Southern Partnership Station Navy Dive Concludes Stop in Guatemala

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Keck, Navy Dive-Southern Partnership Station 2012 Public Affairs

PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala (NNS) -- Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, Company 2-1, deployed aboard the Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Grapple (T-ARS 53), concluded a three-week subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) with Guatemalan divers, May 24.

The SMEE, which was part of Navy Dive-Southern Partnership Station 2012 (ND-SPS 12), focused on scuba diving, working underwater with no visibility, underwater search techniques, and salvage techniques.

"We were able to exchange many new and useful techniques with the Guatemalan divers," said Navy Diver 1st Class Robert Roloff, assigned to Company 2-1. "We shared our procedures for supervising dives with them, and they shared their knowledge of low visibility underwater searches."

Divers from MDSU 2, along with members of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 4 and civilian mariners deployed aboard Grapple, also volunteered their time to help out a local school. They spent a day painting the schoolhouse with the enthusiastic help of the students. In addition, they provided the school with new bookcases, school supplies, and sports equipment.

"We were happy that we were able to help and participate in this community relations project," said Lt. Cmdr. Tristan Wagner, mission commander of ND-SPS12.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) 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.

MDSU 2 Company 21 Completes Debeaching Exercise During FEP

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Steven Hoskins, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 Company 21 and the crew of Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Grapple (T-ARS-53) participated in a debeaching exercise at Anzio Beach, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story, Va., Dec, 15.

The exercise, part of a week-long Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) for Company 21, provided an authentic training environment to certify the team for deployment. The 17-Sailor team freed the 400-foot former U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender Salvia.

Company 21 had to show they could solve problems they may face on deployment, from debeaching and towing the Salvia to anti-terrorism and force protection and an underwater search and recovery.

"The exercise went extremely well," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jason Bennett, MDSU 2 training officer.

Mother Nature plays a vital role in salvage missions like this, explained Bennett. High tides and swift currents make it hard to steady the rescue and salvage ships.

Grapple provided the platform and towing capability for Company 21.

"We had about 80,000 pounds of pull, along with 85 percent of power on the Grapple's two main engines and pulled the vessel out free," said Bennett.

"The exercise not only certifies the team, it was also a global partnership between Military Sealift Command (MSC) and MDSU," said Master Chief Navy Diver Billy Gilbert, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 2. The Grapple and other ships from MSC will be used in future salvage missions if a ship runs aground.''

Gilbert compared the exercise to real life missions. MDSU and MSC successfully freed the grounded USS Port Royal (CG-73) in Honolulu in 2009. MDSU also provided diving and salvage during the search and recovery efforts at the Minneapolis Bridge collapse in 2007.

MDSU 2 is part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). They provide combat ready and rapidly deployable mobile diving and salvage teams to conduct harbor clearance, salvage, underwater search and recovery, and underwater emergency repairs in any environment.