The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) hosted the president of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Operation Blessing International (OBI) along with local church officials for a subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) on June 24, during the humanitarian-civil assistance mission Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15).

The guests were given a tour of the ship's bridge, flight deck, medical facility, library and chapel by Navy chaplain Capt. George Adams, prior to a meeting to discuss how religious leaders could further assist local residents once the CP-15 mission ends.

"We want to improve collaboration with local churches and ministries in order to provide follow-up pastoral care and counseling for patients who need it," explained Adams.

William Horan, OBI president, explained that the organization's volunteers and staff members in El Salvador have enjoyed working alongside the CP-15 crew, and that he too was pleased to be a part of the SMEE.

A non-profit, humanitarian organization, OBI is dedicated to alleviating human suffering in the United States and around the world. Horan said the organization is one of the largest charities in America and operates in 27 countries worldwide. The NGO has had the opportunity to work with all branches of the armed forces in responding to disasters both domestic and international.

"We have nine physicians on the operation staff here in El Salvador, and it was exciting to see the cooperation between the CP-15 medical staff and the indigenous team already here in the country," said Horan. "The word synergy is often overused, but we were able to witness a living demonstration of that here in El Salvador and earlier in Guatemala. We are look forward to partnering with the crew again in Haiti and Honduras."

Adams said that OBI contributed greatly at the CP-15 medical sites assisting with medical care, and also contributed to the mission by donating veterinary de-worming medications and organizing two community relations events at local schools.

"This mission allows the people of Latin America the opportunity to see into the hearts of the people involved in this mission," added Horan. "It is important that the world witness human decency, mercy and compassion in action from the men and women in uniform."

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, SMEEs, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support, and disaster response to partner nations, and to show U.S. support and commitment to Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

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