• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

U.S. Ambassador Visits USS Stout

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060418-12
Release Date: 4/18/2006 4:00:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Elizabeth Enockson, USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (NNS) -- U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Hans H. Hertell visited USS Stout (DDG 55) while in port in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, April 17, as part of the ship’s “Partnership of the Americas” deployment.

Hertell toured the ship with Stout's commanding officer, Cmdr. Thomas K. Kiss, and formally welcomed Stout to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

“With the visit to our country from Stout, a grand opportunity presents itself for [these] two navies to work like they have done before, shoulder to shoulder, and in favor of their respective nations,” Hertell said. “It is an excellent opportunity that lends itself so that we may share with our neighbors of the region.”

Hertell also commented on the activities Stout’s crew would be undertaking while the ship was in port, both with their Dominican colleagues and on their own.

“The exercises and maneuvers that will take place during the course of this week will contribute to our navies being able to concentrate their efforts not only on the non-conventional threats, like the traffic of narcotics and people, but also on technical training,” Hertell said.

While Stout is in port, the crew will work closely with the Dominican navy on cutter Almirante Didiez (C 457) and patrol craft Altair (PB 112). Both navies will participate in a full day of competitive sporting events, and Stout’s crew will participate in a community relations project at a local orphanage.

“The idea is that we have an interchange at various levels,” Hertell said. “As you can appreciate, all the activities offer us an excellent opportunity to enforce our mutual respect and friendship.”

Stout is currently deployed in support of Partnership of the Americas, a maritime training and readiness deployment of U.S. Naval forces with countries from the Caribbean and Latin America, in support of U.S. Southern Command objectives for enhanced maritime security.