“being involved in this kind of thing and doing this kind of work is what they joined the Navy for”

Boxer is home in San Diego, after successful stops in three Latin American nations. Operation Continuing Promise ’08 was designed to provide medical assistance and education to people in Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru. A contingent of SeaBees were aboard tasked to engage in repair and reconstruction activities at various sites in the host countries. And a load of materials donated by Project Handclasp, books and other supplies, was along to be distributed where needed.

A Bloggers’ Roundtable on June 26 with Navy Capt. Peter Dallman, commander of Amphibious Squadron 5, filled in more of the details. The transcript is here [PDF file].

This was a two month mission, shorter than many that Boxer undertakes. She was staffed with an air detatchment – helicopters, several landing craft, the Naval Construction unit also called SeaBees [ about 60 ], a group [ about 21 ] from the NGO Project Hope, a rotating set of uniformed personnel [ about 15 ]of the US Public Health Service as well as additional military personnel [ about 90 ]. The added military included medical staff, a Marine beach party for landing support and volunteers from several branches of the military.

Materials were bought with some Title 10 funds. About half was purchased in the States with the remainder being bought in the host countries.

The Seabees worked on 8 schools, a church and also two culverts. In the buildings, the work included plumbing, electrical repairs and renovations and some roof repair and replacement.

On the medical side, Captain Dallman reported:

We had 127 total surgeries onboard Boxer, 14,000 total dental procedures, 66 repairs to biomedical equipment in the various clinics and hospitals that we worked at. A lot of this is done by corpsmen that don’t have any parts, no kit, no tool bag, no anything. So I was amazed that they could repair that many.

We saw just under 4,000 optometry patients. We distributed about 3,500 glasses to those patients.

We dispensed nearly 40,000 medications.

We had a veterinarian team, and they saw just under 2,900 animals total. A lot of that was vaccinations and de-worming.

And primary care saw just over 14,000 patients.

So total patients for the 28 mission days was just over 24,000 patients seen. And that results — if you add in the classes, 123 classes, and 18,000 total students for those classes, then that’s a total of 65,000 encounters during the 28 mission days.

Kearsarge will be doing the same sort of mission later in the summer, on the Atlantic side of the continent. Both Boxer and Kearsarge are uniquely qualified to do these types of missions. They can support air operations, landing craft operations and they can carry a significant number of personnel beyond their own crews. They also have a great deal of space to conduct medical procedures and for storage.

These missions are no longer an exception. USNS Mercy is currently in Vietnam having been engaged in an assistance mission in Southeast Asia. The Reagan carrier battle group is providing typhoon relief in the Philippines. The United States Navy with its capabilities and world-wide reach is able to conduct routine and emergency humanitarian assistance operations, saving lives and giving the people of diverse nations a positive view of the United States and its people.

El Salvador

SONSANATE, El Salvador (May 26, 2008) Lt. Elizabeth Leavitt of the U.S. Public Health Service, embarked aboard the USS Boxer (LHD 4), translates for her colleagues to a Salvadoran man at the Sonsanate landfill during the Pacific phase of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Gaines

USS Boxer (LHD 4) along with various embarked units and non-governmental organizations (NGO) arrived in Acajutla, May 19 for the second stop of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is a collaborative effort between the United States and partner militaries, non-governmental organizations and partner-nation support organizations to build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation requiring cooperative solutions.

CP’s medical contingent, led by the embarked Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 5, will spend six work days alongside local medical providers at El Salvador’s Miravalle and El Sunza schools providing primary medical care to nearly 6,000 Salvadoran citizens. The team will also spend 10 days at El Salvador’s Sonsonate Regional Hospital performing hospital equipment repairs and holding education and training to hospital staff, while also sharing ideas and experiences on best practices for long-term public health solutions.

While anchored off the coastline, Boxer’s medical facilities will host 10 surgical patients a day across nine days. Surgeries will include cyst and gallbladder removal and minor hernia repair.

United States Navy

SONSONATE, El Salvador (May 19, 2008) Hospitalman Ricardo Perez, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Andino Palacio and Emergency Medical Technician Julie Whitis, all assigned to the medical education team embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) demonstrate cardio pulmonary resuscitation to a group of medical personnel at Sonsonate Regional Hospital during Continuing Promise (CP) 2008. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Brian R. Williams

The Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 medical education team taught basic life support and advanced cardiac life support classes to a group of medical professionals, May 20, at El Salvador’s Sonsonate Regional Hospital.

CP is a humanitarian civic assistance mission teaming American and Salvadoran health care providers and relief capabilities to demonstrate the cooperative partnerships among allies.

The basic life support class included teaching the El Salvadoran medical personnel how to perform basic cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for adults as well as children.

The advance cardiac life support class was taught mainly to doctors, nurses and hospital workers with more medical expertise because it involves the use of a manual defibrillator.

The team taught a demonstrative class to train the students in the different aspects of advanced cardiac life support. They offered the students hands on-training with life-like mannequins.

“It’s interesting to watch everybody get to do CPR with the mannequins and integrating it with a lot of teaching and instructional tools that we use when we do resuscitation or CPR in a hospital,” said Capt. Luis Orosz, CP 2008 medical contingent commander. “Everybody gets their hands in some of the skills that were taught.”

Partner nations sharing health education through training like this extends the medical care provided by the teams ashore long after Boxer’s Continuing Promise mission leaves El Salvador.

“It’s very important to have knowledge of CPR so that we can help people in an emergency and respond to heal a natural disaster, automobile accident or even an illness,” said Pablo Alberto Cortez Grande, a community family medic.

Most of the students had practicing physician or active nursing levels of experience. They were constantly active in the classes by asking questions and sharing tips during the CPR demonstrations.

“I am very grateful for the classes and the opportunity to learn the most up to date techniques while working side by side with a neighbor and partner nation,” said Cortez. “This is more than an opportunity, it is an honor. We hope this type of work continues. We are very grateful and we would very happily receive any additional training.”

The medical education team consists of medical professionals from Boxer, Project Hope, U.S. Public Health Service and Fleet Surgical Team 5.

United States Navy

ALCAJUTLA, El Salvador (May 19, 2008) Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Roberto Duajardo, Builder 3rd Class Justin Lewis and Steelworker Constructionman William Stimson, dig a hole with an auger to insert posts for new fencing at Canton La Sunza school in El Salvador as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008. The three Seabees are assigned to Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). Army photo by Specialist Brian R. Williams

ACAJUTLA, El Salvador (May 24, 2008) Lt. Cmdr. Phillip B. Creider, Chaplain for the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), welds sheet metal at the Canton La Sunza school renovation site during Continuing Promise (CP) 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Joshua Jarvis

Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303, embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), began renovations at a local school in Alcajutla, May 20, as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is an equal-partnership mission enabling American and partner-nation civil engineers to share ideas to provide effective infrastructure solutions, while also building on long-term bonds.

The Seabees worked along with the Salvadoran military’s Command of Engineers in a four-day process to begin renovating Canton La Sunza’s school house in Alcajutla.

For most CBMU 303 Seabees, the Continuing Promise mission is the first time working with a partner-nation. However, it is the eigth time for the engineers of El Salvador to be working alongside their American counterparts.

“This is a large community, but we have little space for all the students,” said the school’s principal, Mauricio Torres. “It is a gift from God and a benefit for the children.”

Canton La Sunza is a public school that regularly hosts 400-500 children annually. They currently have 497 students attending, who take classes either in the morning or afternoon in one of seven small classrooms.

The Seabees and partner-nation civil engineers are working together to repair electrical wiring, plumbing, fencing, renovate a kitchen as well as two new sinks and a brand new incinerator to a school that has not been upgraded in 14 years.

“As a principal, I am satisfied. Because of this support, the school will have another face to it; a better face. You won’t see that ugly school that is falling apart,” said Torres. “It will be a new school, and it will captivate the children. They will like coming to school instead of being unmotivated.”

United States Navy

SONSONATE, El Salvador (May 23, 2008) U.S. Public Health Service nurse, Cmdr. Kimberly Elenberg and Army Capt. (Dr.) Karin Potirus, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), provide immunizations for two Salvadoran children. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Jackson

ACAJUTLA, El Salvador (May 26, 2008) Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Linda Grant, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), gives a Salvadoran girl a dental exam at the Canton la Sunza school during a Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 community relations project. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Porter Anderson

ACAJUTLA, El Salvador (May 26, 2008) Lt. Megan Rieman, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), gives a Salvadoran girl an eye exam at the Canton la Sunza school during a Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 community relations project. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Porter Anderson

During the 13-day operation in El Salvador, Boxer’s embarked NGOs and military units worked side-by-side with partner-nation military and civilian professionals to provide medical, dental, optometry and veterinary care along with construction, renovation and small-scale civil engineering projects.

“Our mission was to provide healthcare and construction support,” said the mission commander for CP, Capt. Peter Dallman. “We were able to vastly exceed our goal because of the great support from our Salvadoran hosts.”

Medical specialists from Boxer, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 5, the U.S. Public Health Service and Project HOPE worked together with Salvadoran medical professionals to conduct nearly 4,000 dental exams and procedures, more than 1,800 optometry exams, 62 surgeries aboard Boxer, provide nearly 8,000 patients primary medical care and filled more than 19,000 prescriptions at several sites in the area.

In addition to treatment, teams also conducted classes on personal and industrial hygiene, the safe preparation of food and water, child development and infant cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

“The appreciation from the people who were served through the medical and dental selection program was overwhelming,” added Dallman. “There were lots of smiles.”

Seabees assigned to Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303 and Navy Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 completed projects at three sites including two schools and a main-road repair. The work included major plumbing and electrical upgrages, roof replacement, fence construction, kitchen renovation, replacing doors and windows, painting and landscaping.

United States Navy

Operation Continuing Promise 2008 continues, with the USS Boxer now in Peru. I have more of this series to post but I thought some recent pics would be interesting.

BARRANCA, Peru (June 12, 2008) Tents fill the basketball court of the Guillermo Enrique Billinghurst school in Barranca, Peru where Seabees embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) have set up a temporary home. Seabees are renovating the school, which is used by more than 1,500 Peruvian students.

HUACHO, Peru (June 11, 2008) Army Capt. Karin Potirus, a veterinarian embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), examines corn stalks to be used as animal food at a dairy farm during the Pacific phase of Continuing Promise 2008.

HUACHO, Peru (June 11, 2008) Lt. Cmdr. Michael Copeland, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), inspects a drinking water reservoir in the City of Sayan in the Huacho region of Peru during Continuing Promise 2008 evaluation of the needs of the community.

HUACHO, Peru (June 12, 2008) Lt. Johnny Cosby, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), examines a patient’s eyes at the Huacho Salon Parochial medical site during Continuing Promise 2008.

BARRANCA, Peru (June 12, 2008) Seabees from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303 embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) install a new roof over the Guillermo Enrique Billinghurst school in Barranca, Peru during Continuing Promise 2008.

HUACHO, Peru (June 12, 2008) Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Harvey Evans, assigned to Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303 embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), cleans windows after performing maintenance at Luis Fabio Xammer Jurado school in Peru during Continuing Promise 2008.

Guatemala

LAS PAMPAS, Guatemala (May 15, 2008) Aviation Boatswain Mate (Handling) Airman Amy Saavedra explains how to take medicine to a young boy at the Escuela Las Pampas medical assistance site. Boxer is deployed supporting the Pacific phase of Continuing Promise 2008, an equal partnership mission between the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Jackson

LAS PAMPAS, Guatemala (May 15, 2008) Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Uebelhoer, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), checks a patient’s heartbeat at the Escuela Las Pampas. Boxer is deployed supporting the Pacific phase of Continuing Promise 2008, an equal partnership mission between the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Jackson

Guatemalan military leaders ceremoniously welcomed USS Boxer (LHD 4) to Puerto de San Juan on May 7 to mark the official beginning of operations in Guatemala as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is a collaborative effort between U.S. military services to work with non-government organizations and host nations to build strong partnerships which can be called upon in the event of a regional situation that requires cooperative solutions.

After exchanging greetings at the Guatemalan navy base with their hosts, the Mission Commander for CP, Capt. Peter Dallman, Boxer’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Matthew McCloskey and Medical Contingent Commander, Capt. (Dr.) Louis Orosz, were invited to join the Commanding Officer of Guatemala Pacific Naval Base, Capt. Rafel Alfonso Reneau Franco, for a pass-in-review of Guatemalan military personnel.

“For the majority of people, the sea is an obstacle, but for us, the seamen, the sea is a connection which allows us to communicate,” said Franco. “In the name of the Commander of the National Navy, Capt. Fernando Campo Sanchez, we give our most courteous welcome to you.”

Dallman and McCloskey were also asked to sign the base’s golden logbook, an honor reserved for special guests of the base commander.

“We’re very happy and honored to be in your country,” said Dallman. “We’ve traveled to Guatemala from San Diego to work side-by-side with your medical, engineering, veterinary and dental professionals. We are eager to learn from you, and I hope you can learn something from us.”

Boxer’s mission exemplifies the U.S. maritime strategy which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jon Rasmussen, USS Boxer Public Affairs

SAN FRANSISCO, Guatemala (May 13, 2008) Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Vanessa Feliscian, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), paints the interior walls of San Fransisco De Assisi’s Church in Guatemala during Continuing Promise (CP) 2008. Boxer is deployed supporting the Pacific phase of Continuing Promise 2008, an equal partnership mission between the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Brian R. Williams

ESCUELA LAS PAMPAS, Guatemala (May 15, 2008) U.S. Coast Guard Hospital Specialist 3rd Class Jason La Benne, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), vaccinates a patient at the Escuela Las Pampas. Boxer is deployed supporting the Pacific phase of Continuing Promise 2008, an equal partnership mission between the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Jackson

The Reserve Special Purpose Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force 24, embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), is providing various levels of support for the equal partnership mission Continuing Promise 2008.
CP is a collaborative effort between U.S. military services to work with non-governmental organizations and partner-nation support organizations so that strong partnerships are in place and can be called upon in the event of a regional situation that requires cooperative solutions.

SPMAGTF 24 is primarily embarked aboard Boxer for transportation to Peru for exercises as part of Partnership of the Americas 2008. POA is a United States Southern Command sponsored annual maritime engagement operation to enhance multinational cooperation and strengthen partnership among navies and allied nations throughout the Americas. Partner nation engagements include a series of Theater Security Cooperation events such as joint training exercises, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and maritime security operations.

During the transit, SPMAGTF 24’s support to the CP mission includes the use of its Spanish speaking Marines as translators, four Medium Tactical Vehicles Replacement and four CH-46E helicopters to transport personnel, supplies and equipment to worksites.

“This is a great team effort for Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and the nations we are working with,” said Marine Lt. Col. John Klink, executive officer of SPMAGTF 24. “It would be great to see us continue to help and build relationships between nations for the future.”

The CH-46E Sea Knight flown by Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 has given Boxer more resources to transport supplies ashore, HMM-764 has flown more than 24 sorties, 49 hours and 465 passengers, within the Guatemalan phase of CP. Additionally, the CP mission gave HMM-764 their first opportunity to launch from and land on a Navy ship.

“This is an historic first for this squadron,” said Maj. Francis Gala, assistant operations officer for HMM-764. “We now have had a chance to work at sea and learn how to fly on a ship.”

The MTVR, also known as the “seven-ton truck”, has a 12-ton payload on-road and a 7-ton payload off-road for transporting large amounts of equipment.

MTVRs have transported cargo and troops daily to and from the Seabees work-sites at the Church of San Francisco, Aldea Linares, a culvert reconstruction site and Aldea El Higueral. They have made ship-to-shore movements via Landing Craft Utility, from the beach to the Guatemalan paratrooper base and work sites. These movements have been conducted daily since the beginning of the mission and will continue until completion.

By Petty Officer 3rd Class Porter Anderson, Marine Forces Reserve

The Boxer ops for Continuing Promise ’08 include having a number of Navy partners’ personnel aboard. There are also military personnel that are not normally a part of the Boxer’s crew, such as Seabees, members of the Uniformed Public Health Service and volunteers from other military branches.

Project Hope is providing a number of medical professionals for both the Boxer’s ops and those of the Kearsarge, which will be the HQ for the Atlantic side of Operation Continuing Promise ’08.

Project HOPE will set the health care/ health education standard and lead the way for NGOs participating in the partnership. We will provide health care and health education in six countries in 2008 – Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Guyana, helping to strengthen current country programs or initiate new, sustainable health programs in these countries.

HOPE volunteers will be ship-based, with the U.S. Navy providing all support services, to include lodging, meals, communications, and transportation. Surgeries will also take place on board, utilizing the ship’s world-class operating rooms. The primary care and health education teams will perform work ashore and return to the ship daily.

ACAJUTLA, El Salvador (May 26, 2008) Project HOPE member Julie Whitis, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), gives a Salvadoran boy a fluoride treatment at the Canton la Sunza school during a Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 community relations project. Boxer is deployed supporting the Pacific phase of CP, an equal-partnership mission between the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Porter Anderson

The Uniformed Public Health Service is providing personnel. This agency has a proud history, and recalls the successes by uniformed personnel in the early 1900′s in eradicating malaria and yellow fever in places such as Cuba and Panama.

The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is an elite team of more than 6,000 well-trained, highly qualified public health professionals dedicated to delivering the Nation’s public health promotion and disease prevention programs and advancing public health science. Driven by a passion for public service, these men and women serve on the frontlines in the Nation’s fight against disease and poor health conditions.

As one of America’s seven uniformed services, the Commissioned Corps fills essential public health leadership and service roles within the Nation’s Federal Government agencies and programs.

SONSONATE, El Salvador (May 19, 2008) U.S. Public Health Service’s Lt. Elizabeth Leavitt, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), takes a break to spend some time with Salvadoran children during continuing Promise (CP) 2008. Boxer is deployed in support of the Pacific phase of CP, an equal partnership mission between the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Brian R. Williams

The posts on Wednesday and Thursday will focus on the activities in Guatemala and El Salvador and the personnel on the ground in both nations. Friday’s article will discuss the Boxer and its unique suitability for these types of missions. It will also look at the Kearsarge and the Atlantic side of Operation Continuing Promise ’08.