Fourth Fleet Commander Stresses SPS Achievement
Story Number: NNS090416-01
Release Date: 4/16/2009 5:20:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Ball, Southern Partnership Station Public Affairs
PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/ U.S. 4th Fleet, visited high speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) and the Sailors and Marines of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) as they carried out their mission in Jamaica, April 15.
Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan's visit began with an awards ceremony followed by a question-and-answer session where he stressed the importance of missions such as SPS.
"These types of missions are becoming incredibly important in the Navy today," Kernan said. "You are the face of America in these countries and by working hand-in-hand with their defense forces you are building relationships and showing them what America stands for."
Afterwards, Kernan observed training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command and Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they instructed Jamaica Defense Force members in port security, boarding operations, small boat operations and junior enlisted leadership.
Over the last five months, SPS grew from a concept to a smooth-running reality.
"Like any good plan, things change when the plan is implemented," said Kernan. "But the ability of Sailors to adapt is what makes these missions so successful. I was incredibly impressed with the professionalism of the training team and the students. They had great communications with each other and both sides were benefiting from the interaction. It's been that way throughout the entire mission and our Sailors are having a great time because of it."
Jamaica is the 12th port visit for SPS. During the course of the mission, SPS also made port visits in El Salvador, Panama, Barbados, Nicaragua, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission goal is primarily information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region. SPS is comprised of Navy training and support teams, Marine Corps training teams, foreign naval officers and civilian contract mariners on a Military Sealift Command platform.
The mission is coordinated through NAVSO/ 4th Fleet with partner nations to meet their specific training requests. As the naval component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.
Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.
Story Number: NNS090416-01
Release Date: 4/16/2009 5:20:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Ball, Southern Partnership Station Public Affairs
PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/ U.S. 4th Fleet, visited high speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) and the Sailors and Marines of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) as they carried out their mission in Jamaica, April 15.
Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan's visit began with an awards ceremony followed by a question-and-answer session where he stressed the importance of missions such as SPS.
"These types of missions are becoming incredibly important in the Navy today," Kernan said. "You are the face of America in these countries and by working hand-in-hand with their defense forces you are building relationships and showing them what America stands for."
Afterwards, Kernan observed training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command and Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they instructed Jamaica Defense Force members in port security, boarding operations, small boat operations and junior enlisted leadership.
Over the last five months, SPS grew from a concept to a smooth-running reality.
"Like any good plan, things change when the plan is implemented," said Kernan. "But the ability of Sailors to adapt is what makes these missions so successful. I was incredibly impressed with the professionalism of the training team and the students. They had great communications with each other and both sides were benefiting from the interaction. It's been that way throughout the entire mission and our Sailors are having a great time because of it."
Jamaica is the 12th port visit for SPS. During the course of the mission, SPS also made port visits in El Salvador, Panama, Barbados, Nicaragua, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission goal is primarily information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region. SPS is comprised of Navy training and support teams, Marine Corps training teams, foreign naval officers and civilian contract mariners on a Military Sealift Command platform.
The mission is coordinated through NAVSO/ 4th Fleet with partner nations to meet their specific training requests. As the naval component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.
Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.
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