#                                                                         USNS Comfort Departs Norfolk in Support of Continuing Promise 2022                                                                    

##### by Petty Officer 2nd Class Juel Foster, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

24 October 2022
                NORFOLK (Oct. 19, 2022) The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departs Naval Station Norfolk, Oct. 19, 2022, for the Continuing Promise humanitarian mission to Latin America and the Caribbean region. The deployment marks Comfort's eighth mission to the region since 2007. Continuing Promise will provide medical evaluations, general surgery and dental and optometry screenings. Continuing Promise personnel have treated more than 460,000 patients and provided hundreds of civic improvements to dozens of communities during the previous 11 missions to the region. (U.S. Navy photo by William Epperson)                            221019-N-AO813-1061                            NORFOLK (Oct. 19, 2022) The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departs Naval Station Norfolk, Oct. 19, 2022, for the Continuing Promise humanitarian mission to Latin America and the Caribbean region. The deployment marks Comfort's eighth mission to the region since 2007. Continuing Promise will provide medical evaluations, general surgery and dental and optometry screenings. Continuing Promise personnel have treated more than 460,000 patients and provided hundreds of civic improvements to dozens of communities during the previous 11 missions to the region. (U.S. Navy photo by William Epperson)            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: William EppersonVIRIN: 221019-N-AO813-1061NORFOLK, Va. - Hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Naval Station Norfolk in support of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet&amp;rsquo;s Continuing Promise 2022 mission in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations, Oct. 19, 2022.Comfort is scheduled to visit Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.During these mission stops, Continuing Promise medical teams will focus on working alongside partner nation medical personnel to provide care aboard and at land-based medical sites to increase medical readiness, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the combined capabilities of the U.S. Navy and partner nations to respond to public health disasters and humanitarian crises.“I’m excited to work with such an enthusiastic and professional medical team,” said Capt. Kathryn Elliott, commanding officer of USNS Comfort. “This is the Comfort’s seventh deployment in support of Continuing Promise, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to work with our partner nations, exchange knowledge, and provide assistance to those in need, furthering the lasting legacy of the Continuing Promise mission.”Comfort will also conduct a resupply mission stop at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the only Main Operating Base in the USSOUTHCOM AOR and the oldest overseas U.S. Naval Base.While deployed to the USSOUTHCOM AOR, CP 2022 will be under the operational control of Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT) and under the tactical control of Capt. Bryan Carmichael, commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) Four, who will serve as the mission commander for this deployment.“It’s an honor to work with the Comfort team and our partner nations personnel, as we strengthen our partnerships and help those in need in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions,” said Carmichael. “Medical services are a big part of the mission, but we are also building relationships with these nations and their people that will have a lasting impact.”Since its inaugural mission in 2007, Continuing Promise missions have treated more than 582,000 patients and conducted over 7,000 surgeries in the region. Comfort’s current mission will be the 12th Continuing Promise mission conducted in U.S. Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility.U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.Learn more about USNAVSO/4th Fleet athttps://www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT.

Tags:
**USNS Comfort (T-AH-20)**Continuing Promise 2022**U.S. 4th Fleet**U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command

Terms:
**All Navy Categories**C4F