Combat Camera Deploys in Support of Southern Partnership

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Wyatt Huggett, Expeditionary Combat Camera

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Expeditionary Combat Camera (ECC) are deploying with the Military Sealift Command joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), in an effort to support Navy Expeditionary Combat Command's (NECC) mission throughout U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

While deployed, Combat Camera Sailors will be providing video and photo documentation of humanitarian medical aid, diving operations, and documentation of construction efforts by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1.

"One of our Sailors is dive qualified and will capture underwater imagery and the other is air crew qualified," said Cmdr. Doug Gabos, ECC officer in charge. "It will be those Sailors integrated into the right places that will capture the innovative operations the JHSV crew and our partners are expected to conduct," Gabos added.

"Supporting these operations allows everybody to see the efforts the Sailors are making and the good they are doing for these areas," said Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Hogman, assigned to ECC on the Spearhead. "Documenting this deployment offers us a great opportunity to further demonstrate the important capabilities Navy Expeditionary Combat Command can provide."

ECC Sailors receive expeditionary warfare training that allows them to work with any command assigned to NECC. Combat Camera's mission is to provide direct imagery capability to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, military departments, combatant command and joint task forces during wartime operations, worldwide crisis, contingencies, and joint exercises.

"It allows Combat Camera the opportunity to embed and seamlessly integrate with various units from NECC," said Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Gorby. "We are getting a great opportunity to display the capabilities of NECC outside of wartime."

JHSV 1 will be training with long-established partners from Central and South America, the role of documentation is critical and the pictures will tell the story of interoperability and our enduring partnerships.

"Spearhead will be an important part of the deployment." said Hogman. "It will provide the transportation of all the food and supplies we will need in order to support the deployment."

ECC Sailors, along with Spearhead are expected to return in Oct. 2015.