By Chicago Times Magazine –

November 19, 2025

Joint Task Force Bravo and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit led a major humanitarian operation in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa, providing lifesaving assistance from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13.

Nine aircraft supported the mission, including CH-47 Chinooks, UH-60 Black Hawks, and CH-53E Super Stallions operating from the USS San Antonio. Crews flew 133 sorties totaling 249 hours, transporting more than 779,000 pounds of relief supplies. Deliveries included 600,000 pounds of food and water, 179,000 pounds of equipment, and 428 personnel movements.

The task force partnered with the Jamaica Defence Force and the U.S. State Department’s Disaster Assistance Response Team to reach dozens of isolated communities. A forward arming and refueling point supplied nearly 25,000 gallons of fuel, enabling rapid turnaround for aircraft. Marine air traffic controllers coordinated landing zones, cargo loading, and refueling operations to sustain the pace of flights.

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on Oct. 28 as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph. Within 72 hours, U.S. forces were on the ground, reinforcing the State Department-led response and coordinating emergency deliveries of food, water, and shelter materials.

The mission highlighted longstanding cooperation between U.S. Southern Command and regional partners. JTF Bravo, based in Honduras, serves as Southcom’s rapid response element, providing airlift, medical, logistics, and security support during crises. The 22nd MEU, a forward-deployed force with aviation, ground, and logistics components, supplemented the operation with additional lift and logistics capacity to accelerate recovery efforts.

Feature image: Marines and sailors assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, load supplies on a CH-53E Super Stallion – Marine Corps Sgt. Nathan Mitchell, Department of War