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Patriot Arrives in Singapore

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060530-11
Release Date: 5/30/2006 10:19:00 PM

By Chief Electrician’s Mate (SW) Noel Corneja, USS Patriot Public Affairs and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

SEMBAWANG, Singapore (NNS) -- Sailors from the Sasebo, Japan,-based mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) arrived here May 30 for a scheduled port visit.

The emphasis of the port visit will be on maintenance and upkeep of the ship, as supported by Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (CLWP) based in Singapore, while also giving the crew an opportunity for liberty in the area.

“Singapore is a logistics hub that will provide the ship the fine tuning it needs to continue strongly with this deployment,” said Lt. Cmdr. Richard Brawley, Patriot’s commanding officer. “We look forward to the opportunity for goodwill in the area by participating in a service project there, as well as giving our Sailors the opportunity to experience the country in their off-duty time.”

Patriot’s arrival in Singapore comes after participating in exercise Cobra Gold 2006, held in Thailand, where the ship conducted mine countermeasures operations with the Royal Thai navy. The ship departed Sasebo, Japan, April 17 for its Southeast Asia deployment in support of interoperability-focused exercises such as Cobra Gold and a handful of diplomatic port visits.

“After the successful Cobra Gold exercise and spending time at Pattaya, Thailand, visiting Singapore before going to the next leg of operations is a great idea,” said Engineman 3rd Class Chris Griser of Saint Paul, Minn. “I have never been there yet, but I have heard it’s great. I am also looking forward to participating in the upcoming community service project there.”

While in Singapore, Patriot Sailors will pick up trash at East Coast Park, one of Singapore’s more popular venues for outdoor recreation.

Sailors will also be presented with a number of Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) opportunities, such as a visit to a wildlife park, Singapore’s historic Chinatown, Clifford Pier or Sentosa Island.

“This is going to be fun at Singapore; I can feel it now,” said Storekeeper Seaman Shannin Heater of Saint Joseph, Mo. Heater, like Griser and many of his shipmates, is looking forward to contributing to the community. “Helping people is a healthier means of liberty, not to mention representing the Navy to show that we really care,” he added.

Patriot is a mine countermeasures ship forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Patriot and USS Guardian (MCM 5) serve under Task Force 76, which serves as the U.S. 7th Fleet’s mine countermeasures arm in forward-deployed operations. The ship and embarked Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5, Detachment 51, are currently deployed in Southeast Asia to support the 7th Fleet’s interoperability and training commitments in mine neutralization warfare and maritime operations.