PACFLT Commander Reaffirms US and ROK Navy Alliance

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, Public Affairs

SEOUL, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited South Korea July 19-20, to meet with senior military and government leaders and reaffirm the U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea's enduring alliance as a cornerstone of Indo-Asia-Pacific regional stability.

During the two-day visit, Swift met with leaders from both the U.S. and the Republic of Korea, to include U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Mark Lippert, Adm. Jung, Ho-sub, ROK chief of naval operations, Adm. Choi, Yoon hee, ROK chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Park, Seon-woo, deputy commander of the Combined Forces Command, to discuss the strength of the alliance between the U.S. and ROK.

"The United States and Republic of Korea navies have a long and storied history of working together," said Swift. "The stability throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region is directly related to the strength of our alliance and I am committed to ensuring our strong partnership continues."

Swift also emphasized the strength of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and assured ROK leaders the stability of the region is one of his top priorities.

"The only navy that is more powerful than the Pacific Fleet is the U.S. Navy ... So I am very confident that despite the uncertainly on the peninsula within the maritime domain we are fully prepared to support Gen. Scaparrotti and Chairman Choi and do whatever may be necessary as of the present and future."

Swift also thanked the people of the ROK for their support of U.S. Navy forces who are forward-deployed on the Korean peninsula.

"It was no accident that one of my first stops during this trip was to the Republic of Korea," said Swift. "The support we (U.S. Pacific Fleet) receive from the people here helps ensure we are able to remain forward-deployed where it matters, when it matters."

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea and provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the Commander for the United Nations Command, the Combined Forces Command, and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea.

Walter S Diehl, MSC Far East Provide Aid, Build Friendships in Thailand

By Grady Fontana, MSC-Far East Public Affairs

RAYONG PROVINCE, Thailand (NNS) -- During a scheduled stop here to conduct routine voyage repair (VR) July 7-16, civilian mariners (CIVMARs) from the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) took the opportunity to visit the local communities in the surrounding area to build relationships.

Over the course of about a week, volunteers from the USNS Walter S. Diehl, the chaplain from MSC Far East and local supporters participated in four community relations (COMREL) events that benefited three communities, four primary schools and a hospital.

"By taking the time to meet with the local people and distribute much needed supplies, we are helping strengthen the bond between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand," said Navy Lt. Glen D. Kitzman, chaplain, MSCFE. "These COMREL events enhance the image of MSC and USNS vessels while benefiting the local agencies in the Pattaya, Sriracha and Chantabury region."

During the first COMREL event, Kitzman, eight CIVMARs, five Thai Rotary Club members and the president of U.S. Navy League volunteered delivering and distributing one pallet of hygiene and medical materials from USNS Walter S. Diehl to the Pluakdang Hospital and School, which was located in the vicinity of Pattaya. This school was chosen because it was remotely located and it doesn't typically receive donations, according to Kitzman.

The volunteers interacted with more than 400 children and school faculty members at Pluakdang.

"I've been coming to Thailand and interacting with the local people for a while now, since 1982 when I was on active duty," said Allen Sallier, CIVMAR communications officer, USNS Walter S. Diehl. "I enjoy giving back and supporting the schools."

During the second COMREL event, the crew traveled to Nikom 3 School here and shared a different method of English lessons to about 210 children. The MSC volunteers used innovative music strategies and creative methods to teach English. This was an opportunity to exchange effective and rich dialogue between U.S. volunteers and Thai teachers and students.

Sallier, a retired Navy chief petty officer and former aviation electronics technician said he takes every opportunity to meet and greet with the people of Thailand. "In my 24-year-career I've participated in more than 30 COMREL events."

The third COMREL event, Kitzman and the CIVMARs partnered with a local hotel in Pattaya and travelled to Sriracha to volunteer their time at the Bantunglaham School in order paint the school's common areas with patterns and symbols that provided a colorful teaching tool for school children to learn colors and numbers.

SPS-JHSV 15 Kicks Off in Honduras

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kathleen A. Gorby, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

PUERTO CASTILLO, Honduras (NNS) -- Joint forces arrive in Honduras, July 12, in support of Southern Partnership Station-Joint High Speed Vessel 2015 (SPS-JHSV 15).

SPS-JHSV 15 is a joint force comprised of adapted forces including divers, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians, corpsmen, Seabees, intel personnel, preventive medicine specialists, and communication specialists, from the Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force.

Through subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), construction projects and medical engagements with the host nation's military personnel and civilians, Southern Partnership Station is able to create strong ties between the U.S and its partners.

"Our Seabees and combat engineers are going to focus on construction projects that build the infrastructure and the relationships in the city of Trujillo," said Ground Forces Commander Cmdr. Robert Toth. "Projects were selected in conjunction with the Honduran leadership in the area, and include repairing schools and draining culverts alongside our host nation partners. The Navy EOD and divers are conducting subject matter expert exchanges - helping better understand each other's capabilities, build the Honduran divers' experience levels, and foster key relationships. The medical team is concentrating on SMEE, promoting prevention, suitability and education."

Toth said that SPS-JHSV 15 presents a tremendous learning opportunity for the militaries and governments of all countries involved.

"By working alongside another country, we can learn from them, better understand [their] capabilities, increase their capacity, and enable a greater level of interaction in the future," he added. "So if in the future a humanitarian crises arises, we will have a solidly-built relationship, which allows us to established connections more quickly, and more effectively help them recover."

SPS-JHSV is an annual series of U.S. Navy deployments, fostering a lasting relationship with host nations by promoting and enhancing regional stability and security through the sharing experiences.

"This is ultimately about building relationships and camaraderie across these countries," said Chief Operation Specialist Eliseo Hernandez, mission operations chief. "By conducting missions like this, we get to learn not only about another country, but about its people and its customs. And they can learn about us."

Southern Partnership Station's primary objectives are countering illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, and building partner capacity through subject matter expert exchanges, construction projects and medical engagements with the host nations' military and civilian personnel. SPS-JHSV 15 ashore forces will be traveling to Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and Columbia.

This mission exemplifies the U.S. commitment to cooperative partnership in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/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 4th Fleet area of responsibility.