The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic for the fourth mission stop of Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25), July 15.
“It is an honor and a privilege to leave our footprint in the Dominican Republic,” said U.S. Navy Captain Grace Key, commanding officer, Medical Treatment Facility aboard Comfort. “From the medical site and community relations to the repairs the Seabees will make to the facilities, we will strengthen our partnership with the people of the Dominican Republic.”
Comfort and Dominican medical professionals are working side-by-side to provide medical care to the community of Puerto Plata. By working together and exchanging knowledge, the Dominican Republic and partners in the region can maintain regional stability as a team and work collectively in the event of natural disasters, medical catastrophes, or regional conflict.
“Throughout Continuing Promise, the clinical staff and personnel have welcomed us with open arms at every port visit,” said U.S. Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Althea Caraballo, the Puerto Plata medical site assistant officer in charge. “I am excited to be in Dominican Republic and very inspired by our partnerships and the opportunity to expand our professional and cultural horizons.”
Medical care during the Dominican Republic mission stop is provided at Polideportivo, Puerto Plata and includes services in adult medicine, pediatrics, dental, optometry, women’s health, dermatology, cardiology, physical therapy, nutrition, preventative medicine, radiology, and pharmacy.
“This mission is a valuable opportunity to deepen cooperation between the United States and the Dominican Republic, particularly in the areas of security and humanitarian assistance,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Lowell D. Krusinger, senior defense official/defense attaché, U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo. “We’re proud to see U.S. and Dominican medical professionals working shoulder to shoulder aboard the USNS Comfort, including seven Dominican providers who are lending their expertise to benefit communities across six countries on the ship’s tour.”
Additionally, Comfort’s medical personnel is conducting subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) with Dominican health professionals, to include tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) and round tables on preventative medicine, nutrition, and wound care. U.S. Army veterinarians embarked aboard Comfort from the 248th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support are conducting a dairy farming SMEE and K-9 tactical causality combat care.
This visit marks the sixth Continuing Promise visits to the Dominican Republic and the fifth visit from Comfort. The last time Comfort visited the Dominican Republic was during Continuing Promise 2022, where the medical team treated 4,435 patients at sites in Santo Domingo and Azua, and conducted 87 surgeries aboard Comfort.
The CP25 mission in Dominican Republic also includes a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) SMEE and a table-top exercise with local responders. Sailors aboard Comfort are also supporting the region through a variety of community relations events to include a beach clean-up and performances from the U.S. Fleet Forces band “Unchartered Waters.”
“This mission is a blessing, there are people not as fortunate to receive advanced medical care and we are able to provide it while we are here,” said U.S. Navy Hospitalman Joséclaudia Garcia, a food service associate assigned to Comfort with Dominican heritage. “The Dominican people will really feel very appreciated that we get to share these engagements with them. I am very excited my fellow service members will get to experience my culture firsthand!”
CP25 marks the 16th mission to the region since 2007 and the eighth aboard Comfort. The mission fosters goodwill, strengthens existing partnerships with partner nations, and encourages the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-federal entities, and international organizations.
