Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jon Rasmussen

USS Boxer (LHD 4) Public Affairs

EL SUNZA, El Salvador – Salvadoran President, Elias Antonio Saca, and U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, Charles L. Glazer, visited USS Boxer (LHD 4) and an El Sunza medical work site May 27 as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is a collaborative effort between U.S. military services to work with non-governmental organizations side-by-side with Salvadoran military and 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.

While visiting Boxer, Saca learned about the advanced medical capabilities available aboard the ship used to help support CP and visited with a handful of Salvadorans who were on the ship for surgery.

“It really has been an honor to go aboard the Navy ship that has been making a positive impact that we can see already in our country,” said Saca.  “We appreciate all the humanitarian support the United States, the Navy, Ambassador Glazer, the Captain and the entire crew of this important ship has brought. In the name of El Salvador, we welcome you to our country and profoundly appreciate your support for our inhabitants.”

The visit allowed the president and ambassador the chance to see first-hand some of the work being done to provide needed healthcare to the local population.  At the El Sunza work site, Saca and Glazer visited with patients waiting to be seen and watched the work going on in several of the classroom clinics.

“I’m very proud of the crew of the Boxer and the troops from El Salvador who are working here side-by-side with us,” said Glazer. “This work is just as important as the work we’re doing overseas and I think it demonstrates the very close relationship between the United States and El Salvador.”

Saca and Glazer rounded out their stop at El Sunza with a press conference during which they answered questions about the Continuing Promise mission, the cooperative work being accomplished during Boxer’s time in El Salvador and the state of the close relations between the United States and El Salvador.

“We appreciate and thank you for your Continuing Promise here,” added Saca.

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 Amphibious Squadron 5, Fleet Surgical Team 5, U.S. Public Health Service, Project HOPE, Project Handclasp, Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, 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.