Iwo Jima Hosts Continuing Promise Reception

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Morgan E. Dial, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs

MIAMI (NNS) -- USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) hosted distinguished visitors for a reception and tour July 19 in honor of commencing Continuing Promise 2010.

Continuing Promise is an annual humanitarian civic assistance operation that provides the opportunity to establish partnerships with other government agencies, nongovernment organizations (NGO) and international partners.

More than 30 NGOs are contributing to Continuing Promise 2010, many of which were represented at the reception.

"The real scouts and Soldiers of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief are indeed our non-government organizations," said Lt. Gen. P. K. Keen, deputy commander, U.S. Southern Command. "We have the privilege to enable them to get where they need to be to provide their services."

Continuing Promise 2010 is a U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) directed operation implemented by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet.

"This is just such a great start here in Miami with SOUTHCOM," said Capt. Thomas Negus, Commodore Amphibious Squadron 6. "This is truly a very inclusive mission where we gain our strength from the diversity and character of everyone involved."

During the scheduled four-month surge, relief operations will be conducted in Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Panama, Nicaragua and Suriname.

"We planned this deliberately during the hurricane season," said Keen. "It will be this ship, if a nation is unfortunate enough to be impacted by a hurricane in the Caribbean or Central America. The response will be as quickly as we can get her there to provide aid and assistance."