Global Fleet Station Deployment Begins

High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift, along with Commander Task Group 40.9, is deploying as part of the Global Fleet Station (GFS) pilot to the Caribbean Basin and Central America. This deployment is designed to analyze the GFS concept for the Navy, by enhancing cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services and improving operational readiness for the participating partner nations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Holly Boynton

The pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) deployment began April 25, with the departure of High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift and the embarked Task Group (TG) 40.9, from Naval Station Mayport. “After much anticipation and preparation it feels great to get underway,” said Capt. Douglas Wied, commander Task Group 40.9. “We’re looking forward to working with our partner nations in the Caribbean Basin and Central America, exchanging ideas with them and strengthening our ties.”

Global Fleet Station pilot 2007 is a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation implemented by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and carried out by HSV 2 Swift. Embarked on board Swift is the staff of Task Group 40.9 and several training teams from various U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard commands. U.S. Marine Corps and Department of State units are also planned to host information exchanges and training with the partnership countries. “I’m really excited to see this part of the world and work so closely with their people,” said Mineman 3rd Class (SW) Kody Egelhoff, a member of Swift’s Deck Department. “The GFS deployment is going to be a great, new experience and a great chance to give some of the newer Swift guys a taste of what we are capable of.” This summer’s GFS pilot deployment is designed to analyze the GFS concept for the Navy and support U.S. Southern Command objectives for its area of responsibility by enhancing cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services and improving operational readiness for the participating partner nations.

“We’re ready to ensure this training is a success,” said U.S. Coast Guard Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Ernie Ramos from International Training Division, based in Yorktown, Va. “We want to give them the tools to improve their abilities to navigate their vessels, further enabling their military forces to effectively accomplish their missions.” GFS and HSV 2 Swift are scheduled to bring their teams to Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama.

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Cynthia Clark, Commander, Task Group 40.9 Public Affairs