Swift becoming fixture in SouthCom diplomacy

[unhappycamper]

The Military Sealift Command's High Speed Vessel Swift 2 prepares to deploy in support of Southern Partnership Station, a five month mission to Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin. Swift has embarked Combined Task Group 40.9, composed of Navy, Marine Corps and Naval Criminal Investigative Service training teams and translators. These teams will provide instruction to partner nations in various topics including port security, small boat maintenance, combat lifesaving and enlisted leadership.


Swift becoming fixture in SouthCom diplomacy
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 12, 2009 15:23:50 EST

A now-familiar gray catamaran pulled into the city of Port Antonio, Jamaica, on Jan. 4, carrying a team of sailors and Marines set to deliver a lesson in high demand among all the seafaring nations in Caribbean — how to fix small boats.

Boat repair, port security and basic law enforcement are part of the core curriculum available from the trainers aboard the high-speed vessel Swift, now three nations deep into a seven-nation tour of Central and South America as the United States’ floating embassy. Dubbed the “southern partnership station,” the Swift is becoming a regular visitor to many ports in the 4th Fleet area of operations, which is exactly what the Navy wants.

“This puts the U.S. military in good standing down here with these countries,” said Cmdr. Chris Barnes, the Swift’s mission commander, who spoke to Navy Times from Jamaica.

“In the three countries where we’ve been so far, we’ve been very, very well received. They appreciate the training, and we’re learning stuff from them, as well.”

A December report in the English-language Panama News began: “The USS Swift goes like a bat out of hell, so it is said.” It also reported that crew members had brought Christmas presents for Panamanian children.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/01/navy_swift_011209w/%2e



uhc comment: Meet the (leased)High Speed Vessel Swift:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSV-2_Swift



HSV-2 Swift navigates the waters off the coast of Southern Iraq


Ordered: October, 2002
Launched: August 15, 2003
Homeport: Crew Homeports: Naval Station Ingleside, TX and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA
Fate: In service; leased by the United States Navy


Now we're leasing warships?????