• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station 2012 Concludes Subject Matter Expert Exchanges with Guatemala

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS111216-12
12/16/2011

From Amphibious–Southern Partnership Station 2012 Public Affairs

GUATEMALA (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines attached to a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) completed 13 days of subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) in support of Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station (AMPHIB-SPS) 2012, in Puerto Barrios and Puerto Santo Tomas, Guatemala, Dec. 9.

The SPMAGTF, with attached U.S. Navy Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 3, Det. 1 personnel; and members of the Guatemalan marine and naval special forces conducted a series of SMEEs on topics that covered capabilities of amphibious assault vehicles; rigging boats for expedient tows; river patrol boat insertions and extractions of special tactics teams; jungle survival techniques; hand-to-hand combat methods; water survival; live-fire events and explosive ordinance demonstrations.

"The exchange with the Guatemalan special forces was a tremendous success," said Maj. Brendan Burks, SPMAGTF Ground Forces commander in Guatemala. "Both militaries share the same concerns with the defense of our countries and must be ready when called upon."

The Marines and Sailors were welcomed to Guatemala during an opening ceremony. Remarks were given by Col. Julio Cesar Linares, interim commander of the Guatemalan Special Forces Brigade.

"The Guatemalan special forces have a special bond with the U.S. Marines because we both share a rich history in battle and willingness to make that ultimate sacrifice to keep our countries safe," said Linares.

The energy and eagerness to learn from one another were shared equally between the Guatemalan special forces and the SPMAGTF.

"They were very hungry to learn from us, and we were extremely excited to learn their ways also," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Sergio Lopez, RIVRON 3 Det. 1. "Many Guatemalan special forces members came in on their day off to continue with the information exchanges."

The training period gained the attention of the governor of the state of Izabal, Byron Solares Ogaldez, who made an appearance at the closing ceremonies conducted as the final joint venture for the SPMAGTF and the Guatemalan special forces.

"I was honored to be able to attend this event. It is great for our forces to be able to come together to share and learn from each others' experiences," said Ogaldez.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) support U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.