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Continuing Promise Mission Arrives in Guyana

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081110-09
Release Date: 11/10/2008 11:24:00 AM

From Continuing Promise 2008 Public Affairs

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), along with various embarked units, began humanitarian/civic assistance (HCA) operations Nov. 9 in Guyana, the ship's fifth and final stop in the Caribbean Phase of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

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

"We are just as focused on our mission now as we were when we began operations in Nicaragua," said Capt. Fernandez "Frank" Ponds, mission commander for Continuing Promise 2008. "Here in Guyana, we remain dedicated to building friendships and highlighting the importance and value of providing assistance and training to our neighbors in South and Central America and the Caribbean."

CP's medical contingent, led by Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 4, with personnel from U.S Public Health Service, Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands and Project Hope, will work with local medical providers in Mabaruma, Port Kaituma and Santa Rosa to provide basic primary medical care, dental and optometry services.

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 will conduct renovations and repair work at four sites in the Georgetown area, including a high school, a community center and a regional hospital.

Kearsarge has completed CP missions in Nicaragua, Colombia the Dominican Republic and, most recently, Trinidad and Tobago. Since deploying Aug. 6, the team has seen more than 3,800 dental and 7,000 optometry patients, completed 152 surgical cases, provided basic medical services to more than 40,000 patients and dispensed more than 79,900 prescriptions.

Engineers have completed 17 projects for the mission, including the construction of school houses and playgrounds and the rehabilitation of various host-nation identified critical infrastructure.
Kearsarge Sailors have participated at various volunteer community relations projects at the engineering sites, offering extra hands to help with landscaping, construction, painting and building playgrounds. Additionally, the ship's crew competed in several spirited sporting events with the locals from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago.

The ship's mission exemplifies the U.S. maritime strategy which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests.

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.

USS 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.

Embarked units and organizations aboard Kearsarge for CP include Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8, Fleet Surgical Team 4; U.S. Public Health Service; Navy Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202; Air Force Civil Engineering Squadron 5ìs Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force; contingents of medical personnel from the armed forces of Canada, The Netherlands and Brazil; Navy Assault Craft Unit 2; Naval Beach Group 2; nongovernmental organization Project Hope; U.S. Navy Maritime Civil Affairs Squadron 2; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464.

For more news from Continuing Promise, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns.