U.S. 4th Fleet Admiral Highlights Humanitarian Response, Partnerships in the Americas

From U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

June 25, 2010 - MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet spoke with various DOD Press Corps June 25, about the command's upcoming two-year anniversary in July 2010, humanitarian disaster relief in Haiti, as well as his experiences since taking command.

"The U.S. Navy supports a range of maritime operations with our partner navies throughout the region, but a major focus is in support of counter-illicit trafficking operations," said Rear Adm. Vic Guillory. "At any time I have a half a dozen ships, a dozen aircraft, and perhaps a thousand personnel throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, who are working with our partner nations under our tactical command Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) in Key West on illicit trafficking activities."

Guillory responded to the first question from Cid Standifer of Inside the Navy, about the lessons learned from the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti Jan. 12.

"Over the course of the last year, we've been on a path to mature the staff in behaviors, activities and processes to support a full range of operations, including humanitarian disaster response," said Guillory. "The devastating earthquake in Haiti accelerated that process with 4th Fleet, and the staff doubled in personnel with augmentees that came from the Navy around the world. We went from our usual number of deployed assets primarily focused around counter-illicit trafficking, to two dozen ships; an aircraft carrier, and amphibious ready groups with thousands of Marines, along with Military Sealift Command ships."

Guillory also commented on the tremendous job his staff performed during disaster relief operations in Haiti.

"I am so proud and impressed with how these terrific Sailors and civilian personnel performed," said Guillory. "We exercised exceptional command and control of those forces. The Navy gave us about 15,000 Sailors and Marines, and we returned them upon mission completion with all ten fingers and ten toes."

Sam Lagrone from Jane's Defense, asked about the current relationship between the U.S. and the countries within 4th Fleet's area of responsibility (AOR) after having some friction between some of the countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America from the re-establishment of the numbered fleet nearly two years ago.

"It was my top priority when I got this job," said Guillory. "I can report that I have visited just about every country in the region. During these visits, I have been warmly received and have engaged in productive discussion on a range of maritime topics. We've been able to enhance relationships with my counterparts in those navies. I think the relationships are healthy and improving."

Guillory closed with thanks to the individuals from the DOD news agencies for taking an interest in 4th Fleet and its role in the Navy and in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

"I want to thank you very much," said Guillory. "It's easy for me to talk about what the Navy does in the U.S. Southern Command's (USSOUTHCOM) AOR. Our Navy's branding is 'Global Force for Good'. Hopefully you'll have the opportunity to see what that 'Global Force for Good' is also doing with our partners in the Caribbean, Central and South America."

COMUSNAVSO is the naval component command for U.S. Southern Command and is responsible for all Naval personnel and assets in the area of responsibility. COMUSNAVSO conducts a variety of missions in support of the U.S. Maritime Strategy, including Theater Security Cooperation, relationship building, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, community relations, and counter-illicit trafficking operations.