Southern Partnership Station 2010 completes Panama visit

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim Williams, High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) Public Affairs

June 4, 2010 - RODMAN-BALBOA, Panama (NNS) -- The crew of High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) concluded its visit to Rodman-Balboa, Panama June 4.

The crew held a closing ceremony June 3 for all who participated in the subject matter expert exchanges.

Swift spent nearly two weeks in port participating in subject matter expert exchanges with the Panamanian Defense Force. Members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps held exchanges about various maritime topics including port and physical security, and junior and senior military leadership roles.

"We received a warm welcome in Panama," said Capt. Kurt Hedberg, Southern Partnership Station 2010 mission commander. "The exchanges that have taken place during these to weeks will go a long way toward improving our techniques and procedures, increasing interoperability and mutual cooperation in the maritime environment."

"We learned martial arts from the U.S. Marines and then in turn taught them a few of the techniques we use while patrolling our borders," said Panama Marine 2nd Cpl. Rolando Bravo.

Bravo said that while this was his first time working with members from Swift, he has worked with the U.S. Marine Corps on six different occasions.

"This training will really help my unit out a lot because we learned techniques on how to handle people, something that we may need to use often. I know I can speak on behalf of my unit when I say that we will be waiting for the next exchange we are able to participate in."

In addition to the Panamanian military personal who participated in SPS 2010, members of the National Police Force also joined the subject matter expert exchanges.

"It was important for us to participate in these exchanges because it shows that the Marines and military are not the only ones tough enough to complete the training, the police can do it too," said Sgt. Jorge Iturrard. This training was a good mix of things that we can use everyday on the police force and I was happy to receive training by outsiders."

One official from the Panamanian Aero Naval expressed his appreciation of Southern Partnership Station.

"The United States Navy's catamaran High Speed Vessel Swift has presented us with its arrival, an important opportunity to operate and to assimilate all the knowledge that its crew and work party has distributed to units of this institution [Panama Defense Forces] during this day of training and qualification that today culminates," said Col. Luis E. Ruiz E., Panama Aeronaval."

The Swift is currently deployed in SPS 2010, an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility (AOR) in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission's primary goal is information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region.