Photo By Gary Loten-Beckford | The USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) receives its final preparations for deployment at Mayport...... read more read more
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NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – Military Sealift Command Joint High-Speed Vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) departed Mayport to begin Southern Partnership Station 2015 (SPS-JHSV 15) July 8 in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to conduct subject matter expert exchanges and to build partner nation relationships through October.
Supporting the U.S. maritime strategy, SPS-JHSV 15 will concentrate on enhancing cooperative partnerships with regional navies and improving operational readiness for all participating nations.
While the Spearhead was pierside at Naval Station Mayport, U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Eric M. Smith, commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, came aboard to speak with U.S. Marines coming from detachments across the U.S. attached to the SPS-JHSV 15 mission.
Smith asked the Marines of the group whether this was their first deployment. The majority of the group stated that SPS-JHSV 15 was their first deployment.
“Our mission goes beyond assisting the Honduran government with construction projects” said Smith. “We are there to train with the Honduran government to learn how to better secure and control large areas. Our mission there and elsewhere are very important, not only to us but also to the entire region.”
SPS-JHSV 15 will also provide the opportunity for the U.S. and its allies across the Caribbean, and Central and South America to operate in the multinational environment, refine coordination and improve interoperability and demonstrate flexibility.
The focal point for assigned units will be to train alongside their counterparts in areas such as medical readiness, operational risk management, port security, noncommissioned officer professional development, diving operations and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operations.
For Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class (BM2) Shanna Mears, of Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One, in Williamsburg, Virginia, this is her first deployment. She volunteered for SPS-JHSV 15.
“I expect to gain more experience from this deployment,” said Mears. “I will get to experience different countries and meet new people.”
The ship is scheduled to return to Mayport at the conclusion of the mission.
SPS-JHSV-15 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on experimentation and subject matter expert changes with partner nation militaries and security forces.
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet support U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, and Central and South American regions.
For more news from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and 4th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.
| Date Taken: | 07.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2015 20:08 |
| Story ID: | 170407 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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