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Global Fleet Station Completes Guatemalan Training, Hosts Ambassador

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070819-08
Release Date: 8/19/2007 9:32:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cynthia Clark, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs

PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala (NNS) -- In preparation for completion of training in Puerto Barrios Aug. 17, the pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) hosted a reception for distinguished visitors aboard High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift.

U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala James Derham and several high ranking officials of the Guatemalan government including Major Gen. Alberto Aguilar Braun, Chief of Defense visited Comfort on Aug. 16.

According to Derham, we have an “open door” for opportunities such as this with the nation of Guatemala, and they’re very grateful for the training GFS has brought to their Navy.

“They love ... military collaboration and training,” said Derham. “The more we are prepared to offer them the more their prepared to collaborate with us. It’s great. I think it’s a good exercise for our people, I think it helps the Guatemalans and it’s just good all around.”

For the crew of Task Group (TG) 40.9, the visit from the ambassador gave them a firsthand opportunity to showcase the GFS training.

“It was great having the chance to show Ambassador Derham and the Guatemalan military leaders what we’re doing here,” said Capt. Douglas Wied, commander, TG 40.9. “On this visit, as well as our visit here earlier in the deployment, we’ve developed a great bond with our partners in Guatemala, and to show the ambassador and the military leaders of this proud country what a special relationship we have -- it was just fantastic.”

During the two weeks GFS spent in Guatemala, 152 Guatemalan service members shared knowledge in topics such as maintenance management, Combat Lifesaver medical training, U.S. Marine Corps small unit training, port security and vulnerabilities assessment, leadership principles, and outboard motor maintenance provided by training teams from the Navy Expeditionary Training Command, Little Creek, Va., Marine Corps 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton and 29 Palms, Calif., Marine Corps Training Command Quantico, Va., and U.S. Coast Guard International Training Division, in Yorktown, Va.

“It was awesome working with the Guatemalan troops,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Oscar Cruz, training team member. “Not only did we show them our martial arts, land navigation and patrolling skills, we learned just as much from them as they did from us. Everyone had a great time all around.”

To mark the completion of training in Guatemala, the Sailors from Naval Del Caribe, held a Pass in Review ceremony for TG 40.9 to show their gratitude for the subject-matter exchanges.

“It was both an honor and a privilege to take part in the ceremony the Guatemalan Navy hosted,” said Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Brandy Sugden, one of the Navy trainers. “All the work they put into it showed they truly appreciate what we are here to do.”

Additionally, TG 40.9 members participated in a community relations project, where they visited Colegio Cristo Rey, a Puerto Barrios school, Aug. 14, and presented the students with athletic equipment. Task Group Sailors also spoke with the children, sharing their military experiences as well as messages of GFS; the students also put on a program for their American visitors, sharing the culture of their country.

“The kids are very positive and want to learn more about the United States,” said Ana Baide, U.S. Embassy Guatemala. “School visits like this help transfer that information onto them. It is also important for them to see the discipline and professionalism of the U.S. military and gives them a different perspective on military service.”

TG 40.9, consisting of a command element, the crew of HSV 2 Swift, training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command and Coast Guard International Training Division, Marine Corps Mobile Training Team and Department of State representatives, is deployed as part of the pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) to the Caribbean basin in Central America. It is under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO). The mission is to conduct a broad range of theater security cooperation activities with regional maritime services.

TG 40.9 is scheduled to bring their teams to Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama.