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Boxer Extends Maritime Strategy to Peru with Continuing Promise 2008

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080611-08
Release Date: 6/11/2008 10:07:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Michael E. Miller Jr., USS Boxer Public Affairs

CALLAO, Peru (NNS) -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) along with various embarked units began operations in Peru, June 10, the ship's final stop during Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is a collaborative effort between the United States and partner militaries, non-governmental organizations and partner-nation support organizations to build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation requiring cooperative solutions.

CP's medical contingent, led by the embarked Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 5, will spend six work days alongside local medical providers in Huacho at Peru's Salon Parochial Church and at Guillermo Billinghurst School in Barranca providing primary medical care to more than 2,500 Peruvian citizens.

The team will also spend six days at Peru's Huacho Regional Hospital performing repairs to biomedical hospital equipment and holding education and training sessions for the hospital staff, while also sharing ideas and experiences on the best practices for long-term public health solutions.

While anchored off the coastline, Boxer's medical facilities will host approximately 25 surgical patients over the six-day period. Surgeries will include cyst and gallbladder removal and minor hernia repair.

"Working alongside our partner nations for this mission not only provides care, services and repairs to the population and infrastructure, but also gives hands-on experience to all forces involved," said Mission Commander for CP 2008, Capt. Peter K. Dallman. "Our people really like doing this mission. We're very good at it now."

The embarked Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303 will join local civil engineers for structure renovations at two local schools.

At Peru's Luis Fabio Xammer Jurado School, CBMU 303 will provide plumbing repairs, provide running water to the facility, replace a section of the roof and install electrical outlets and ceiling fans throughout the compound.

At Peru's Guillermo Billinghurst School, the team will provide electrical, plumbing and roofing repairs in addition to new windows, doors and locks.

The Continuing Promise mission brings together more than 3,500 U.S. Sailors and thousands of partner-nation citizens to exchange experiences and gain new knowledge about each other's culture and people. These interactions will help create bonds and foster friendship and understanding among the nations.

"The mission not only builds on the overall experiences of the nations involved, but on the individual experiences of the people on-site from both nations," said Boxer's commanding officer, Capt. Matthew J. McCloskey. "It also builds on the idea that simply by working with someone, you can make a new friend and learn something new about the culture you're working with."

The Pacific Phase of CP is one of two humanitarian and civic assistance deployments planned for the United States Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The second CP deployment will be conducted by USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in the Caribbean.

For more news from USS Boxer, visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd4/.