Final Planning Conference for SPS JHSV 2015

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS150320-04
Release Date: 3/20/2015 8:41:00 AM

By Ensign Carol McKenzie, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSO) hosted a final planning conference (FPC) for Southern Partnership Station Joint High Speed Vessel 2015 in Mayport, Florida, March 3-4.

The FPC was attended by military and civilian representatives from U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), U.S. Marine Forces Southern Command (MARFORSOUTH), Military Sealift Command (MSC), Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Naval Special Warfare (NSW), and USNAVSO.

The conference began with opening remarks by Rear Adm. George Ballance, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. Ballance emphasized military-to-military relationships and enhancing capabilities for all partner nations involved.

'Our involvement in Southern Partnership Station is critical for continuing to develop relationships with our partner nations and building military partnerships that can stand the test of time,' Rear Adm. Ballance said.

Representatives from various commands and organizations briefed the attendees on final logistical plans, planned engagements to occur in each mission stop, and focused on how each set of skills could best be employed to enhance relationships in each country.
On hand were the security cooperation officers and Navy section chiefs from each partner nation involved in SPS JHSV 2015 to answer questions and remark on the jobs that will have the most impact to the people in their host nations.

'I'm most looking forward to the engagements and the subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs). The Guatemalan participants love receiving any kind of training, especially from explosive ordnance disposal personnel and medical representatives,' said Lt. Angela Chapoteau, security cooperation officer for Guatamala. 'The planned repairs to the hospital ambulance bay are needed and will make a huge impact in Puerto Barrios.'

EOD personnel plan to enhance Guatemalan military expertise in salvage diving, while the Seabees will repair a caved in roof for the local hospital ambulance garage. Exchanges of military training and humanitarian repairs are abundant in the plans for SPS JHSV 2015.
Southern Partnership Station Joint High Speed Vessel 2015 is set to begin in June. The final planning conference emphasized the concept of operation, finalized engagement activities and focused on looking ahead to a successful mission.

Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Hannum, SPS JHSV 2015 lead planner said 'I am most looking forward to the successful completion of our mission; continuing the partnerships with Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Colombia that we established last year and building onto them this year. SPS JHSV 15 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central/South America and the Caribbean.