By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman (SW) Shanika L. Futrell

FORT DE FRANCE, Martinique – Guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) and Fort de France, Martinique’s French military personnel participated in a sports day at the French Naval Base Sept. 17.

The soccer and basketball games afforded both military personnel with the ability to have fun with a different country and enjoy time with one another outside of work.

In the soccer match there were six different teams, and the Farragut Sailors came in 3rd and 4th place.

“Our soccer team was split into two, because we had so many players,” said Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Casey Lima.

“Both of our teams showed initiative, to give the French some good competition and we all enjoyed the time we spent together through our games and in the breaks.”

During the basketball game, the Farragut crew was also split into two teams.

“We won all of the games against the French,” said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Rayvohn Wallace. “When it came time to play against each other we split the teams into ‘old school’ against ‘new school.’ The old school won, but you know both teams placed in the top two.”

The soccer and basketball match was held during Farragut’s deployment in support of Partnership of Americas 2008 throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Farragut supports U.S. Southern Command objectives for enhanced maritime security, which highlights interoperability and cooperation between U.S. and partner nation´s maritime forces through a variety of exercises and events.

Farragut has held sports days with many nations during her Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) event in Martinique. TSC is designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces.