An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

188th Civil Engineer Squadron nears completion of Guatemalan women's health clinic

  • Published
  • By U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Harold D. Williams
  • Task Force Arriero Public Affairs
TACTIC, Guatemala --  The Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) based in Fort Smith, Ark., has worked for the past month to construct a new women's clinic for the community of Tactic as part of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012 (BTH). The project, first scheduled for an early July completion, is currently a full month ahead of schedule and is now projected to be finished at the end of May.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Michael Morgan, BTH construction manager and Soldier with the Missouri National Guard's 35th Engineer Brigade, lauded the performance of the 188th CES, which falls under the 188th Mission Support Group of the 188th Fighter Wing.

"They're kicking butt," said Morgan.

The new building is an addition to an existing clinic, the Centro de Salud, which serves the area of Tactic and is already responsible for the delivery of a quarter of the town's children. The new 1,500-square-foot structure will function as a women's clinic and has four exam rooms, one lab, three bathrooms, a maternity ward and a waiting room.

Maj. Joe Harrison, 188th CES commander, said his Airmen have exceeded all expectations to this point.

"Any obstacles, they've adapted and overcome," Harrison said. "I'm just really proud of how they've done."

The Centro de Salud clinic has been open for more than 20 years. The clinic director for the past eight years is Hugo Hernandez. During his tenure, the clinic has assumed a 24-hour operating schedule, contributing to patient admittances nearly tripling since 2009.

The 188th CES jumped at the opportunity to deploy on the BTH mission. Guatemala and Arkansas are state partners and the 188th will use the clinic addition to give back while completing its annual training requirements.

"We are honored and humbled to be working here," Harrison said to Hernandez while on a tour to review the site's progress.

The clinic has struggled to keep up with its increasing number of patients and Hernandez expressed his gratitude for U.S. support via BTH. It's expected that these facilities will allow for 300 hundred births a year once the project is finished.

BTH is a U.S. Army South-led humanitarian aid and military engineering exercise demonstrating U.S. support and commitment to Guatemala. Between the BTH opening ceremony on April 18 and the end of operations in early July, U.S. forces will have completed construction projects at two schools, construction of three medical clinics, a short-term veterinary aid station, and the establishment of several medical care points, each able to render aid to almost 1,000 Guatemalan civilians a day.

188th Civil Engineer Squadron nears completion of Guatemalan women's health clinic

  • Published
  • By U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Harold D. Williams
  • Task Force Arriero Public Affairs
TACTIC, Guatemala --  The Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) based in Fort Smith, Ark., has worked for the past month to construct a new women's clinic for the community of Tactic as part of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012 (BTH). The project, first scheduled for an early July completion, is currently a full month ahead of schedule and is now projected to be finished at the end of May.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Michael Morgan, BTH construction manager and Soldier with the Missouri National Guard's 35th Engineer Brigade, lauded the performance of the 188th CES, which falls under the 188th Mission Support Group of the 188th Fighter Wing.

"They're kicking butt," said Morgan.

The new building is an addition to an existing clinic, the Centro de Salud, which serves the area of Tactic and is already responsible for the delivery of a quarter of the town's children. The new 1,500-square-foot structure will function as a women's clinic and has four exam rooms, one lab, three bathrooms, a maternity ward and a waiting room.

Maj. Joe Harrison, 188th CES commander, said his Airmen have exceeded all expectations to this point.

"Any obstacles, they've adapted and overcome," Harrison said. "I'm just really proud of how they've done."

The Centro de Salud clinic has been open for more than 20 years. The clinic director for the past eight years is Hugo Hernandez. During his tenure, the clinic has assumed a 24-hour operating schedule, contributing to patient admittances nearly tripling since 2009.

The 188th CES jumped at the opportunity to deploy on the BTH mission. Guatemala and Arkansas are state partners and the 188th will use the clinic addition to give back while completing its annual training requirements.

"We are honored and humbled to be working here," Harrison said to Hernandez while on a tour to review the site's progress.

The clinic has struggled to keep up with its increasing number of patients and Hernandez expressed his gratitude for U.S. support via BTH. It's expected that these facilities will allow for 300 hundred births a year once the project is finished.

BTH is a U.S. Army South-led humanitarian aid and military engineering exercise demonstrating U.S. support and commitment to Guatemala. Between the BTH opening ceremony on April 18 and the end of operations in early July, U.S. forces will have completed construction projects at two schools, construction of three medical clinics, a short-term veterinary aid station, and the establishment of several medical care points, each able to render aid to almost 1,000 Guatemalan civilians a day.