Swift Crew Members Begin Exchanges in Dominican Republic

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Rachael Leslie, High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) Public Affairs

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (NNS) -- Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 began subject matter expert (SME) exchanges in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sept. 13.

The exchanges support Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010's primary mission of information sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services in the U.S. Southern Command's Area of Responsibility throughout the Caribbean and Central America.

"These professional exchanges between the United States and the Dominican Republic are what SPS 2010 is all about," said Capt. Kurt Hedberg, mission commander, SPS 2010. "Over the next week and a half we will re-enforce a valuable partnership with the defense forces in the Dominican Republic, in hopes of ensuring a future of long-lasting maritime security for both nations."

Scheduled SME exchanges for the upcoming weeks include small boat maintenance and basic operations, senior leadership principles, junior enlisted leadership principles, combat first aid and tactical land navigation and martial arts, both facilitated by the embarked Marine Corps detachment.

"With all the current events in today's world, our jobs require more coordination with other nations than ever before," said Chief Hospital Corpsman Tracie Ham, from the Maritime Civil Affairs Security Training team deployed aboard Swift. "These exchanges give us a better insight to the structure of each military, which makes integration much easier when needed."

While each exchange includes some lecture and group discussion, much of the time is spent in hands-on exhibitions of one another's knowledge and expertise on a particular topic.

"I just hope they get as much out of the exchanges as I do," said Ham, who's facilitating both the senior leadership and combat first aid exchanges. "I had such a great time with the folks in Guyana, and I'm really looking to learning from the people here in Dominican Republic."

The Swift deployed in support of SPS 2010 in May 2010 and has visited various countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America during its deployment. The ship is scheduled to continue its support of SPS 2010 in the region until early fall 2010.