Swift Sailors and Marines Refurbish Community B-Ball Court in Nicaragua

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Rachael Leslie, High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) Public Affairs

June 14, 2010 - CORINTO, Nicaragua (NNS) -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) Sailors and Marines refurbished a community basketball court in Corinto, Nicaragua, June 10.

The ship is deployed in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010, which is designed to strengthen maritime relations with partner nations in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in the Caribbean and Central America, which includes close interaction with the local communities.

"Being able to share the experience with the locals was great," said Marine Corps Capt. Etan Anthony, a subject matter expert exchange facilitator currently deployed aboard Swift. "It really shows that both the U.S. and Nicaragua have a shared interest in regional development and security, and in improving the lives of everyone here."

The group of volunteers started the day by sanding down two large basketball goal posts, backboards, swept and taped off the concrete court to be painted. Then they repainted the court and goal posts and replaced the old, damaged basketball nets with brand new ones.

During the five-hour renovation, a few members of the local community lent a hand to the efforts and worked alongside the service members, while many small children and teens gathered around to watch. Immediately after the court was finished an impromptu game of basketball broke out between some of the volunteers and a group local teenagers.

"It was really enjoyable to get to experience the interaction on such a personal level," said Anthony."It felt, at least momentarily, like I was a part of the community."

While deployed in support of SPS 2010, Swift will visit various countries in the Caribbean island nations, Central and South America over the upcoming months. During the ship's stay in Nicaragua, the crew will meet and exchange professional knowledge with the region's civil and maritime services.

This is the fourth SPS deployment in the USSOUTHCOM AOR and the vision is to continue this effort to maintain a persistent presence in the region as a way to further enhance strong relationships. The ship 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.