SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black visited personnel at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, April 22-23, 2024.
Black is the fifth Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.S. military’s highest-ranking enlisted member.
His visit to the Honduran installation, where more than 600 U.S. military personnel are assigned to Joint Task Force Bravo, focused on assessing quality of life conditions, learning about JTF-Bravo facilities and inspiring the enlisted force during an all-call.
“Your presence here is for a purpose that is greater than any single one of us,” said Black. “It is for all of us — for our partner nations and Allies.”
The SEAC is responsible for advising the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters involving joint and combined total force integration, utilization, health of the force and joint development for enlisted personnel.
During his visit, several service members were recognized for outstanding service and were coined by Black.
They were:
-
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Alexis Ortiz, Army Forces Battalion, 544th Military Police Detachment, Joint Task Force-Bravo
-
U.S. Army Spc. Izabella Conley, Army Forces Battalion, 394th Field Hospital, Joint Task Force-Bravo
-
U.S. Army Cpl. Brandon Martinez, 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force-Bravo
-
U.S. Army Sgt. Amy Rivas, 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force-Bravo
-
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christian Pizarro, 612th Air Base Squadron, Joint Task Force-Bravo
-
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. William “Chris” Schlee, 612th Air Base Squadron, Joint Task Force-Bravo
-
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jessica Shaffer, Joint Task Force Bravo J3, Operations
-
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Austin Patterson, Joint Task Force Bravo J4, Logistics
The SEAC coin is unique, shaped as a dog-tag that features the SEAC colors, as his position is the only enlisted position with its own flag.
“At Soto Cano, the U.S. Department of Defense provides humanitarian and disaster assistance, military to military leadership and development, and world-class warfighting capabilities, said Black. “No other nation can do it like we do.”
Black concluded the all-call with a declaration to the enlisted attendees.
“We have the best military history has ever known,” said Black. “Every single one of you who trains, works, supports, develops and maintains are here to do one thing -- Fight and win wars.”