Salvadoran CNO Visits HSV Swift, Accepts Project Handclasp Delivery

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jeffery Tilghman Williams

High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) Public Affairs

PUERTO CORSAIN, El Salvador (NNS) -- El Salvador's senior naval officer went pier side to High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) to accept a Project Handclasp delivery from the Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2011 team at Puerto Corsain, El Salvador, Feb. 18.

Cmdr. Mark Becker, SPS 2011 mission commander, greeted Jefe del Estado Mayor General de La Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, Contralmirante Juan Antonio Calderon Gonzalez, at the ship's brow to donate $86,000 worth of fire fighting gear and computer equipment to be used by a variety of agencies and local schools.

Project Handclasp is a U.S. Navy program that accepts and transports educational, humanitarian and goodwill material donated by America's private sector on a space-available basis aboard U.S. Navy ships for distribution to foreign nation recipients.

"The items donated will definitely be put to good use, and we appreciate the time, consideration and effort that went into making this delivery happen," said Gonzalez.

"Our entire team is excited about supporting Project Handclasp and continuing to provide assistance in conjunction with our partnership efforts in the region," said Becker. "In the end, everyone involved gains something from our exchanges, which is critical to mission success and fostering lasting bonds with the Salvadoran government."

Prior to the lunchtime delivery, Gonzalez and his staff were given a tour of Swift. After lunch aboard ship, Becker and Gonzalez headed to two sites ashore where U.S. Sailors and Marines were participating in subject matter exchanges with Salvadoran sailors.

"I felt it was important for him to see the cross training his Sailors are participating in with our Sailors," said Becker. "They are doing some amazing things in the community and learning from one another."

At the first site, U.S. Sailors were participating in physical security practical training applications with their counterparts. The second site the two leaders visited was an elementary school where Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28 and Marines assigned to 2nd Marine Logistics Group were working electrical, plumbing and construction projects with their Salvadoran counterparts.

"Today was an opportunity to see how successful and effective these engagements are for my men and the American service members," said Gonzalez. "Hopefully we will continue to work together in the future."

Southern Partnership Stations are annual deployments of U.S. ships to the Caribbean and Latin America, in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. The mission's primary goal is information-sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services throughout the region.

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (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.