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NAVSO/4th Fleet Commander Visits El Salvador, Speaks at FOL Comalapa Change-of-Command

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081016-02
Release Date: 10/16/2008 4:21:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alan Gragg, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

COMALAPA, El Salvador (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/ U.S. 4th Fleet Commander spoke at Forward Operating Location (FOL) Comalapa's change-of-command ceremony Oct. 15.

Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan was the guest speaker for the ceremony where Cmdr. Michael T. Amos relieved Cmdr. Charles L. Groves as commanding officer of FOL Comalapa. FOL Comalapa is under operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/U.S. 4th Fleet.

"Commander Groves led the forward operating location to new heights of operational excellence," said Kernan. "Leading a diverse staff of active duty, Reserve, contractor and host nation personnel, he provided model facilities, operation, logistical and force protection support for over 1,300 deployed personnel from units conducting critical counter illicit trafficking missions. These missions included the most recent disruption and seizure of two self propelled semi-submersibles (SPSS) carrying more than 14 tons of cocaine with a street value of more than $383 million."

Groves assumed command of FOL Comalapa in July 2007, taking charge of FOL Comalapa's primary mission to provide logistical support to aerial counter-drug aircraft and their crews, which includes U.S. military and government law enforcement organizations. FOL Comalapa also promotes theater security cooperation (TSC), with events like community relations projects in the El Salvador area as well as provides additional logistical support to visiting U.S. Navy units such as recent humanitarian visit by USS Boxer (LHD 4) and USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) to El Salvador.

During this period, a Project Handclasp distribution hub was established at the FOL which allowed for an increase in delivery of Project Handclasp material to partner nations in the region. Project Handclasp is a U.S. Navy humanitarian and goodwill program that collects donations from various U.S. private-sector organizations and companies and delivers them to people in need throughout the world.

While in El Salvador, Kernan met with a high ranking Salvadoran flag officer Oct. 14 to discuss military-to-military relations, which include the recent visit by Boxer to El Salvador as part of a humanitarian and civil affairs mission called Continuing Promise 2008, and future deployments by HSV 2 Swift and Comfort in 2009.

Boxer visited El Salvador in May where they conducted nearly 4,000 dental exams and procedures, more than 1,800 optometry exams and provided nearly 8,000 patients primary medical care. Comfort visited El Salvador in July and August 2007 where they conducted almost 48,000 patient encounter, a number likely to be exceeded when the Comfort visits again as part of U.S. 4th Fleet's Continuing Promise 2009.

Kernan also visited the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador to meet with U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Charles L. Glazer and various members of the embassy staff and country team.

As the Navy component commander for U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), NAVSO oversees maritime operations throughout Latin America, including exercises and deployments, counter illicit trafficking support, and TSC events.

U.S. 4th Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO exercising operational control of U.S. Navy units operating in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.

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