Marine Leaders Interact With U.S., Guatemalan Marines during Continuing Promise 2010

Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Cornell A. Wilson Jr., commander of Marine Corps Forces South, shakes a Guatemalan Kaibil army special forces soldier after giving him a MARFORSOUTH coin in appreciation for his hard work at Kaibil Brigade Base in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, Sept. 11, 2010. The commander visited Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010 during operations in Guatemala. Marines are currently deployed to the Caribbean, Central and South America in support of CP10, a humanitarian civic assistance mission. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bryan Weyers)  

PUERTO BARRIOS, GUATEMALA

09.12.2010

Story by Cpl. Alicia Leaders 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala – Marine Forces South leaders visited Marines and sailors of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010 during humanitarian and military operations in Guatemala, Sept. 11-12, 2010.

Maj. Gen. Cornell A. Wilson Jr., commander of MARFORSOUTH, and Sgt. Maj. William F. Fitzgerald, sergeant major of MARFORSOUTH arrived to Kaibil Brigade Base in Puerto Barrios while Marines with Company A, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Ground Combat Element of special-purpose MAGTF were teaching Marine Corps Martial Arts to Guatemalan military members. Martial Arts was just one part of the subject-matter expert exchange taking place between the Marines and Guatemalan forces.

After the visit to the Kaibil base, Wilson and Fitzgerald, accompanied by Lt. Col. Chris S. Richie, commanding officer of special-purpose MAGTF, and Sgt. Maj. William R. Sweet, sergeant major of the MAGTF, flew back to the USS Iwo Jima in a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774.

During Wilson and Fitzgerald’s time on ship, they ate breakfast with Marines and talked to them about their deployment. Wilson also addressed all Marines aboard ship.

“I am delighted to have the chance to come and meet you [Marines] in operations for Continuing Promise ‘10,” Wilson said. “It has been a ‘wow’ factor because you all have done a tremendous job so far in this deployment.”

During CP10, Marines have conducted subject-matter expert exchanges with foreign militaries and police forces, served as translators for medical teams, provided construction work at homes and schools, and painted and built playgrounds at schools to help support community relations.

“What you do on a day-to-day basis will make a difference in this area of responsibility. The things you’re doing today in this theatre are helping build that capacity that builds relationships with the people in that country,” said Wilson. “They can see that we Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen are the good guys. We’re here to help them help themselves, and also to learn from them. We can all learn from one another and help to make sure our countries can be strong and safe and our people can grow and prosper.”

• Date Taken: 09.12.2010
• Date Posted: 09.15.2010 14:43
• Story ID: 56321
• Location: PUERTO BARRIOS, GT