Navy assessment team arrives in Chile - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Navy assessment team arrives in Chile

A Navy assessment team arrived Monday in Santiago, Chile, to provide technical expertise following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake and tsunami Feb. 27, according to a press release from U.S. Southern Command.

The Chilean Navy flew the team to Concepcion. The team, headed by Capt. Joe Newbury of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, came from Mayport, Fla., in response to a request for assistance by the Chilean government. The team is composed of 12 service members and civilians from various commands, including Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and NECC.

The team will assist the Chilean Navy with a damage assessment of Naval Base Talcahuano near Concepcion to determine what will be needed to repair the base and shipyard, according to the press release. They are scheduled to conduct bay and aerial surveys with the Chilean Navy and additional surveys and assessments.

The team members have backgrounds in diving and salvage, medicine, engineering, communications and surveying.

They will report directly to the U.S. Military Group at the U.S. Embassy in Chile. U.S. Southern Command is leading the efforts for any U.S. military support requested.