U.S. Army veterinarians and veterinary technicians, embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), worked in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Agriculture to provide veterinary services to residents from May 31-June 7 in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15).

Working alongside local civilian veterinarians and students from the University of Panama College of Veterinary Medicine, the team of animal care providers conducted Veterinary Civil Affairs Programs (VETCAPs) in the cities of Colon, San Juan, Buena Vista and Santa Rita. The combined team provided a variety of services to the pet owners and farmers of Panama, including medical exams, vaccinations, and flea and tick treatments.

In Colon, the CP-15 veterinary team utilized a mobile clinic offering surgical services to include spaying and neutering procedures. The mobile clinic provided a fully functional operating room, equipped with surgical equipment, overhead lighting and air conditioning.

"We can do everything from anesthesia, to assisting in surgery, vaccinations and deworming," said Army Sgt. Janina Alaniz, a veterinary technician assigned to Public Health Command District Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Spc. Adrianna Maza, a veterinary technician assigned to the Veterinary Treatment Facility at Joint Base Meyer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, said working with host nation veterinary professionals resulted in a one of a kind work environment that encouraged both teamwork and the sharing of best practices to increase professional knowledge growth.

"At each stop during the CP-15 mission, our team has helped people with food safety, disease prevention and treating animals. They also share their thoughts and ideas with us," said Maza. "I think that exchange is important because we can share what we have learned with the host nation veterinarians and technicians who may participate in the next mission."

Personnel at the clinics and mobile unit combined efforts to care for more than 900 animals and perform 341 surgeries. Additionally, the CP-15 veterinary team conducted a SMEE with the Panamanian Military Working Dog veterinarian, discussing animal first aid techniques and examining the working dogs.

The VETCAPS have been conducted in Belize, Guatemala, Jamaica and Nicaragua and are scheduled to take place at the remaining CP-15 mission stops to include El Salvador, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Haiti.

Continuing Promise is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian-civil assistance, subject matter expert exchanges, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support and disaster response to partner nations and to show the United States' continued support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

For more news from Continuing Promise, visit www.navy.mil/.