U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT) began Southern Partnership Station 2016 (SPS-16), Aug. 10.

The command kicked off the mission by deploying Adaptive Force Packages (AFP) via commercial air to Central and South America to conduct subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) and orientations, as well as construction projects, from August to October.

"Southern Partnership Station is a humanitarian, training and interoperability mission conducted with several of our partner nations," said Ken Miller, lead planner, SPS-16. "The SPS concept is based on the premise that strong, open, multi-lateral partnerships enhance regional stability and security in support of the U.S. maritime strategy."

Southern Partnership Station is an annual series of U.S. Navy deployments focused on SMEEs with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America.

AFPs are specialized teams of U.S. service members in the fields of engineering, force protection and medical, who will deploy as part of SPS-16 and collaborate with each host nation in Central and South America to build partner capabilities in the fields of law enforcement, construction and medicine.

During this deployment, AFP personnel will deploy ashore to conduct operations in conjunction with host nation counterparts. Colombian, Honduran and Salvadoran medical professionals and their U.S. counterparts will work side by side to conduct medical SMEEs to help educate local populations on community health and disease prevention. SPS-16 also includes small-scale construction projects, land navigation training, river operations and tactics training.

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