The Puerto Rico National Guard welcomed a Honduran military delegation as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program. The week-long visit provided the opportunity to exchange experiences, build relationships and help strengthen the relationship between Honduras and the United States, said Capt. Rolando Rodriguez, the SPP coordinator with the Puerto Rico Guard.
The Honduran visitors had the opportunity to experience how the PRNG conducts training, manages mass communication programs and develops leadership through its military school system as they visited different training/work environments.
At the 201st Regimental Training Institute in Fort Allen, the group visited the Noncommissioned Officers Academy where they had the chance to compare the training facilities and curriculum to their own, while exchanging information and ideas with the instructors. They also witnessed today's technology available to instructors and students alike.
"We came here with high expectations, and I feel confident these expectations were exceeded," said Honduran army Col. Victoriano Salinas Olivas, NCO Academy Director, Honduran Army. "As director of the NCO Academy, I came here to see how the school works, how classes are instructed and I was very pleased with their presentation. The professionalism of the instructors and their behavior as NCOs is outstanding. These are good things I can bring back to my country."
The group also experienced some of the training capabilities and equipment available at Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Training Center during their tour.
The Hondurans had the opportunity to try the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer (HEAT), a simulator of a Humvee in which Soldiers train in survivability during vehicle roll-overs and safely egress in case of emergency.
"When the instructor asked who wanted to give it a try in the simulator I was the first one to hop in," said Salinas. "I never had this opportunity in my 35 years in the institution, especially in a vehicle that is upside down, I have never had the experience of finding myself upside down in a vehicle. Feeling all the gravity in my head was amazing."
According to Salinas, this experience has been beneficial for the Honduran. As a follow-up to this visit, members of the Puerto Rico Guard will visit Honduras to have the opportunity to experience and see how things are done there.