By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kathleen A. Gorby
CARTAGENA, Colombia (NNS) -- The joint high-speed vessel
USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), operated by the Military Sealift Command, arrived in
Cartagena, Colombia for the Southern Partnership Station-Joint High Speed
Vessel 2015 (SPS-JHSV 15) mission, Sept. 16.
On Spearhead's fourth stop it delivered three Adaptive Force
Package (AFP) elements ashore- Navy Divers, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Technicians and a Mass Communication Specialist.
SPS-JHSV 15's mission to the region exemplifies U.S. Naval
Forces and U.S. Southern Command's commitment to cooperative partnerships in
the Caribbean, Central and South America.
The AFP team will be joined by Navy Mobile Construction
Battalion 133 (NMCB) from Gulfport, Mississipi.
"The Seabees will be building and teaching the
Colombian engineers how to create a road challenge course," said Lt. Sean
McSwain, from NMCB 133. "This is the first country where the Seabees are
able to conduct true subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs)."
The Navy Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 3-1
from EODMU3 and EOD Technicians from Platoon 642, EODMU6 depart from the AFP
currently in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala to conduct SMEEs in Colombia.
"The divers will be focusing on cutting and welding
SMEEs," said Ensign Pierce, AFP EOD officer in charge, Platoon 642,
EODMU6. "The Colombian divers have a great diving program, which allows
for us on to focus on advanced techniques."
In previous countries, divers and EOD worked together during
SMEEs. In Colombia, they will be focusing on rating specific specialties and
teaching two different groups.
"EOD will be focusing on counter-improvised explosive
device exchanges and tool familiarization," said Pierce. "The
Colombians are interested in learning more about our bomb suit and robot."
The force's arrival to Cartagena not only serves as a means
to assist the local community, but also continues to strengthen ties with our
military partners in the 4th Fleet's AOR. The SPS-JHSV 15 mission will continue
through mid-October.
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet
support U.S. Southern Command's joint and combined military operations by
employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to
counter illicit trafficking, enhance interoperability and build enduring
partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability
and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions
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