America's North Shore Journal

It wasn’t so long ago that the appearance of a United States Naval vessel off the coast of a Central or South American nation meant only one thing. The Marines were landing, either to prop up an existing government or to replace it. The history of United States interventions in the affairs of other nations in our hemisphere goes back to nearly the founding of our country. You cannnot blame the citizens of Latin American nations if they have a suspicious view of the United States and the United States Navy.

In a five part series this week, ANSJ will look at one step that the Navy is taking to change that perspective, Operation Continuing Promise 2008, and in particular the activities of the men and women aboard the U.S.S. Boxer this Spring. A group of hard working Americans is making a difference one roof, one paintbrush at a time.

The U.S.S. Boxer sailed from San Diego at the beginning of May. It has visited Guatemala and El Salvador, and is scheduled to proceed to Peru later in the Summer. Operation Continuing Promise 2008 is a partnership between the military – all four services, the uniformed Public Health Service, and Project Hope, a private NGO. The embarked personnel have been working with host nation civil and military authorities, local and regional NGO’s and the local population. The mission is to improve healthcare, provide health information and training and to provide other assistance wherever possible.

Commodore Peter K. Dallman:

“The variety of training and capabilities Continuing Promise will take into the region clearly demonstrates our nation’s commitment to fostering cooperative partnerships,” said Dallman. “This is a diverse mission that demands a diverse ship and crew. The same flexibility that makes Boxer an effective warship also makes it an extraordinarily effective platform for performing humanitarian assistance missions.”

U.S. Southern Command:

Embarked units and organizations aboard Boxer for CP include Amphibious Squadron 5, Fleet Surgical Team 5, U.S. Public Health Service, Project HOPE, Project Handclasp, Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303, Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Special Marine Air Ground Task Force 24, Helicopter Sea Combat Support Squadron 23, Assault Craft Unit 1, Fleet Survey Team, Beach Master Unit 1 and Maritime Civil Affairs Team 205