Sailors and Marines Depart Colombia With Knowledge and Friendships

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian S. Finney, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs

COVENAS, Colombia –- (NNS) -- The amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) departed Colombia Feb. 6 after eight days of subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) with Colombian sailors and marines.

Gunston Hall and embarked Marine Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF) are deployed for Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 2011 (A-SPS 11). A-SPS 11 is intended to provide a sustained, visible presence in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility through combined and multilateral cooperative missions.

Colombia is the first of four countries scheduled to host Gunston Hall and A-SPS 11, which also includes scheduled stops in Belize, Guatemala and Jamaica.

Throughout the week, Gunston Hall Sailors and Marines from the embarked SCTF participated in a variety of SMEEs. Areas of engagement included small boat maintenance, land navigation, range live fire, damage control, convoy operations, visit board search and seizure (VBSS), individual field techniques and non-commissioned officer leadership exchanges.

"This was a great opportunity for both Colombian and United States Marines to build on our already strong partnership," said the SCTF commanding officer of troops Lt.Col. Paul D. Baker. "The 220 Marines we had ashore learned so much from Colombia's combat proven warriors. We have both benefited greatly from this exchange, and have developed lasting friendships as a result."

A-SPS 11 Sailors and Marines also found time to participate in a local community relations project. More than 60 Sailors and Marines worked alongside parents, students and teachers to renovate the Bella Vista elementary school in Covenas.

"The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the Colombian school children through our COMREL projects was incredibly rewarding," said Gunston Hall commanding officer Capt. John F. Meier. "The generosity of the Sailors and Marines who performed the work alongside the parents and children reinforced the shared values of our two countries. Beyond the basic needs of food, shelter and medical care, education is the finest guarantor of peace, prosperity and the rule of law."

As part of the community relations event, the children at Bella Vista School were treated to "Loving Hugs" stuffed animals and backpacks courtesy of "Give a Kid a Backpack" through the U.S. Navy's Project Handclasp program. They also received soccer balls from Destroyer Squadron 40.

A-SPS11's visit to Colombia concluded with a reception aboard Gunston Hall, a visit by Brigadier General Luis Gómez Vásquez, commandant of the Colombian marine corps, a closing ceremony, field meet, and barbeque.

"The engagement with Colombia helped strengthen an existing regional partner nation relationship, said Capt. Brian C. Nickerson, A-SPS 11 mission commander. "The visit also provided an opportunity to share expertise and improve interoperability. The importance of continuing theater security cooperation exchanges such as Southern Partnership Station cannot be over emphasized. As recently as Operation Unified Response, U.S. and Colombian forces worked side by side in a real world crisis."

A-SPS 11 is a U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)-directed operation implemented by Commander, United States Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO), supported by United States Marine Corps Forces, South (MARFORSOUTH) and carried out by Commander, Destroyer Squadron Four Zero (CDS40), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and a Marine Corps Security Cooperation Task Force.

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For more news from U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, visit www.marines.mil/unit/marforsouth/Pages/Home.aspx.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.

For more news from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.

This article was sponsored by Military Books.