July 31, 2019

Comfort Departs Costa Rica Following Closing Ceremony

The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) held its closing ceremony at Gimnasio el Coloso de Barranca symbolizing the completion of the hospital ship’s third medical mission in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, July 27.

July 11, 2019

Southcom Chief Stresses Need for Partnerships, Security Cooperation

External states are working hard to get a foothold in South America, and they want to exert even greater influence there than they already do. Strong partnerships are the way to counter that effort, the commander of U.S. Southern Command said in a Senate hearing.

June 15, 2019

Hospital Ship USNS Comfort Departs Norfolk for Medical Mission

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) left from Naval Station Norfolk, June 14, to begin its deployment to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. During its deployment, Comfort will provide medical assistance in support of regional partners and in response to the regional impacts of the Venezuela political and economic crisis.

June 10, 2019

Hospital Ship to Depart Norfolk for Medical Mission

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) deploys from Naval Station Norfolk on Friday, June 14 at 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. During its five-month deployment, Comfort will provide medical assistance in support of regional partners and in response to the regional impacts of the Venezuela political and economic crisis.  While deployed, Comfort will conduct mission stops in Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.

May 25, 2019

Southcom Chief Outlines Keys for Success in South America

Despite terrorist groups, narcoterrorism and the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, South America remains "the largest, free and peaceful ... most prosperous democracy region in the world," the commander of U.S. Southern Command said.

May 15, 2019

Southern Partnership Station 2019 Begins

The U.S. Navy has deployed adaptive force packages (AFPs) in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2019 to the Caribbean, Central and South America to conduct subject matter expert exchanges from May to October 2019.

May 8, 2019

Navy Hospital Ship Deploying to Help Venezuelan Refugees

The U.S. is sending a hospital ship to aid in the refugee crisis resulting from instability in Venezuela. At the annual Washington Conference on the Americas at the State Department, Vice President Mike Pence announced the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort will deploy to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations next month.

Dec. 10, 2018

USNS Comfort in Honduras: Opening Ceremony Held at a Land-based Site in Trujillo

Senior leadership and personnel embarked aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) attended an opening ceremony at a land-based medical site in Trujillo, Honduras, Dec. 7.

Nov. 16, 2018

Visiting Colombia, CSAF stresses importance of maintaining close ties to key Latin America ally

BOGOTA, Columbia (AFNS) — Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein concluded a two-day visit to Colombia on Thursday, reinforcing bonds with one of the United States’ closest allies in Latin America and pledging to accelerate joint training activities with an air force he called the “gold standard” in the region.

Oct. 22, 2018

Histopathology on USNS Comfort

Beakers and jars line a lab table in a small room. The colored fluid in them sways from side to side as the ship gently rocks while at sea. A hospital corpsman takes a translucent, paper-thin skin sample from a machine and dips it in the liquid, where spots and circles appear, lightly colored by the substance they were put in.