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    U.S., Dominica: helping and healing during CP-15

    U.S. Marines lend helping hand to Dominicans

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Kirstin Spanu | A service member from USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) plays soccer with local Dominican...... read more read more

    DOMINICA - On July 27, 2015 a massive white vessel pulled into port on the Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica. It’s a ship that bears red crosses, indicating its intentions of helping and healing. Inside, it contains over 1,000 personnel prepared to man the twelve operating rooms aboard the ship and give their all to provide free, quality health care to the people of the host nation for a total of nine days.

    The arrival of USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) was no surprise to the citizens of Dominica. Since July 19, U.S. Marines from 4th Civil Affairs Group began communicating with members from the ministry of health, the ministry of justice, the youth development center and more in order to coordinate medical site locations where free health care would be available and places where community relations events would take place in support of Operation Continuing Promise 2015.

    “We’ve been blessed to have the civil affairs team that we have here. They’ve been instrumental,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Jorge Jaramillo, deputy chief military liaison officer in the Eastern Caribbean with CP-15. “We’ve coordinated with the lead coordinator from the Comfort, Captain Adams, and he is very pleased with all the work that has been done and all the coordination that has taken place… mostly, and more importantly, because of the civil affairs work that has been laid out.”

    Marines with civil affairs helped to coordinate not only locations of two medical sites with the goal of seeing up to 1,200 patients per day, but arrangements for patients needing surgeries by collaborating with the host nation in a joint effort to support CP-15 and foster good will between the United States and Dominica.

    “I think Operation Continuing Promise is a very important
    mission because it helps build partner relationships throughout [the area of operation] and it helps bridge the gap between the U.S. and its close-proximity partners, which we have to be doing all of the time,” said GySgt. Jason Burke, civil affairs team member from 4th CAG. “You leave an impression of the United States, the Marine Corps or the Navy, and it’s a positive image and a positive message that needs to be continued.”

    Members from all U.S. military branches came together in order to support the CP-15 mission and provide assistance to the people of Dominica.

    “We talk in different languages sometimes and we have our own idiosyncrasies, but working in a joint environment is always beneficial because you each bring your own perspective to the challenge that lies ahead of you and that helps to facilitate a more well-rounded solution,” said Capt. Brendan McGovern, civil affairs team lead from 4th CAG.
    Civil affairs also arranged community relations events where service members donated toys and shoes to local children in need, read books and shared the importance of dental hygiene. More importantly, U.S. service members and local citizens of Dominica shared their time, culture and smiles with one another.

    “Your presence here attests to our friendship,” said Roosevelt Skerrit, prime minister of Dominica. “When the [U.S. government] asked whether or not we would accept the presence of the USNS Comfort here in Dominica, my response was a resounding yes.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.04.2015
    Date Posted: 08.06.2015 15:40
    Story ID: 172214
    Location: DM

    Web Views: 61
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN