Overview
The U.S. Navy expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) deployed from Mayport, Florida, Aug. 7, 2023. From August through September, the ship will visit Panama, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada.
During these mission stops, Continuing Promise medical teams will work alongside personnel from a variety of governmental agencies and non-federal entities and partner nation medical personnel to provide care ashore in host nation medical facilities or community clinics. The mission aims to increase medical readiness, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the combined capabilities of the U.S. Navy and partner nations to respond to public health disasters and humanitarian crises.
Burlington will bring a medical engagement team to each mission stop to provide some direct patient care. The team includes veterinarians who will work with animals in the host nation, biomedical technicians, Navy Seabees who will conduct small engineering projects, and the U.S. Fleet Forces Navy Band Detachment, which will entertain people through school visits and concerts. Additionally, Continuing Promise 2023 will also include training and subject matter expert exchanges on various medical and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief topics, and leading seminars on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS).
About USNS Burlington & Crew
USNS Burlington is an Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), a shallow draft, all aluminum, commercial-based catamaran capable of regional transport of personnel and cargo lift, providing combatant commanders high-speed sealift mobility with inherent cargo handling capability and agility to achieve positional advantage over operational distances. The Burlington will bring the personnel, equipment and supplies necessary to conduct the Continuing Promise mission.
Burlington has a small civilian mariner crew to maintain the ship in preparation for deployments. In support of Continuing Promise, Burlington will carry a medical engagement team, a veterinarian element, an engineering element (Navy SEABEES), and a military detachment to the four mission stops.
Medical & Dental Services Provided
The medical and dental capabilities are designed to assist each participating host nation in providing local communities with a wide range of health services. These services include:
- Basic medical evaluation and treatment
- Preventive medicine
- Dental screenings and treatment
- Optometry screenings
- Eyewear distribution
- Biomedical equipment repair
- Pharmacy services
- Public health training
Background
Since 2007, Continuing Promise medical personnel have treated more than 595,000 people and conducted more than 7,300 surgeries. When combined with all the veterinary services, subject matter expert exchanges, engineering projects, and community relations events, Continuing Promise has positively affected more people in our partner nations than any other U.S. Navy deployment in history.