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Southern Partnership Station 2011 Completes Honduras Exchange Mission

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110319-06
3/19/2011

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

SAN LORENZO, Honduras (NNS) -- The Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2011 joint-military team completed their Honduran subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) by celebrating with government officials, as well as the school children, at Escuela Lempira in San Lorenzo, Honduras, March 18.

Escuela Lempira was the site of a SMEE with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28 Sailors, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (MLG) Marines and Honduran soldiers.

As a part of the SMEE, the joint-military team performed roof repairs and installed electrical wiring.

"We're delighted the school wanted to host this event and show their appreciation. It's a sign that what we're doing here means something, because our commitment and involvement isn't just to the Honduran government, it's to the people as well," said Cmdr. Mark Becker, SPS 2011 mission commander.

The ceremony was hosted by San Lorenzo Mayor Alex Javier Valdez Escobar, who complimented the Sailors, Marines and Airman on their professionalism and commitment to partnering with the Honduran military and non-government organizations. He took the time to discuss each engagement and displayed his appreciation for the efforts of the men and women who participated.

"The progress made through working together these past two weeks speaks volumes about the quality and character of the men in the U.S. military," said Escobar. "Our countries have united to do some amazing things here that will benefit the Honduran military, schools, hospitals and security forces."

The ceremony included speeches and presentations by Honduran government officials, teachers and military representatives.

"This is just an example of our gratitude for the hard work done here to enhance the life of the kids who attend this school," said Jose Santos Pena, a teacher at Escuela Eneas Alvarado, the site of a SMEE where Sailors, Marines and Honduran soldiers built a Southeast Asia hut.

While in Honduras, the SPS 2011 team participated in SMEEs related to security, medicine, civil affairs and construction engineering, which were designed to continue building and sustaining an enduring relationship with the Honduran government.

"This mission is about fostering and strengthening our relationships in the region through effective cross training and partnership engagements, and that's exactly what we accomplished here," said Becker. "Through hard work and dedication from both parties, we have been able to do some amazing things, and we look forward to future engagements."

The SPS 2011 team has participated in SMEE and humanitarian relief efforts in Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador and Haiti. SPS 2011's mission continues with a nine-day port call in Corinto, Nicaragua.

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.