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Salvadoran Navy Hosts Closing Ceremony for Southern Partnership Station 2011 Team

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110301-02
3/1/2011

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

LA UNION, El Salvador (NNS) -- Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2011's joint-military team attended a closing ceremony to conclude their two-week subject matter expert engagement with the Salvadoran government at Naval Base La Union, El Salvador, Feb. 28.

The ceremony recognized the partnership and efforts of the U.S. and Salvadoran military and government agencies while performing a variety of cross-training ventures related to physical security, medicine, construction and engineering.

"Our information exchange with our Salvadoran partners proved to be extremely beneficial on all levels," said Cmdr. Mark Becker, SPS 2011 mission commander. "We were able to do some amazing work together, which was mutually beneficial in displaying our commitment to building and sustaining an enduring relationship here."

The cross-training provided major renovations at four schools, improved the proficiency and knowledge base of the civil police, military police and port authority officers, expanded tactical applications for marine forces and enhanced the resources of local medical facilities.

"During this two-week mission, our American partners were able to work with us in so many areas," said Contralmirante Juan Antonio Calderon Gonzalez, Jefe Del Estado Mayor General De La Fuerza Naval. "This is just one of many steps we made and will continue to make toward building together."

The SPS 2011 team has conducted a series of subject matter expert exchanges and humanitarian relief efforts in Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Peru. The team is on its way to San Lorenzo, Honduras, for 19 days.

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.