Southern Partnership Station 2014 AFPs Complete Mission in Central, South America

By Lt. Jessica Crownover, Southern Partnership Station Joint High Speed Vessel 2014 Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The Southern Partnership Station Joint High Speed Vessel 2014 (SPS-JHSV 14) mission came to an end and the vessel returned from deployment Oct. 7 after concluding a successful four-month deployment involving subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) in Belize, Guatemala, Colombia, and Honduras.

SPS-JHSV 14 focused on building partner capacity with host-nation counterparts and fostering relationships with their militaries and communities, while using the Military Sealift Command JHSV USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) for sealift of personnel and 500 tons of cargo and vehicles between each country.

Adaptive Force Packages (AFP) comprised 144 U.S. service members representing all military branches to include: Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40, Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 3, Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, Coastal Riverine Squadron (CORIVRON) 2, Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command, Joint Communications Support Element, Navy Criminal Investigation Service, assessments from Navy Information Operations Center (NIOC) San Antonio and Cyber Forces Norfolk, Signal Intelligence support from NIOC Norfolk, NIOC Georgia, NIOC Texas and NIOC Yokosuka, and public affairs support from Navy Public Affairs Support Element East and Fleet Combat Camera Pacific.

U.S. Marine Corps AFP elements included: Landing Attack Support Operations (LASO), 8th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB), and civil affairs, which include Military Information Support Operation, Information Operation and Combat Camera. The medical AFP comprises personnel from: CORIVRON 8, Public Health Command Region-South, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Expeditionary Medical Facility Great Lakes, Navy Entomology Preventive Medicine Unit 2 and Army Dental Activity from Fort Worth, Texas, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

The mission began in Belize from June 2 to July 22 in Punta Gorda and Price Barracks, the two locations where U.S. service members conducted SMEEs. Participants covered 64 training topics during that time with 205 Belizean participants. While ashore in Belize, U.S. Marine Corps 8th ESB built an obstacle course at Price Barracks, CORIVRON 2 worked jointly with the U.S. Marine Corps LASO team, and the medical AFPs facilitated the treatment and care of more than 300 patients in various medical specialties.

"We had a great welcome and it was a good opportunity to be able to work alongside our Belizean counterparts," said Cmdr. Jeffrey V. Morganthaler, ashore deputy commander of SPS-JHSV 14. "They brought a different set of experiences to the table, which enabled the exchange of ideas to occur and better the forces involved."

SPS-JHSV 14 continued work in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala from July 28 to Aug. 27. There, Sailors covered 71 training topics with 249 Guatemalan participants. There were also many opportunities for involvement in the local community.

One of the largest projects completed was the renovation of Puerto Barrios City Library. Additionally, a Medical Civic Actions Program (MEDCAP) event allowed for a joint effort between the medical AFPs and Guatemalan medical teams. More than 400 women were given prenatal care, and many children were treated for parasitic infections. Outside of the MEDCAP event, medical AFPs also tended to more than 250 people and conducted SMEEs that will help in future medical procedures.

"Doctors in Guatemala are very well trained, but they have some limitations that we don't have in the United States," said Cmdr. Michael Cackovic, senior medical officer and native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. "It's a very good learning experience to work with them and see how they overcome those limitations, but yet they still have the same product that we have, which is delivering healthy babies."

In order to support the mission in Colombia, Navy divers from MDSU 2 and explosive ordnance disposal technicians from EODMU 3 travelled to Colombia for engagements from Aug. 14 to Sept. 4. MDSU 2 worked with Colombian Navy dive school students and instructors, increasing proficiency, training, and techniques. EOD classroom training was also conducted, facilitating tactical training and procedures.

The final stop in the SPS-JHSV 14 mission was Honduras, from Aug. 30 to Oct. 4, where Sailors conducted SMEEs in Puerto Castillo. Sailors covered 70 training topics with 231 Honduran service members. U.S. Marine Corps 8th ESB Marines constructed an obstacle course, and medical AFPs facilitated a MEDCAP that tended to more than 400 people. Hospital renovations were also completed at the Dr. Salvador Paredes Hospital, improving the facility where host nation personnel receive treatment.

This mission allowed for service members to expand their knowledge and skill sets outside of their specialties.

"I am thankful most of the work I did here was outside my rate because I had the opportunity to learn new skills, work with new people, and help out our host-nation counterparts," said Electronics Technician 3rd Class Phillip Clark, a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, attached to CBMU 202.

USNS Spearhead continued the second portion of its maiden deployment in the Caribbean Sea while the SPS 14 mission also continued in the various countries. Spearhead conducted experimentation with Navy Warfare Development Command that included many firsts for the JHSV class.

In June, the Bat Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) was launched successfully off a rail launcher and recovered onboard. Throughout the deployment, the Aerostat, an un-manned blimp with a radar and electro-optical/infrared payload, was used with the hand-launched Puma UAS to conduct detection and monitoring operations in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of Joint Interagency Task Force-South. Spearhead also conducted refueling operations with smaller vessels, using a rig developed on board and further expanding potential JHSV capabilities.

In support of the SPS mission, USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2) transported the AFPs and their cargo from Honduras back to Mayport, Florida, and Norfolk, Virginia, to conclude the SPS-JHSV 14 deployment.

"SPS-JHSV 14 took the Southern Partnership Station mission to new levels with the number and diversity of expeditionary AFPs as well as the testing of various capabilities of the JHSV," said Capt. Sam Hancock, SPS-JHSV mission commander. "There was a great deal of learning with the new JHSV platform and we look forward to continuing to expand the platform's capabilities."

SPS-JHSV 14 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject-matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet employ maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.