HSV Swift Brings Subject Matter Expert Exchanges to El Salvador

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim Williams, High Speed Vessel Swift 2 Public Affairs

June 22, 2010 - LA UNION, El Salvador (NNS) -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 arrived in La Union, El Salvador to conduct subject matter expert exchanges as part of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010 with the El Salvadorian defense force June 18.

This is the fourth stop for SPS 2010.

Sailors, Marines and DoD civilians aboard Swift will work with personnel from the country trading ideas and best practices about various topics in the Maritime community including port and physical security, leadership and various marine corps subjects. 



"As with our previous stops, we are looking to keep an open, candid line of communication with the El Salvadorian defense forces in hopes that all involved will benefit from the wealth of information exchanged," said Capt. Kurt Hedberg, SPS 2010 mission commander. "We know that the El Salvadorian's have many things to share with us and we with them. We are eager to continue to strengthen our partnership with this country and to bolster regional, maritime safety and security throughout Central and South America." 



SPS 2010 is a deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility in the Caribbean and Central America. Its primary goal is information exchanging with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout these regions.

By adding a formal structure to these exchanges, as well as focusing resources and efforts specifically to the needs of the countries visited, SPS aims to achieve common security goals through its partnerships and collaborations. 



"The success of SPS 2010 will validate the SPS concept and will set the stage for subsequent deployments," said Hedberg. "It is important to both the U.S. and every country we visit, that the participants keep an open mind and line of communication when interacting with one another so that we get the most accurate and relative insight into how to improve our military's maritime practices."





Swift is operated and navigated by 17 civilian contract mariners working for a private company under charter to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command.