When there is a crisis somewhere around the globe our military men and women dawn the appropriate hat and go to work. We hear a lot nowadays about Iraq and Afghanistan, as we probably should, but I love to hear stories of when America’s finest take off the combat helmet and wear a hat of a totally different make.

A few months ago, the Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element performed a Medical Civil Action Program, or MEDCAP, treating 2,987 people in several different cities affected by the El Salvador mudslides. We were so caught up by the health care debate, Guantanamo Bay and Christmas shopping that the story of the natural disaster in El Salvador went widely unnoticed.

The U.S. Army medical team responding to the crisis was only 10 strong, but they impacted the health and well-being of thousands. It’s easy to see the theaters where we have sent hundreds of thousands of soldiers to fight and sacrifice allowing these others to work in anonymity and without fanfare. There were no engagements to be won. No hilltops or city blocks to be taken from the enemy. There wasn’t any reason to even draw a weapon. But there was real work done. The United States Army demonstrated again its compassion and commitment to peace and health, not on national television or for any political purpose, but rather because it was the human thing to do.

Way to be Army Strong JTF-Bravo