VALPARAISO, Chile -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus visited Marines and sailors aboard the Chilean ship LSDH Sargento Aldea here, August 21, 2014.
Mabus spent the morning speaking to Marines and sailors in support of Partnership of the Americas 2014 from Marine Forces South, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4th Civil Affairs Group, 4th Marine Logistics Group and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 aboard the Sargento Aldea.
The Marines and sailors are participating in Partnership of the Americas 2014, an exercise designed to enhance joint and combined interoperability; increase the combined capability to execute amphibious operations, Peace Support Operations, Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief missions, and further develop strong and lasting relationships between the naval infantries and marine corps’ within the Americas.
“The Marine Corps builds relationships; that’s what you do. It’s in your DNA,” Mabus stated.
Mabus went on to discuss the Marine Corps’ participation in HA/DR operations throughout the world.
“We are in countries all over the world. In the last six months, I’ve seen Marines in Chad. I’ve seen Marines in Cambodia. I’ve seen Marines in the Strait of Magellan … we train people. We do the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, like you all have been training to do here. We learn about each other before the crisis comes, so we are ready to respond when it does.”