Guardsman serves on Beyond the Horizons mission

NACO, Honduras -- A Missouri Army National Guardsman is serving as the personnel officer for Beyond the Horizon 2012 Honduras, a civil-military operation that is dedicated to working together with the Hondurans.

Missouri National Guardsmen from the 1140th Engineer Battalion, in Cape Girardeau, are constructing and renovating two clinics and three schools from April to July 2012.

1st Lt. Johnny Robey, of Jefferson City, Mo. and the commander of the 880th Engineer Company, in Perryville, keeps track of all personnel issues for the troops serving on the BTH exercise.

"I help manage pay issues, tracking personnel, red cross messages, and Soldier transportation to and from Honduras through the defense travel system," Robey said. "I also help coordinate VIP visits and make sure their accommodations are in order."

This exercise is Robey's first time travelling out of the United States with the military.

The people in the rural communities in Honduras are happy with the simplicities in life, Robey said.

"Even if you do something so simple as give the kids a soccer ball to play with, they are so happy," Robey said.

Every once in awhile Robey is able to step away from his office and make it out to the areas that BTH troops are working in.

"My favorite part of this exercise is seeing the work getting done," Robey said. "I enjoy going to the sites and seeing the immediate impact of what we're here to do."

U.S. military health care professionals conduct medical readiness training exercises where they provide general and specialized medical and dental services. The BTH medical teams working with Latin American and Caribbean medical teams and non-governmental organizations build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation that requires cooperative solutions.

"I was able to make it out to a medical site," Robey said. "They set up a medical clinic at a local school. They were working in small, normal rooms similar to our offices here. Even with the simple exams the local people were receiving, they just seemed so appreciative."

Serving on this BTH exercise as a duration staff means Robey has to spend several months away from his family.

"It's always tough," Robey said. "You aren't interacting with them in day-to-day life. With FaceTime, e-mail, and texting it's easy to maintain connections. My family is accustomed to the fact that when I have to leave the house, life doesn't stop. My wife continues on with taking the kids to gymnastics, basketball, softball, and all the other daily activities."

Robey has served 15 years in the Missouri Army National Guard. He works full-time as a system administrator in information management in Jefferson City, Mo.

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