SPS Arrives in Nicaragua

[unhappycamper]

SPS Arrives in Nicaragua
February 17, 2009
Navy News|by MC1 Daniel Ball

EL BLUFF, Nicaragua - High speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) arrived in Nicaragua Feb. 16 for the first of two instructional evolutions during Southern Partnership Station (SPS).

SPS 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.

Training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group began their courses today with students from the Nicaraguan Navy. The courses provide instruction in maritime interdiction officer, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, small boat maintenance and repair, small boat basic coxswain skills and port security.

Training began today in classrooms set up on Swift and at the local military facilities in El Bluff, Nicaragua.

"I am the lead instructor for thirteen students in small boat maintenance and repair," said Construction Mechanic 1st Class Kyle Taylor, from Axtell, Texas. "We cover outboard motor and inboard engine repair, fiberglass and metal hull repair, electrical systems troubleshooting and lower unit repair. By the time the students are done, they will know the theories behind the course and they will have repaired two of their own outboard motors."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/sps-arrives-in-nicaragua.html



uhc comment: This is shore purdy, isn't it? Naturally, no $$$ figure is available.



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