By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs.

MAYPORT, Fla. – July 12 marked the first anniversary of U.S. 4th Fleet’s re-establishment, and in one year the command has already achieved many accomplishments, both internally and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

U.S. 4th Fleet was first established in 1943 as one of the original numbered fleets during World War II, but after seven years of protecting the U.S. against raiders, blockade runners and enemy submarines in the South Atlantic, the command was disestablished when U.S. 2nd Fleet took over its responsibilities.

Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan salutes Adm. James Stavridis during the 4th Fleet reestablishment ceremony held at Naval Station Mayport July 12, 2008. (Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Regina L. Brown)

One year ago, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead officially re-established U.S. 4th Fleet and named Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan as its commander during a change of command and re-establishment ceremony at Naval Station Mayport. Kernan also assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO), the naval component of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

"Re-establishing the 4th Fleet affirms our support for, and our desire to, enhance cooperative relationships with the navies and maritime services in the Caribbean and Central and South America," said Roughead. “It recognizes the immense importance of maritime security in the region.”

U.S. 4th Fleet Headquarters is co-located in Mayport, Fla., with NAVSO. NAVSO and 4th Fleet are responsible for U.S. Navy operations throughout the SOUTHCOM area of focus, which encompasses the Caribbean, Central and South America, and surrounding waters.

Kernan served as NAVSO and 4^th Fleet commander until he was relieved of both duties by Rear Adm. Victor G. Guillory during a change of command ceremony June 12.

Guillory most recently served as the Director, Surface Warfare Division in the Office of Chief of Naval Operations, where he was responsible for managing the war fighting requirements and resources for all surface combatant ships and combat systems. He said he looks forward to building on the outstanding achievements of the 4th Fleet staff in the command’s first year back.

“Fourth Fleet was re-established because it reflects a commitment to Latin America, which has been demonstrated through 4th Fleet’s partnering, humanitarian and counter-illicit trafficking activities,” said Guillory. “Through the relentless efforts of this superior staff, 4th Fleet has expanded the scope of our engagements and humanitarian activities, and has set an impressive standard in the U.S. Navy for planning and execution of these key maritime missions.”

USS McInerney (FFG 8) tows a self-propelled, semi-submersible craft seized on Sept. 13, 2008.  Such craft have become the vessel of choice for drug traffickers.

During the first year, 4th Fleet supported the U.S. Global Maritime Strategy by participating in regional counter-drug operations, humanitarian deployments and partnership building missions. Additionally, 4th Fleet worked with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), partner nations’ representatives, and interagency organizations for mission planning and execution.

U.S. Navy assets deployed throughout 4th Fleet’s area of focus were involved in nearly 80 interdictions resulting in over 126 metric tons of illicit drugs confiscated since the re-establishment. Counter-illicit trafficking operations involve the detection, monitoring, tracking and interdiction of suspected drug runners. Fourth Fleet assets routinely provide support to partner nations that are combating illicit traffickers within their borders.

U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and partner nation ships patrol the waters in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the eastern Pacific on a year-round basis.  Embarked in U.S., and at times partner nation naval vessels, is a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment that takes the lead during operations to board suspected vessels, seize illegal drugs, and arrest suspects. Further, a Navy helicopter squadron detachment is on board to assist in detection and monitoring, and naval officers from partner nations will be periodically embarked as well.

In its first year, 4th Fleet managed several deployments and exercises throughout the region. One of those deployments was the Continuing Promise (CP) mission. CP is conducted annually to foster goodwill and demonstrate U.S. commitment and support to Latin America and the Caribbean. Amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) brought health care and other relief services to eight Latin American and Caribbean nations during the Atlantic Phase of the humanitarian and civic assistance mission in 2008. Kearsarge conducted missions to five nations: Nicaragua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

In September 2008, 4th Fleet diverted Kearsarge to Haiti to support international relief operations after numerous hurricanes and tropical storms ravaged the area. During the mission, the ship provided robust air and sealift support, delivering 3.3 million pounds of food, water and other aid. Medical teams from the ship also provided limited health care and assessment to affected communities.

Local Haitians help Sailors from USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) offload disaster relief supplies off a U.S. Navy landing craft during Haiti relief ops in September 2008. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina Wollman/Released)

For the CP08 deployment, Kearsarge embarked more than 150 military and Public Health Service medical professionals who worked with partner nation medical teams and NGOs – like Project Hope and Operation Smile – in treatment, training and infrastructure support across the host countries. Forces from Brazil, Canada, France, and Netherlands also embarked for the mission. The medical team on Kearsarge treated 47,000 patients, conducted 221 surgeries, dispensed 81,300 prescriptions, conducted 198,600 medical, dental and optometric services, and provided veterinary care to 5,600 animals.

About 60 military engineering and construction troops also supported the mission by providing robust construction capabilities, civic action repairs and minor construction projects at each stop. The troops built three schools, completed 10 renovation projects on schools, clinics and hospitals, renovated 10 community centers, and performed five infrastructure projects.

CP09 is currently being conducted by Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), operating under 4^th Fleet operational control. Comfort departed Norfolk, Va., April 1, beginning a four-month deployment to Antigua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Panama. To date, medical teams aboard Comfort, in partnership with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations, have treated over 75,000 patients and conducted over 1,116 surgeries.

Another ongoing 4^th Fleet deployment is the Southern Partnership Station (SPS) mission. In 2007, High Speed Vessel (HSV-2) Swift conducted a joint, multinational and interagency cooperation mission with seven partner nations, including Barbados, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Jamaica, Panama, and Nicaragua.

The SPS mission also included the first ever Navy Diver Southern Partnership Station (ND-SPS) aboard the Military Sealift Command (MSC) rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51). During the three month deployment, Grasp’s embarked U.S. Navy divers provided joint and bilateral training to partner nation coast guard and maritime police forces in Antigua, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. SPS deployments foster positive relations with regional governments, militaries and civilians, while building mutually beneficial partnerships and providing a visible U.S. maritime presence.

ND-SPS 2009 was a month-long U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) directed engagement between U.S. and partner nations. During the engagement, Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 Company 23’s team of 10 Navy divers worked with Regional Security System (RSS) divers from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, the Commonwealth of Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to improve interoperability and partner nation capacity through cooperative diving operations.

Currently, 4th Fleet is conducting the Southern Cone phase of SPS 2009, involving the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51). The deployment is designed to maintain a consistent at-sea presence in the region with minimal footprint ashore, continue to strengthen regional interoperability by improving partner nation operational capabilities and skills, and build new partnerships by engaging countries not involved during previous SPS deployments. Oak Hill is deployed to the Atlantic coast region of South America, conducting combined naval and amphibious operations with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay in support of U.S. Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH) exercise Southern Exchange 2009.

The exchange strengthens relationships forged during ND-SPS 2008 and builds upon the skills learned by all participants.

During PANAMAX 2008, a U.S. Navy SEAL team conducts Maritime Interdiction Operation training aboard  USS Farragut (DDG 99).  The exercise included forces from 22 nations. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman (SW) Shanika L. Futrell)

Fuerzas Alidas (FA) PANAMAX is an annual partnership-building exercise where 4th Fleet serves as the maritime force commander. Each year, regional forces participate in one of the world’s largest multinational training exercises focused on defending the Panama Canal, one of the most strategically and economically important waterways in the world. More than 30 ships, a dozen aircraft and 7,000 personnel from 20 nations participated in FA PANAMAX 2008.

In spring 2009, 4th Fleet hosted maritime forces from eleven countries for the annual multinational maritime exercise UNITAS, which took place in Mayport and off the Coast of Florida. “UNITAS Gold” marked the 50th iteration of the exercise, yet it was the first time the event had ever taken place in the United States.

After UNITAS Gold, 4th Fleet’s Southern Seas 2009 deployment began, providing the opportunity for U.S. Navy assets and partner nation maritime forces to operate in the multinational environment, refine coordination, improve interoperability and demonstrate flexibility.

“The many accomplishments of 4th Fleet’s first year are a result of the naval assets that operated in the region working together with regional partners to enhance maritime security throughout our area of focus,” said Guillory. “I look forward to building upon these successes and furthering our partnering efforts as 4^th Fleet goes forward into its second year.”

As the Navy component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO´s mission is to direct U.S. Naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces. Fourth Fleet conducts the full spectrum of Maritime Security Operations in support of U.S. objectives and security cooperation activities that promote coalition building and deter aggression.