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Fourth Fleet Commander Arrives in Haiti

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080910-11
Release Date: 9/10/2008 1:48:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Holly Boynton, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command /U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/ U.S. 4th Fleet, arrived aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Sept. 10 during the ship's disaster relief operations in Haiti.

As the Naval Component Commander to U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan will assist and supervise U.S. Navy relief efforts from Kearsarge and visit relief operations in Haiti.

U.S. 4th Fleet, headquartered at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., diverted the amphibious ship Kearsarge from Santa Marta, Colombia, Sept.5 to assist the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in mitigating human suffering and loss of life in Haitian communities impacted by tropical storms Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Hurricane Ike.

"Providing much needed relief following a disaster of this scope is precisely why we're here, this is what SOUTHCOM, the Navy and Fourth Fleet does - it is one of our core missions," said Kernan. "It is so important to work together with partner nations and U.S. governmental agencies like USAID to help the people in this region after a natural catastrophe like this."

Kearsarge support to Haiti includes the movement of food, cargo and equipment between Port-au-Prince and Gonaives, Jeremie, Saint Marc, Port de Paix, Jacmel and Les Cayes.

U.S. Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet continue to work with interagency partners and their counterparts in countries affected by the recent devastating weather activity to assess recovery needs in the affected areas and identify additional U.S. military units that may be able to provide assistance.

Any U.S. military assistance to a foreign nation must be requested by the host nation through the U.S. Ambassador. Then USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance fields the request and asks the Department of Defense for military assistance, if needed.

Kearsarge is in the Caribbean supporting phase two of Continuing Promise 2008, a humanitarian assistance mission that includes assisting partner nations impacted by natural disasters and other emergencies resulting in human suffering or danger to human lives.

As the Naval Component Command of USSOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.