• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Swift Arrives in Nicaragua for SPS 2010

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100607-12
6/7/2010

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

CORINTO, Nicaragua (NNS) -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) arrived in Corinto, Nicaragua, June 5, to kick off the Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010 visit to the nation.

SPS 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.

"The U.S. Navy and USSOUTHCOM are committed to these multi-nation partnerships," said Capt. Kurt Hedberg, mission commander of SPS 2010. "It gives all of us a chance to exchange ideas, mission-focused knowledge and expertise to improve capabilities in key mission areas. This sort of multi-national cooperation is vital to successful maritime operations today and in the future."

While deployed in support of SPS 2010, Swift will visit various countries in the Caribbean island nations, Central and South America over the upcoming months. During the ship's stay in Nicaragua, the crew will meet and exchange professional knowledge with the region's civil and maritime services.

"These visits and the subject matter expert exchanges which take place during them are opportunities for us to foster friendly, mutual cooperation and understanding by coming together to enhance regional maritime security," said Hedberg. "I look forward to getting to know the people of Nicaragua during the upcoming weeks."

Some of the topics to be discussed during the visit are port security, personal security, junior and senior enlisted leadership principles, outboard motor maintenance, maintenance management and small boat operations. The U.S. Marine Corps also has an eight-man mobile training team on board Swift to participate in the exchanges. The team will provide instruction on combat military operations, check-point security, human rights, land navigation, small unit tactics and several other related areas.

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 ship 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.