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Thirty-five students and 15 teachers from the Lochmaben Roman Catholic School in Cedros were welcomed aboard the USS Gravely (DDG-107) on Monday for an exclusive tour hosted by the ship’s crew. This followed school upgrades and donations provided by the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). The USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is docked in Port of Spain as part of the United States’ ongoing partnership with Trinidad and Tobago, the United States Embassy in Port of Spain said in a release. The visit supports joint training exercises between the US Marine Corps and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) aimed at strengthening regional security co-operation. The tour marked another milestone in USSOUTHCOM’s relationship with the Lochmaben Roman Catholic School, the release stated. In August, US Navy Seabees completed infrastructure upgrades to the school as part of Operation Continuing Promise and the visit of the USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) to Trinidad and Tobago. The works included structural repairs, as well as improvements to the school’s water, sewage, and electrical systems, the statement said. In September, the US Embassy, through USSOUTHCOM, donated additional educational materials and equipment to the school, including 13 computers, a printer, office furniture, and various learning resources. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz described the visit as an example of the close partnership between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, noting that the experience allowed the students to engage directly with US sailors and learn about naval operations. Beverley Findley, Principal I Primary of Lochmaben Roman Catholic School, expressed gratitude for the continued support from the US Embassy and USSOUTHCOM, calling the ship visit a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that provided valuable educational exposure and lasting memories for the students. The USS Gravely’s port call follows several other USSOUTHCOM initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago this year, including the USNS Comfort’s medical and humanitarian mission in August, and the Tradewinds joint exercise with the TTDF earlier in the year. In a separate news release issued yesterday from the TTDF, it was noted that on Monday, Commander Gregory J Piorun Jr, Commanding Officer of the USS Gravely, paid a courtesy visit to Captain Don Polo, Chief of Defence Staff, at the Defence Force Headquarters in Chaguaramas. Discussions focused on the long-standing military-to-military bilateral relationship between the two organisations, the current training exercise and future plans for further collaborations for capacity building and expert exchanges. Commander Piorun Jr was accompanied by Captain Gideon T Teklegiorgis, US Military Liaison Officer and other staff members from the US Embassy, Port of Spain.
