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Pakistani Military Tours San Diego Navy Units

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060412-09
Release Date: 4/12/2006 12:00:00 PM

By Journalist Seaman Jennifer S. Kimball, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Twenty Pakistan National Defense College military and civilian officers toured San Diego Navy units April 6.

The visit was part of an ongoing program designed to show the Pakistanis how the U.S. military operates, interacts with society, and functions under civilian control and democracy.

Defense College members visited the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758), the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and had dinner with Rear Adm. John J. Waickwicz, commander, Fleet Anti-submarine Warfare Command and Capt. Charles M. Gaouette, commanding officer of Bunker Hill.

“All military professionals have something in common,” said Gaouette. “Our technical knowledge and love for our countries produces a certain camaraderie, which transcends the kind of uniform we wear.”

Air Force Col. Joseph Viani, senior U.S. escort officer from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said the annual visits of the Pakistan National Defense College help the U.S. and the Pakistani militaries work better together.

“These kind of visits are important to build relationships,” said Viani. “The U.S. gains a better understanding of other countries’ societies, religions, lifestyles and forms of government, which provide open communications to help us serve together during times of conflict and in peace.”

The Pakistan National Defense is Pakistan’s top military college and is the equivalent of the U.S. Naval, Air Force and Army military war colleges. The mission of the College is to train selected senior officers of the armed forces and civil services of Pakistan, as well as senior military officers from allied countries.

“This was a great opportunity for us to break down barriers, because there are a lot of misconceptions throughout the world about different countries,” said Gaouette. “These misconceptions tend to go away when you shake someone’s hand. It’s very easy to criticize somebody you’ve never met, but it’s difficult to criticize someone you know and even harder when you call them a friend.”