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George Washington, CVW-17 Host Brazilian Naval Officers

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060408-01
Release Date: 4/8/2006 10:49:00 AM

By Photographer’s Mate Airman Kenneth R. Hendrix, USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are hosting four Brazilian naval officers during the first few days of “Partnership of the Americas" in April, giving the officers an opportunity to see U.S. Navy technology and practices in carrier flight operations.

“Partnership of the Americas” is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored training and readiness deployment designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve multinational interoperability. Having the Brazilian officers aboard is just one of the ways to build good working relationships with U.S. allies in the region.

“When we heard about this opportunity, we knew this was one of the important things we wanted to participate in this year,” said Marine Capt. Brent Dodd of Southern Command U.S. Military Liaison of Brazil, who helped coordinate the visit. “This operation is about building relationships and engaging with a country in a military-to-military sense.”

The four officers aboard are air traffic controllers or pilots and are familiar with the radar scopes and combat carrier landing systems GW uses.

During their time aboard, the officers have toured the ship and seen U.S. aircraft carrier operations from top to bottom, seeing flight operations from primary flight control and the carrier's air traffic control center.

“I felt good about the interaction with them,” said Lt. Thomas Decker, Air Operations division officer. “They wanted to see how we did flight operations and how we perform our operations. They said our operations were pretty much similar to theirs, but it’s the technology and the equipment that is different.”

The officers expressed how excited they were about learning about GW and CVW-17’s capabilities and integrating with the crew.

“It’s a privilege to be here and to be in touch with some of the most ultimate technology and to see how the U.S. Navy operates at sea,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kleber Alba-Cerqueira of the Brazilian navy.

“This is a unique opportunity, and hopefully it will happen again,” said Dodd.

The officers will continue to tour and learn about GW’s operations by spending a day with the different squadrons of CVW-17.

GW left her homeport April 4 to operate in the SOUTHCOM area of operations in “Partnership of the Americas.”

The GW/CVW-17 team is being joined by units of Destroyer Squadron 40 - USS Monterey (CG 61), USS Stout (DDG 55), and USS Underwood (FFG 36).