Sailors, Marines Conduct Live-fire Event with Colombian Coast Guard

From Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 2011 Public Affairs

COVENAS, Colombia (NNS) -- USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) Sailors and Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF) Marines participated in weapons a training course with Colombian coast guardsmen, Jan. 31.

The course was held at the 100-meter range on the Colombian Marine Infantry Training Base in Covenas, Colombia.

"The weapons exchange is a great opportunity for us to get with Colombian coast guardsmen to share information and to get to know each other," said Gunner's Mate 1st Class Michael J. Braun, small arms and marksmanship instructor aboard Gunston Hall. "We have different methods; it is great to be able to understand different ways to do things."

The SCTF is embarked aboard Gunston Hall on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility supporting Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 2011 (A-SPS 11).

Exchanging knowledge of weapons will aid in the continuous effort to build strong relationships with Colombia and other partner nations.

"We hope that this experience will benefit the U.S. military as well," said Lt. Mario Alex Cabezas Hiuestroza, commanding officer of the coast guard base in Covenas. "It has been a very kind and professional exchange."

The service members exchanged knowledge on the Colombian Galil assault rifle, U.S. M4 Carbine assault rifle and Beretta 9 mm pistol. The SCTF military police brought 3,000 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, used with the Galil and M4 rifles, and 700 rounds of 9 mm ammunition for the exchange.

"We were able to get a lot of good information from the exchange today," said Staff Sgt. Chad Hatfield, SCTF range safety officer. "We were able to observe the way that they train, and it is very different from us. They have levels that they work up to for live fire; it was a great experience for us to have."

During A-SPS 11, Sailors and Marines work together alongside partner nation civil and military services, sharing expertise, information and ideas that will expand and enhance regional maritime security.

"This has given us more experience and it has shown us different methods," said Cabezas Hiuestroza. "It has been a wonderful experience, and we are building stronger relationships."

A-SPS 11 is a United States 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.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit COMUSNAVSO/C4F Public Affairs by email at comusnavso-c4f_mypt_pao@navy.mil, visit www.public.navy.mil/comusnavso-c4f

For more news from Commander, U.S. Marine Forces South, visit http://www.mfs.usmc.mil/organization.htm

For more news from Commander, U.S. Southern Command, visit http://www.southcom.mil/

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.