By Lt. Matthew Comer and Spc. Jennifer Grier,
HSV 2 Swift-Southern Partnership Station 2012 Public Affairs
NMCB 23 Seabees and U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Corps Detachment (MARDET), embarked aboard HSV 2 Swift, and engineers from the Peruvian Infanteria De Marina level a metal window frame at Escuela Pronoie Nuevo Despertar Mis Primeros Pasitos in Zona De Acapulco, Callao, Peru, Jan. 27.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Alan B. Owens
Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 23 and a U.S. Marine detachment, both assigned to High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2
Swift-Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2012, and a team of Peruvian marine combat engineers, completed a three-week construction project at three schools. At each site, NMCB 23 Bees rebuilt the school after demolition, reconstructing the roof, painting and fencing, completing minor plumbing and electrical maintenance, and building a new amphitheatre. The project concluded with a recognition ceremony at a school in Ancon, which will impact more than 1,000 children.
"We are so thankful to the Seabees and Peruvian military for the work they have done here, said Edwardo Lozada Ramirez, Parents' Organization president. "The population is increasing in Ancon, so projects like these are important to ensure everyone in the community can receive education."
I like my job," said Equipment Operator 2nd Class Tyrif Wells, NMCB 23. "This gives me, as a reservist, a good opportunity to apply my job skills and feel like I'm doing something worthwhile not only for my country, but [for] others as well."
HSV 2
Swift departed Callao upon the completion of this project and other subject matter expert exchanges as part of HSV-SPS 12, Feb. 9.
"Our time in Peru was extremely productive," said Cmdr. Garry Wright, HSV-SPS 12 mission commander. "The Peruvian navy is extremely professional and it allowed for our teams to work fluidly. [What] the teams have accomplished together in three weeks [has] been amazing."
In addition to NMCB 23, all branches of U.S. military service are represented on
Swift. Specialists from the Marines, medical and veterinary fields, Naval Criminal Investigatory Services (NCIS), Expeditionary Security Team and Maritime Civil Affairs Team also participated in HSV-SPS 12.
Peru was the fifth stop for
Swift on its four-month HSV-SPS 12 mission. The boat is scheduled to visit Cap Haitien, Haiti, to continue the partnership-building mission.
Swift visited the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama before arriving in Peru. Haiti will be Swift's final stop before returning to the United States.
Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of U.S. ships to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission's primary goal is information sharing with navies, militaries and civilians in the region.
[caption id="attachment_696" align="alignnone" width="541" caption="EO2 Tyrif Wells (left), NMCB 23, embarked aboard HSV 2 Swift, and Peruvian combat engineers install a new roof at an elementary school, Callao, Peru, Jan. 27. NMCB 23 and U.S. Marines teamed with engineers from Base Naval De Callao and Infanteria De Marina Ancon during Southern Partnership Station 2012. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Alan B. Owens"]