PACIFIC OCEAN (May 4, 2008) Cmdr. Angelica Almonte and Cmdr. Angela Wilkins, nurses assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), divide medications in the ship's medical ward to be distributed in Guatemala. Boxer is supporting Continuing Promise 2008, a two-month humanitarian civic assistance mission to South America. U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Brian Gaines

Boxer arrives in Guatemala with relief capabilities
by MC1(SW/AW) Michael E. Miller Jr.
QUETZAL, Guatemala (NNS) -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) along with various embarked units and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) arrived in Quetzal, May 6, for the first stop in Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is an equal partnership mission designed to combine partner nation and U.S. relief capabilities to demonstrate the lasting bonds and shared interests among neighbors.

During the 12-day visit to Guatemala, Boxer and its embarked units and NGOs will work side-by-side with local medical providers and civil engineers to provide medical and dental services, hospital equipment repair, school renovations and more.

"We're in their backyard and they're in our backyard. We're neighbors," said Boxer's commanding officer, Capt. Matthew J. McCloskey. "It's always a great thing to meet folks and be a part of a mission like this. It's always great to meet new people and get fresh perspectives from different cultures."

Embarked Fleet Surgical Team 5 will team up with Guatemalan health care providers to offer vaccinations, treatment and training to local citizens across five locations in ten days.

Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303 will join local civil engineers for structure renovations to schools and churches across four locations, along with road and drainage repair.

"Only by working and communicating with our partner nations can we have the relationships we need in the event of a crisis requiring a multinational effort," said Amphibious Squadron 5 Commander, Capt. Peter K. Dallman, the mission commander for CP 2008. "We look forward to working alongside our neighbors in Guatemala to build on and enhance our friendship."

The Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) mission directly supports the U.S. maritime strategy by strengthening maritime partnerships, which contribute to the stability and security of the world's oceans for all.

The Pacific Phase of CP is one of two HCA deployments planned for Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The second CP deployment will be conducted by USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in the Caribbean.

Vanguard MEDEVAC Boxer Sailor, exemplify Continuing Promise 2008 mission
by MC3(SW) Porter Anderson
ABOARD USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- The Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 "Vanguard", embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), medically evacuated (MEDEVAC) a Sailor off the ship, May 3, while en route to Latin America for the equal partnership mission Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

The helicopter transported the Boxer Sailor 115 miles back to the ship's homeport of San Diego to receive medical treatment.

The MEDEVAC is one example of the versatility of the squadron and highlights their ability to adapt to a number of missions outside of their primary role as airborne mine countermeasures.

HM 14 is embarked aboard Boxer to provide vertical lifts of supplies and equipment from Boxer to sites ashore in Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru as part of CP via their two MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters.

CP is an equal partnership mission designed to combine partner nation and U.S. relief capabilities to demonstrate the lasting bonds and shared interests among neighbors.

"This is part of our mission statement," said Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class (AW) Shawn Grogan, HM 14 leading petty officer. "We will go anywhere there is a need for lifts, and this mission gives us a great chance to work with our partner nations to give all we can for a humanitarian operation."

Unlike smaller helicopters, the squadron's helicopters have the ability to transport heavy payloads across long distances. They can move a 16-ton payload 50 nautical miles and move a 10-ton payload more than 500 nautical miles.

"The long-range ability of the helicopters grants us a greater ability to reach out with heavy payloads," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class David Hernandez, Vanguard mechanic. "We flew 3,000 miles from Virginia to meet up with Boxer in San Diego with minimal stops."

Sailors assigned to HM 14 welcome the opportunity to use the versatile capabilities of their aircraft to support a type of mission unique to the Vanguard.

"The range and capacity of our aircraft let us help out more during this deployment," said Vanguard pilot, Lt. Scott Tompkins. "We do heavy transports as part of our normal missions, but now we get to help with this humanitarian mission, which is more rewarding to all of us."

The Pacific Phase of CP is one of two HCA deployments planned for the USSOUTHCOM area of focus in 2008. The second CP deployment will be conducted by USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in the Caribbean. HM 14, along with other commands and organizations embarked aboard Boxer, will embark Kearsarge in late summer for the Caribbean phase of CP.

The 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.

Embarked units and organizations aboard Boxer for CP include HM 14, Amphibious Squadron 5, U.S. Public Health Service, Project Hope, Project Handclasp, Fleet Surgical Team 5, Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303, 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 and Beach Master Unit 1.