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Swift Wraps Up SPS 2010 Jamaica Visit

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100521-12
5/21/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Rachael Leslie, High Speed Vessel Swift 2 Public Affairs

PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica (NNS) -- The crew aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 wrapped up two weeks of subject-matter expert (SME) exchanges, and departed Port Antonio, Jamaica, May 21.

Swift is currently deployed to the Caribbean and Latin America in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010, a multinational exchange of information and expertise between both military and civilian professionals throughout the region.

"Information is the key to the way the world operates these days," said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Simmons, deputy mission commander of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010. "It's about building lasting friendships and creating mutual cooperation in the maritime environment especially, which is what we focus on. The only way to do that is to have clear information goals and information ideas."

More than 150 members of the Jamaica Defence Force, and civilian security and local law enforcement personnel participated in the exchanges over the two-week period.

"The continued partnerships between the Jamaica Defence Force and the U.S. Navy, is something that we consider to be very important for the JDF," said Capt. George Reynolds, colonel adjutant quartermaster for the Jamaica Defence Force. "The support that has been provided to us through the exchanges and so on… have proven extremely beneficial to us, and I hope they have been to the U.S. armed forces as well."

The SME exchanges included discussions on port security, maintenance management, senior and junior enlisted leadership principles, physical security, generator/diesel maintenance and martial arts. The participants had the opportunity to engage and interact with facilitators from U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and civilian personnel from various training commands to further forge the relationship between the U.S. and Jamaica.

"Everyone left the classroom with a wider scope of knowledge, and their horizons have been expanded," said Lt. Oswald Small, liaison officer, Jamaica Defence Force. "I'm just so sorry it was so short, and I know many of the students felt the same way."

SPS 2010 is a deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) in the Caribbean and Latin America, with the primary goal of information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region. This is the fourth SPS deployment in the USSOUTHCOM AOR and the vision is to continue this effort to maintain a persistent presence in the region as a way to further enhance strong relationships.

The Swift is operated and navigated by 17 civilian contract mariners working for a private company under charter to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command.