SPS-JHSV 2015 Build a Home Away from Home in Honduras

By Army Sgt. Flor Gonzalez, Southern Partnership Station-Joint High Speed Vessel 2015 Public Affairs

PUERTO CASTILLA, Honduras (NNS) -- Service Members currently deployed in support of Southern Partnership Station-Joint High Speed Vessel 2015 (SPS-JHSV-15) build base camp on July 13 at Puerto Castilla, Honduras.

The visit in Honduras is approximately 45 days and is the first stop of four in which the military personnel are encouraged to foster goodwill and act as ambassadors with the locals, enhance U.S. credibility to strengthen partnership with the Latin-American countries.

U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during Naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants.

The crew built a 125-man sleeping tent camp, two shower tents, a first-aid tent, a tactical operations center tent, a dining tent and a morale, welfare, recreation (MWR) tent for joint forces. The camp was constructed in two days.

Despite long hours and the humidity, personnel worked to ensure everyone within the camp are comfortable and can enjoy quality rest after working hours.

Construction Electrician 1st Class Michael Walden, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, assigned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the construction electrician in charge of setting up the camp with 13 Seabees and camp maintenance for the deployment.

"This is definitely a great feeling, working for the first time with all branches of the military," said Walden, "it helps to build a better understanding of each other, to set mutual goals and accomplish set expectations."

SPS-JHSV 15 is an annual U.S. Navy deployment that focuses on counter-illicit trafficking (CIT), theater security cooperation, and building partner capacity (BPC) through subject matter expert exchanges, construction projects and medical engagements with the various nations. The ADPs are designed to ensure that the military has a successful deployment and to continue to strengthen the partnership between the U.S., Central and South America, each of whom share a common interest in a stable and secure region.

USNAVSO/U.S. 4th Fleet employs maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.

For additional information about SPS-JHSV 15, contact USNAVSO/U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs by email at comusnavo-c4f_mypt_pao@navy.mil or by phone at 904-270-4843/4813.