Dempsey Meets With Jordan’s Defense Chief, Moves on to Afghanistan

By John D. Banusiewicz

American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, April 22, 2012 – Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met today with his counterpart in Jordan’s capital of Amman before flying here for the second leg of an overseas trip.

The chairman and Lt. Gen. Mashal al-Zaben, Jordan’s defense chief, discussed regional security issues.

“Jordan is one of our most important non-NATO allies, and they’ve been actively involved with us in Afghanistan,” Dempsey told American Forces Press Service during the flight to Kabul. The Jordanian military has contributed to the reconstruction, counterterrorism, special operations and medical efforts in Afghanistan, he noted.

“So they’ve really been very important partners in that,” the chairman said.

Jordan and the United States have an enduring partnership that includes exercises and exchanges, the chairman said, citing the upcoming Exercise Eager Lion 12 as an example. The exercise will bring together more than 8,000 participants from more than 15 countries over five continents. Its focus is to strengthen military-to-military relationships of participating partner nations through a joint, whole-of-government, multinational approach, Dempsey’s spokesman, Marine Corps Col. David Lapan, said yesterday in Amman.

Such exercises are a good fit with the new U.S. strategy, the chairman pointed out, helping to build partners on the basis of capabilities and common interests.

In his meeting with Zaben, Dempsey said, the two military leaders also discussed the Jordanian perspective on the situation in neighboring Syria.

Upon arriving in Amman yesterday, the chairman had a series of meetings with U.S. Embassy officials and took time to meet informally with service members stationed in Amman.

American Embassy to Jamaica Hosts Continuing Promise 2011 Opening Ceremony

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Alesia Goosic, Continuing Promise 2011 Public Affairs

KINGSTON, Jamaica (NNS) -- The American Embassy hosted an opening ceremony for Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11) at the Bank of Jamaica, April 15.

The ceremony marked the beginning of the Continuing Promise mission in Jamaica, which will provide medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support to the local population through April 23.

"CP11 marks the sixth Continuing Promise mission since 2007, and our very first visit to Jamaica," Commodore Capt. Brian Nickerson, mission commander, said. "Our visit provides great opportunities to share common interests and building bonds that will undoubtedly create new and lasting friendships."

CP11 is a collaborative effort among the United States, partner nation governments and non-government organizations in providing humanitarian assistance.

CP11 provides an opportunity for U.S. military and U.S. Public Health Services to work with NGOs, international organizations and partner nations so that strong partnerships are in place and can be called upon in the event of a regional crisis.

During the ceremony, Minister of Health Rudyard Spencer, Deputy Prime Minister Kenneth Baugh and Honorable Pamela Bridgewater, United States Ambassador to Jamaica, spoke of the significance of the partnership during the CP11 mission and their appreciation for USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) and its crew coming to Jamaica.

"This hospital ship symbolizes the commitment of the United States of America toward Jamaica and all her people, and toward regional cooperation," said Bridgewater.

Bridgewater said it is important to note that CP11 is a team effort with health professionals aboard Comfort from Jamaica, Canada, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico and the United States working together during this project.

"Please know that the U.S. ambassador to Jamaica salutes America's ambassador, which is the U.S. Naval ship Comfort," Bridgewater said. "And we look forward and know it's going to be a wonderfully productive mission in Jamaica."

COMUSNAVSO/COMFOURTHFLT supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.