Task Force Arriero Commander visits school, set for renovations

By U.S. ArmyApril 18, 2012

Task Force Arriero Commander visits school set for renovations
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SARRAX-OCH, Guatemala " Children gather as the sun wanes and watch Guatemalan and U.S. Soldiers before the ceremony begins and signifies the opening of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012 (BTH) operations in the town of Sarrax-Och. Soldiers deployed in... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Task Force Arriero Commander visits school set for renovations
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Children investigate as U.S. Army Soldiers, deployed to Guatemala in support of the U.S. Army South-led humanitarian and military engineering exercise Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012 (BTH), prepare work site lighting equipment in the town of Sarrax... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Task Force Arriero Commander visits school set for renovations
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. John Findley, commander of the Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012 (BTH) Partnership for the Americas command and control element (PACCE), the 35th Engineer Brigade, Missouri National Guard, looks on as town officials address the gathered crow... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Task Force Arriero Commander visits school set for renovations
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A young girl in the town of Sarrax-Och, site of a ceremony officially starting military engineering operations on behalf of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012 (BTH) on April 16, 2012, shields her eyes and looks at the U.S. Army Soldier taking her pict... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Task Force Arriero Commander visits school set for renovations
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. John Findley, commander of the Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012 (BTH) Partnership for the Americas command and control element (PACCE), the 35th Engineer Brigade, Missouri National Guard, looks on as town officials address the gathered crow... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SARRAX OCH, Guatemala - Beyond the Horizon 2012 Task Force Arriero Commander, Lt. Col. John Findley from the Missouri Army National Guard 35th Engineer Brigade, visited the a site on April 17 where U.S. Soldiers working with Guatemalan personnel will renovate at school.

"Along with our construction project, we are looking to build a partnership with the people of Guatemala. Findley said. Our soldiers will gain valuable experiences that will be a lasting legacy of our partnership together."

The 35th Engineering Brigade will take the lead in the school renovation. The task force Soldiers working with Guatemalan forces will add a roof to an existing structure and install new bathrooms. In addition they will build another building to add additional classroom space. They estimate the project will take approximately three months.

BTH Honduras 2012 is an Army South exercise deploying military engineers and medical professionals to Guatemala for training, while providing services to rural communities. BTH is part of U.S. Southern Command's annual humanitarian and civic assistance program.

Sergeant 1st Class Gregory Estep, who's a member of the Missouri Training Site, is serving as the project manager and looking forward to working on this project.

"I'm really excited to have this opportunity to work with the people of Sarrax Och. We're going to make sure they get the best effort the Missouri National Guard has to give," said Estep

TF Arriero is schedule to work on several projects while in the area. The projects include school renovation, medical assistance projects and construction of clinics.

According to Findley, working closely with host nation forces and civilian organizations, BTH teams participate in a valuable training opportunity and provide medical, dental and engineering support.