• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Colombian Navy Cross-Trains on GW

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060513-07
Release Date: 5/13/2006 10:33:00 PM

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

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors from the Colombian navy, one officer and nine enlisted, observed integrated training evolutions aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) May 9-10 as part of “Partnerships of the Americas.”

The 10 Colombian navy instructors who embarked GW are equivalent to the U.S. Navy’s Afloat Training Group (ATG), and a great deal of emphasis was placed on learning how the Navy plans and conducts integrated training operations, including damage control and various engineering evolutions.

The Colombian sailors, who are from Cartegena, Colombia, are responsible for teaching and training the same initial skills the U.S. Navy teaches used in damage control tactics, from safety precautions, scenarios and communications.

“One purpose of the visit from the Colombian navy to GW was basically to give them the opportunity to come see how we do damage control operations on an aircraft carrier,” said Chief Yeoman (SW/AW) Hector Miranda of the engineering department.

“We are here for an exchange of training and to receive training, and to take back what we have learned from the scenarios and exercises,” said Cmdr. Jorge Guerrero of the Colombian navy.

The Colombian sailors received a walk-through of engineering and damage control spaces of the ship the first day aboard GW. In the various spaces, the Colombian crew members learned GW’s engineering capabilities, including how they construct different parts in the machine shop, create oxygen and nitrogen for pilots and medical use, and they observed the creation of carrier plaques made out of cherry wood.

“I was excited to see them here and see them in person. It is an extraordinary experience to branch out and to see the other navies throughout the world,” said Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class (SW) Kyle LaBere of engineering department’s repair division.

“They were very interested in how big the ship is and how many crew members are on board to the man the spaces,” said Air Traffic Controlman 2nd Class (AW/SW) Freddie Lucena of operations department’s OC Division. “Their biggest ship only averages 80 people, and they were surprised by the size of the ship.”

Before departing, the instructors were able to experience and view a firefighting drill in Hanger Bay 2. The group of Colombian sailors went inside various Aqueous Film Forming Foam shops to see the equipment and to learn the procedures that are executed during a drill.

“They learned and obtained a lot of knowledge and information from the drill and the walk-through, and it was a pleasure to show them how we operate,” said Damage Controlman 1st Class (SW) James Woodward of engineer department’s damage control division.

Before they departed, the Colombian crew members were greeted with gifts and a closing ceremony in behalf of their stay and visit aboard GW.