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SPS 2011 Completes Multiple Construction Projects at El Salvadoran Schools

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110224-18
2/24/2011

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

LA UNION, El Salvador (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28 Seabees and Marines from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group partnered with El Salvadoran sailors to complete three rehabilitation and repair projects in La Union, El Salvador, Feb. 23, in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2011.

The projects are part of four joint American-Salvadoran construction projects at local schools slated to be completed while High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) spends 19 days in La Union.

The 19 U.S. Sailors and five U.S. Marines have teamed up with nine El Salvadorian sailors to conduct a series of subject matter expert exchanges, retrofitting plumbing in bathrooms, installing electrical outlets and fixtures, and repairing 500 feet of displaced fencing surrounding the grounds at Anexo Centro Escolar Club Deleones, Esucela de Especial Educacion de La Union and Escuela Maria Lucia Marcia. Additional renovations are nearly complete at another local school, Centro Escuela Republica de Honduras.

"It's been a great pleasure to work and learn from the Salvadoran sailors while we make some needed improvements to this school," said Lt. Rama Mutyala, NMCB 28 detail bravo officer in charge.

During the cross-training evolution, the service members borrowed from their joint technical expertise while overcoming a language barrier to ultimately improve the quality of life for students at the school.

"It's always impressive to watch as all parties involved come together for one common goal, and it's successful," said Equipment Operator 3rd class John Guillen-Agudero. "The support and initiative these men displayed on a daily basis made it easy to learn from them and show them some of our construction procedures."

"This will be an outstanding partnership that will continue to build and sustain enduring relationships with the El Salvadorian military and government," said Mutyala.

SPS 11 is an annual deployment of U.S. ships to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission's primary goal is information-sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services throughout the region.

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces 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.