after speaking to one another about the nature of their work. Both are involved in a humanitarian assistance mission taking place in Trujillo.
These fire fighters are not only responsible for battling burning buildings, but also helping out during special events by providing assistance with crowd control and escorting those who need help, which they will be doing during Operation Continuing Promise.
Operation Continuing Promise is a mission in which the United States military works with host nations to provide humanitarian assistance and execute civil-military operations alongside various partner nations within the Caribbean and Central and South America. The major mission during CP is to provide free, quality health care.
“I’m excited to help with the event,” said Fernando Dubon, 14, and a volunteer at the Trujillo fire station. “It will be a great experience.”
The civil affairs Marines finalized the details of the firefighters’ roles in CP and made sure everything would run according to plan once the ship arrives. They also noted some of the important details about the station to keep on record, like how many permanent personnel work there and what kinds of vehicles are used, just in case the U.S. is called back to Honduras for additional humanitarian assistance or disaster relief missions.
“Part of the civil affairs mission is to assess host nation capabilities and we assess buildings like police stations, fire stations and hospitals,” said Lt. Col. Maisie Wong, civil affairs officer, 4th Civil Affairs Group. “We also need to establish relationships and create partnerships, so if we come to assist we already know their capabilities and personnel. Everything is easier to coordinate when we know each other.”
From Aug. 28 until Sept. 5, both countries will work together to ensure the success of Continuing Promise and to build an everlasting friendship all the while.
Fire trucks wait to be called upon at a station in Trujillo, Honduras. A Marine Corps civil affairs team toured the station on Aug. 26, 2015, and talked with the firefighters about their roles in Operation Continuing Promise. Operation Continuing Promise is a mission in which the United States military works with host nations to provide humanitarian assistance and execute civil-military operations alongside various partner nations within the Caribbean and Central and South America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kirstin Merrimarahajara/released)
Fire helmets hang on the wall of the fire station in Trujillo, Honduras on Aug. 26, 2015. A Marine Corps civil affairs team toured the fire station to confirm its role in Operation Continuing Promise. Operation Continuing Promise is a mission in which the United States military works with host nations to provide humanitarian assistance and execute civil-military operations alongside various partner nations within the Caribbean and Central and South America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kirstin Merrimarahajara/released)
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Luis Velazquez and Lt. Col. Maisie Wong (from left to right), civil affairs specialists from 4th Civil Affairs Group, speak with Chris Slotta, project management assistant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Francisco Martinez, local firefighter, about how the fire station will be helping during Operation Continuing Promise in Trujillo, Honduras on Aug. 26, 2015. Operation Continuing Promise is a mission in which the United States military works with host nations to provide humanitarian assistance and execute civil-military operations alongside various partner nations within the Caribbean and Central and South America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kirstin Merrimarahajara/released)
Francisco Dubon, a volunteer from Trujillo fire station, poses with a fire truck in Trujillo, Honduras on Aug. 26, 2015. Dubon will be helping, along with other firefighters, during Operation Continuing Promise. Operation Continuing Promise is a mission in which the United States military works with host nations to provide humanitarian assistance and execute civil-military operations alongside various partner nations within the Caribbean and Central and South America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kirstin Merrimarahajara/released)
