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Continuing Promise Mission Arrives in Colombia

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080831-07
Release Date: 8/31/2008 6:31:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amy Kirk, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) along with various embarked units began humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operations in Colombia Aug. 27, marking the ship's second stop in the Caribbean phase of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP's HCA mission to Colombia builds on and encourages the establishment of new partnerships between and among the host nation, participating partner nations, non-government organizations (NGO) and international organizations.

The CP mission in Colombia is a collaborative effort that involves military and civilian medical professionals from, Brazil, Canada, Netherlands, and the United States, as well as support from NGOs such as Operation Smile, Project Hope and International Aid.

CP's medical contingent, led by Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 4, moved medical equipment ashore to begin a 13-day clinical operation, working alongside local medical providers at the Candelearia Medical Clinic and the San Cristobal Hospital located in nearby Cienaga.

The embarked Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202 along with engineers from the Air Force's 5th Civil Engineer Squadron Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force began moving equipment ashore to prepare for renovation work at the hospital. They will also construct two small playgrounds at the Los Alpes school and in Palmira village in the Cienaga region.

Kearsarge recently left Nicaragua where the crew worked with the host nation on numerous medical, dental, veterinary and construction projects.

Medical specialists from Kearsarge, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 4, the U.S. Public Health Service, Canada, Brazil and Project Hope worked together with Nicaragua medical professionals to conduct nearly 1,950 dental exams and procedures, more than 2,000 optometry exams, 43 surgeries aboard Kearsarge, provide nearly 7,420 patients primary medical care and filled more than 20,000 prescriptions at several sites in the area.

Engineers assigned to CBMU 202 and Air Force Civil Engineering Squadron 5´s Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force completed projects at seven sites including three schools and a well repair.

The work included the construction of two sea huts, electrical upgrades, roof replacement, playground construction, replacing doors and windows, painting and landscaping.

CP 2008 personnel will work closely with the Colombian government and organizations during the next two weeks. After Colombia, Kearsarge will visit Panama, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

The mission of CP is to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian and civic assistance as well as veterinary, medical, dental and civil engineering support to six partner nations and to send a strong message of U.S. compassion, support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Kearsarge is under the operational control of U.S. 4th Fleet. U.S. 4th Fleet's mission is to direct United States naval forces operating in the Caribbean, and Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies to shape maritime environment.
The CP Caribbean Phase is the second of two HCA deployments to the Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The first CP deployment was conducted by USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific.

For more news from USS Kearsarge, visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd3/.