USNS COMFORT COMMENCES CONTINUING PROMISE 2022 IN GUATEMALA

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Donald White | 221026-N-MY642-1017 PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala (Oct. 26, 2022) An MH-60S Seahawk, assigned to the "Chargers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, carries cargo nets from the coast of Puerto Barrios after the hospital ship USNS Comfort's (T-AH 20) arrival, Oct. 26, 2022. Comfort is deployed to U.S. 4th Fleet in support of Continuing Promise 2022, a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission conducting direct medical care, expeditionary veterinary care, and subject matter expert exchanges with five partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Donald R. White Jr.)  

PUERTO BARRIOS, GUATEMALA

10.26.2022

Story by Chief Petty Officer Lewis Hunsaker 

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala (Oct. 28, 2022) – Hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) anchored off the coast of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, in support of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2022 (CP22) mission, Oct. 26.

This visit marks the first of five mission stops as part of Continuing Promise 2022 and the ninth visit to Guatemala as part of Continuing Promise since 2007.

“No mission better demonstrates our enduring commitment to the region as we work collaboratively with likeminded nations to ensure a secure, free, and prosperous hemisphere,” said Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. “Today, more than ever, our fates are inextricably linked in the Western Hemisphere. Continuing Promise provides valuable training for U.S. and partner nation personnel to learn from each other and to work side by side to improve the medical readiness of our neighborhood while also collectively being prepared to meet regional challenges.”

During the mission stop the Comfort will provide direct medical care and expeditionary veterinary care, conducting training and subject matter expert exchanges on various medical and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief topics, and leading seminars on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) to further strengthen U.S. partnerships with partner nations, improve our collective capacity to respond in support of medical assistance and disaster relief efforts in the region, and provide an invaluable opportunity to learn from partner nations.

Since its inaugural mission in 2007, Continuing Promise missions have treated more than 582,000 patients and conducted over 7,000 surgeries in the region. Comfort’s current mission will be the 12th Continuing Promise mission conducted in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Additional countries with civilian and military personnel participating in CP 2022 include Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Netherlands the United Kingdom and more than a dozen non-governmental organizations.

Comfort is also scheduled to visit Colombia, Dominican Republic and Haiti during CP22.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports 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, Central and South American region.

Learn more about USNAVSO/4th Fleet at
https://www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT

• Date Taken: 10.26.2022
• Date Posted: 10.30.2022 00:44
• Story ID: 432277
• Location: PUERTO BARRIOS, GT