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Peruvian Admiral Visits Seabee SPS 11 Project Site

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101216-08
12/16/2010

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

VENTANILLA, Peru (NNS) -- Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2011 mission commander, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28 Detail Bravo and a team of Marine engineers welcomed Peru's naval civil engineering commander to their construction site at Elias Aguirre Romero Elementary School in Ventanilla, Peru, Dec. 14.

Cmdr. Mark Becker, SPS 11 mission commander, and Lt. Rama Mutyala, NMCB 28 officer-in-charge, greeted Peruvian Vicealmirante (Rear Adm.) Humberto Sanchez, Direccion Infraestructura Terrestre commander, in the court yard of the school where U.S. Sailors and Marines are partnering with Peruvian Sailors to build a 16 by 32-foot multi-purpose structure, which will be used for a classroom, and a children's play set fully equipped with slides and swings.

"I just wanted to meet the men who are partnering with our navy to complete this amazing project," said Sanchez. "The quality of work displayed here shows what we can do when we work together."

"Our Seabees and Marines have displayed amazing commitment and dedication to learning and sharing information with our Peruvian counterparts. This is a joint venture, which displays unity and a one team, one fight mentality," said Becker.

The construction project is a two-week cross training and development project, which directly supports SPS 2011, an annual deployment of U.S. ships to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility in the Caribbean and Latin America involving information sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services throughout the region.

The 19 Seabees and five U.S. Marine engineers on site are working hand and hand with their Peruvian counterparts in every aspect of the developmental and construction process, which has significantly contributed to building and sustaining an enduring relationship.

"This entire project could not have been completed without the amazing support of the Peruvian officers and enlisted sailors who have went above and beyond to make this experience one that will bring us closer and build bonds for years to come," said Chief Builder Fernando Labrada.

"I hope this is a sign of things to come in the future between our militaries," said Sanchez. "We share common interests and it's critical that we continue to work together and partner in the future."

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the classroom and play set will be held Dec. 20 in the courtyard of the school where both U.S. Navy and Peruvian navy leadership will welcome the children into their new facility.

"When it's all said and done, this particular project is about cross training and putting smiles on the faces of the wonderful children here. This is why we enjoy missions like this, because we can see how our work directly affects others," said Becker.

NMCB 28 will be participating in a variety of subject matter expert exchanges and information sharing ventures with partner nations during their four-month deployment to six countries in support of SPS 2011.

Commander, U.S. Navy Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO) is the naval component command for U.S. Southern Command and is responsible for all naval personnel and assets in the Area of Responsibility. COMUSNAVSO conducts a variety of missions in support of the U.S. Maritime Strategy, including theater security cooperation, relationship building, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, community relations and counter-illicit trafficking operations.