US Navy,
PUERTO CORTES, Honduras: The pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) completed their training in Honduras, Aug. 24, aboard High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift.
While in Honduras, GFS had new trainers arrive from the Expeditionary Training Command in Little Creek, Va., and former trainers returned for another engagement of subject matter exchanges with the Hondurans.
“I was told if I wanted to come back, I could, [if] they needed me — I'm here,” said Construction Electrician 1st Class (SCW) Marlon Borjas, from Expeditionary Training Command, who is originally from Honduras. “It was a nice surprise to get to come to Honduras one more time, since I haven't been here for about 23 years. The students this time around were young, but eager to learn and to put into practice the skills we provided for them.”
During the week GFS spent in Puerto Cortes, 84 Honduran service members shared knowledge in topics such as maintenance management, combat lifesaver medical training, Marine Corps small unit training, port security and vulnerabilities assessment, leadership principles and outboard motor maintenance.
“The Honduran students have been very enthusiastic in their class discussions,” said Lt. Sean Boucek, training team leader. “That helps in building the relationship between our instructors and the students which opens the door for future engagements. Not only has the training been successful thanks to our departing team's preparations, which is what made our midweek phase instructor turnover seamless.”
In addition to the subject matter exchanges between U.S and Honduran forces, Task Group 40.9 hosted a U.S. Embassy reception for regional civilian and military leadership, conducted a Blue/Gold crew swap, and senior leadership participated in the Honduran Navy's Chief of Naval Operations official send-off ceremony for the Honduran patrol boat L.P. Guaynauras (FNH-1051) and participated in the multi-national naval exercise PANAMAX 2007.
The training was provided by U.S. service members from the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton and 29 Palms, Calif., Marine Corps Training Command Quantico, Va., and Coast Guard International Training Division, in Yorktown, Va., in addition to the trainers from Navy Expeditionary Training Command.
Task Group 40.9 members also participated in a community relations project, where they visited a Puerto Cortes orphanage, Aug. 23. They spoke with the children about Swift, repainted their front sign, replaced gutters and presented the orphanage with six soccer balls and played soccer with the children.
Task Group 40.9 is under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command. The mission is to conduct a broad range of theater security cooperation activities with regional maritime services. Task Group 40.9 is scheduled to bring their teams to Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama.
