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Seventh Fleet, Blue Ridge anchor off Philippines

7th Fleet Release

Release Date: 3/3/2004

By Seventh Fleet Public Affairs

ABOARD USS BLUE RIDGE - The U.S. Seventh Fleet command-and-control ship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), dropped anchor off Luzon, The Philippines, on March 3.

The ship, with the embarked Seventh Fleet staff, will meet with Philippine military officials during the brief 12-hour visit. According to Cmdr. Dave Borah, Southeast Asia policy officer for Seventh Fleet, talks between military staffs are a normal part of ensuring security in the region.

"It allows us to share our concerns with their military and it also gives them an opportunity to present their concerns to us in a face-to-face forum," he said.

A 13-member delegation, led by Philippine Navy Capt. Ferdinand Golez, will come aboard to discuss a wide array of issues of common interest between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Golez is assistant chief of navy staff for operations at Headquarters, Philippine Navy.

Staff talks have been the driving force behind Blue Ridge's robust underway schedule for the past month. In that time, the staff held talks with military leaders in Malaysia and Thailand. Borah said talks like these are very productive.

"It just makes it easier when you can sit down with someone to exchange ideas," he said.

Blue Ridge is the flagship of the Seventh Fleet and supports a variety of missions with a vigorous communications suite, allowing the Seventh Fleet commander, Vice Adm. Robert F. Willard, and his embarked staff to direct U.S. naval forces in the region.