Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Miami April 4 to host various tours and a distinguished visitor luncheon prior to its first Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15) mission stop.

CP-15 is a collaborative effort that provides Sailors the opportunity to work alongside partner nation and civilian experts, promoting the commitment and shared interests within the region of Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

"We are looking forward to our visit in Miami and we are ready to begin our journey south to Belize, our first official mission stop," said Capt. Sam Hancock, mission commander for CP-15. "We look forward to this great opportunity to build upon partnerships and strive toward our shared interests and values within the region."

"This stop in Miami is a great opportunity to have liberty in a major U.S. city," said Capt. Christine Sears, USNS Comfort medical treatment facility, commanding officer. "This is the home of SOUTHCOM (U.S. Southern Command), ... our combatant commander for this mission."

The ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation department provided opportunities for the crew to take a tour of the Everglades, participate in a restaurant tour, or take that last trip to store to purchase personal items.

Comfort is scheduled to conduct 11 mission stops in Belize, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama.

CP-15 personnel will work alongside partner nations and nongovernmental organizations to foster goodwill and build enhanced partnership capabilities by providing humanitarian assistance including medical, dental and veterinary care as well as engineering support and subject-matter expert exchanges (SMEEs).

"It is important that we extend, and continue the great partnership we've had in Central and South America and the Caribbean," said Sears. "Continuing Promise demonstrates this partnership; both our military and NGO personnel working seamlessly with our host nations and our patients to provide direct care and assistance."

Personnel anticipate serving more than 130,000 patients and conducting more than 800 SMEEs. In addition, more than 20 engineering and building site projects are scheduled to take place.

This is the seventh CP mission conducted under the guidance of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S.4th Fleet (USNAVSO/C4F). Comfort served as the mission's hospital ship in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

CP-15 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment that provides civil-military operations including humanitarian-civil assistance, SMEEs, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support and disaster response to partner nations, and shows U.S. support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

For more news from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.