The Air
Force is contributing airmen and airlifters for continued operations in the Dominican Republic following Tropical Storm Noel. An earlier force of airmen and soldiers from Joint Task Force-Bravo, Soto Cano AB, Honduras, deployed to Dominican Republic to assist search and rescue efforts. Now, another 13 have gone in to provide medical assistance, reports SSgt. Austin May. The JTF-Bravo team is using the opportunity to conduct a Medical Readiness and Training Exercise.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.