Apr 28, 2008
 By Joint Task Force Bravo Public Affairs

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras - Drivers on the highway near Tegucigalpa were treated to an unusual sight April 24 as 138 paratroopers from 17 countries descended from clear blue skies to the ground at Tamara Drop Zone, the home of the Honduran airborne school.
The paratroopers were part of an annual airborne operation hosted by the U.S. Joint Task Force-Bravo, known as Iguana Voladora, which means "the flying iguana" in Spanish. The airborne exercise is the task force's largest joint and combined training event and was developed to strengthen regional cooperation and security between countries of the Americas.
Iguana Voladora 2008 was the largest in history with Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and the United States participating.
"It is the cooperation and teamwork in joint training exercises like Iguana Voladora that strengthen our relationship with other nations' militaries and enable us to work smoothly together," said Army Lt. Col. Gregory Jicha, the airborne commander. "Together these Soldiers and Airmen represent the pride of the Americas - North, Central and South - and the expertise of well-trained paratroopers."
The three-day event began April 22 with briefings and training to prepare the paratroopers for the following day's jump.
"Safety is paramount in any airborne operation and even more critical in an operation in which the soldiers haven't had the opportunity to operate together before," said Army Maj. Michael Angell, head jumpmaster for the event. "We spent a lot of time on preparation to ensure the jump would happen safely and successfully."
On jump day, participants boarded two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from JTF-Bravo, hooked their static lines up and jumped out 1,250 feet above solid Honduran ground. Less than three hours after the first jumper left the aircraft, all 138 jumpers were on the ground safely.
"There is great tradition in this operation and all participants are brothers in the occupation of paracaidista (airborne)," said Honduran Capt. Mariano Dias, a first-time Iguana Voladora participant.
"When we get together as professional associates we get to know each other, which benefits all participating nations' militaries by allowing us to reach out to each other and rely on the friendships we developed here," Captain Dias said.
After the jump, the Honduran airborne school's officials invited the participants to a reception and ceremonial release of the operation's namesake - live iguanas. In the evening, JTF-Bravo welcomed the paratroopers back to Soto Cano Air Base for a banquet and wing exchange.

The day after the jump, JTF-Bravo hosted multiple demonstrations for visiting nations to further understand the task force's capabilities.
"We're a key presence in Central America for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance," Colonel Jicha said. "It's an excellent opportunity to show some of our partner nations' militaries what we do and what we can do to help them."
"This was an amazing event," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeff Scott, another first-time Iguana Voladora participant. "The jump went well, and I got to meet several other paratroopers. The language barrier made it hard for us to talk a lot, but when you're standing in the aircraft waiting to exit, the airborne language is universal."
The multinational airborne operation has been hosted by JTF-Bravo annually since 1997. The operation was first known as "General Francisco Morazan" and "Fuerzas Unitas" before being renamed Iguana Voladora in 2002.

 

"American Parachutists...devils in baggy pants...are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere..."
(An entry in a German officer's diary found after the Battle of Anzio)

SDMF!

IGUANA VOLADORA (FLYING IGUANA)
 

United States military personnel assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Central America, have conducted several operations in Honduras and Central America since 1994, supporting thousands of soldiers and indigents. U.S. military personnel volunteer their time interacting with soldiers and civilians from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica. Joint Task Force-Bravo was established in August 1984 to exercise command and control of U.S. Forces, exercises and operations in the Republic of Honduras. Even today, Joint Task Force-Bravo is an organization that not only exercises this command and control, but also conducts combined multi-national airborne operations. One example of this is an annual exercise called Iguana Voladora, which facilitates Joint Task Force-Bravo's and U.S. Southern Command's commitment to nurturing and improving relations with Honduras and its neighbors in Latin America.

Iguana Voladora is a unique blend of various customs and cultures with a common effort towards understanding each country's military posture and decision-making processes. Providing a "team-oriented" perspective of military operations for countries in SOUTHCOM's area of responsibility, this event helps unite potential leaders and gives them an environment in which to meet their counterparts and execute high-risk and extremely motivating military operations together. It is intended to be a continuation of multi-national operations that enhance participating countries' stability and abilities to support their neighbors in times of crisis.

The Iguana Voladora Multinational Airborne Operation annually brings representatives from North America, Central America, and South America together in a neutral setting to stimulate relations between these nations and better affect progress through unity. The event takes place at Soto Cano Air Base and Tamara Drop Zone, near the capital city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. U.S. Southern Command sponsors Iguana Voladora, delegating controlling authority to Joint Task Force-Bravo, with the effort led by Army Forces.

Iguana Voladora began Aug. 13, 1997, and included Guatemala, Honduras, and the United States. It continued progressing and was named "GENERAL FRANCISCO MORAZAN" in 1998 and "FUERZAS UNIDAS in 1999 and 2000. The first operation named Iguana Voladora was April 15-19, 2002, and included Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the United States. Since then, six Iguana Voladora operations have been performed:

· April 7-11, 2003 IGUANA VOLADORA - involving El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and United States.

· April 12-16, 2004 IGUANA VOLADORA - involving El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and United States.

· April 18-22, 2005 IGUANA VOLADORA - involving Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and United States.

· May 1-5, 2006 IGUANA VOLADORA - involving Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, and United States.

· April 29-May 4, 2007 IGUANA VOLADORA - involving Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and United States

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 Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC

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How exciting!!

http://www.fortpolkguardian.com/articles/2008/05/09/fort_polk_news/10ideas.txt

Missed that one 509trooper. Slapping my boots, SGT!

"American Parachutists...devils in baggy pants...are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere..."
(An entry in a German officer's diary found after the Battle of Anzio)

509Trooper (5/9/2008)

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Note the shoulder patch in the photo.

http://www.fortpolkguardian.com/articles/2008/05/09/fort_polk_news/10ideas.txt

The 27 soldiers from the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment jumped with 22 Honduran "paracaidistas" throughout the morning from a Joint Task Force-Bravo UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, according to Maj. Michael Angell, a jumpmaster for the event from Joint Task Force-Bravo.

Good stuff our 509th Brothers jumping in Central America.

 

I'm Surprised Panama's still sea level, after all the Push Ups