U.S.
Naval Forces Southern CommandHistory Area of FOCUS U.S. Southern Command
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MISSION
U.S.
Naval Forces Southern Command
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) directs naval forces and interacts with partner nations to shape the maritime environment within United States Southern Command's Area Of Focus (AOF). With a focus on Theater Security Cooperation, NAVSO works to strengthen and build effective alliance and friendships, develop partner nation capabilities, and maintain U.S. operational access to defend the United States.
A robust strategy of cooperation including multi-national
coalition exercises and training, diplomatic port visits, community relations
activities and counter-drug operations make up the framework for the U.S. Navy's
focus in this region.
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The Commander, United States Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO) was established in February 2000, with headquarters at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico which in early 2004 relocated to Naval Station Mayport, Florida. COMUSNAVSO serves as a main link between the U.S. Navy and the navies of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and is at the forefront of U.S. engagement in the Western Hemisphere. The command consolidates functions previously conducted by the Commander, Western Hemisphere Group, formerly in Mayport, Florida and the Commander, South Atlantic Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSOLANT), formerly located at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. COMUSNAVSO was built around the core of COMSOLANT, that was established in June of 1958 with headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago and was moved to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico in 1973. COMSOLANT had participated in annual "UNITAS" deployments around South America since 1960, and routinely deployed to Africa for the West African Training Cruise since 1980.
In addition to UNITAS,
COMUSNAVSO participates in navy-to-navy exercises, counter drug
operations, port visits, humanitarian missions, disaster relief, new
horizons, and protocol events. COMUSNAVSO exercises military command and
control of all assigned ships and units, and represents the U.S.
Southern Command with respect to naval matters in the region.
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Area
of FOCUS
NAVSO's Area Of Focus includes South America, Central America, the Caribbean and surrounding waters. The United States has vital national interest in this dynamic region of the world. Strengthening ties, promoting friendships and increasing interoperability among the naval forces in the Western Hemisphere are paramount to our success.
The United States Southern Command is one of nine unified commands located throughout the world. SOUTHCOM headquarters is located in Miami, Florida. The basic mission of Southern Command is to provide strategic and operational command control of assigned U.S. land, sea and air forces within its area of focus. Like the other four region unified commands, SOUTHCOM has two major tasks:
Defend U.S. interests within its assigned area of focus
Assist the development of modern militaries within friendly nations throughout its area of focus
In addition to participation of COMUSNAVSO within the U.S. Southern Command, personnel from the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps are also assigned to the command.
