• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USMC, Navy Exchange Subject Matter Experts to Enhance Training in Barbados

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100827-01
8/27/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim Williams, High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) Public Affairs

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (NNS) -- U.S. Marines and Sailors embarked and stationed on board High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) held a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) session Aug. 24 with members of the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) during Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010 in Barbados.

Participants from the BDF who successfully completed the session received the MCMAP tan belt qualification.

"MCMAP consists of 32 hours of practical exercises in the basics of fighting, upper and lower body strikes," said Marine Corps Sgt. Georman Elder, MCMAP subject matter expert. "The partner countries bring a diverse makeup of participants to the exchanges in which they will take and use these skills differently back at their home units."

Elder explained that prior to starting the exchanges, each country is given a list of topics to select from with hopes of increasing their operational capability.

"The BDF requested the MCMAP session, but they had a much larger group than normal, so I enlisted the help of Sailors from the Swift who previously earned their tan belts and did very well," said Elder. "I thought that they would be the perfect group to help facilitate some of the drills for the BDF."

Swift Sailors participated in the ground-fighting portion of MCMAP and served as observers for other portions of the intensity drills.

"The Marines are an elite force with hand-to-hand combat, so it is a unique opportunity for us to be able to work with and alongside them during this exchange," said Operations Specialist 1st Class Michael McMurry from Arlington, Texas. "It's also an excellent opportunity for us to share what we learned with the Barbados Defense Force and to learn things from them as well."

MCMAP has been conducted in several countries for SPS 2010, including Jamaica, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala and Barbados.

"The MCMAP sessions build camaraderie and inspire teamwork and brotherhood not only with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, but with the partner countries as well," said Information Systems Technician 1st Class Jeremy Katzenstein, from Council Bluffs, Iowa. "The friendship and cohesiveness that come along with exchanges like these with the countries we visit, help us to develop partnerships for the future."

Swift is deployed in support of SPS 2010, a deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility in the Caribbean and Central America, with the primary goal of information sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services throughout the region.

Several teams are embarked on board to conduct subject matter expert exchanges, including Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group, Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Team and Navy Criminal Investigative Service.

The crew is also supported by members of Air Force South, Navy individual augmentees from throughout the fleet and Sailors from Navy Public Affairs Support Element East.

"We are all one unit and one team, so its imperative for us to work together as one unit," said Electronics Technician 1st Class Jason Hatton, a Fort Worth, Texas, native. "So when we were invited to participate in the MCMAP exchange, none of us hesitated to help to Marines complete their mission."

The SPS mission is directly aligned with the nation's Maritime Strategy, a crucial responsibility of protecting U.S. vital interests.

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.

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.