USS Monterey, HMS Cornwall Sailors Swap Ships
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060626-05
Release Date: 6/26/2006 9:50:00 AM
By Lt. Lesley Lykins, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic
USS MONTEREY, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Monterey (CG 61) took the opportunity June 23 to swap places with British sailors for a night aboard the British frigate HMS Cornwall (F99), while operating together in the North Atlantic Ocean during the Neptune Warrior course.
A total of 19 officers, chief petty officers and a variety of Monterey’s enlisted personnel spent the night aboard Cornwall as the Monterey welcomed aboard 13 British sailors for tours, dinner and recreation overnight.
“We decided to conduct this crew swap to provide both Cornwall and Monterey sailors with the opportunity to visit a foreign ship to see how each ship conducts their daily routine and daily operations and to provide more insight for the exercise,” said Lt. Cmdr. Todd Boehm, Monterey’s executive officer.
While aboard Monterey, Cornwall Sailors were given running mates to take them around the ship and ensure they felt comfortable and were given everything they needed. Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Seaman Jared Mollette, from Evansville, Ind., understands the importance of conducting these types of swaps.
“They get to observe a lot of the similarities between the British and American navies,” said Mollette. “But even more important, we’re all out here doing the same exercise, and it is just as important to see how your allies conduct themselves in a war-like situation as it is your opponents.”
The two ships took advantage of the opportunity while operating together as part of a Joint Task Group participating in the Neptune Warrior Course June 19-30.
The course is designed to improve the interoperability between allied navies as well as prepare the participants for a role in a coalition joint task force during upcoming deployments. During this particular course there are more than 95 air, land and sea-based units from 13 countries participating.
British Probationary Communications Technician Stewart Strachan, from Kilmarnock, Scotland, spent the night aboard Monterey and agreed that this opportunity provides a chance to compare the way each ship operates.
“I’ve only been in the Royal Navy for nine months, but I’ve observed the differences between our ships and your ships and how the Americans do things, especially the difference in rates and ranks,” said Strachan.
He was impressed with the morale aboard Monterey and particularly enjoyed pizza night on the mess decks.
“That was something that I would never expect to see at any of our ships,” said Strachan. “We do things like flight deck barbecues, but it was something completely different for me to come over here and see the guys having a laugh and chilling out in here (mess decks).”
Strachan was thankful that he was able to visit Monterey. “This is an opportunity I wouldn’t have ever had, and I joined the Royal Navy to get different opportunities.”
Ensign Charles J. Egli, Monterey’s Combat Information Center Officer, took advantage of the opportunity to stir up his everyday routine and spent the night aboard Cornwall.
“I really like seeing different types of ships, experiencing new things and learning about different cultures,” said Egli. “Our Navy is pretty much derived from theirs (British), plus [Monterey's] Operations Officer encouraged me and said that he enjoyed doing a swap when he was a junior officer.”
“You read all these things about ships, but you don’t really get as good a grasp as if you go over and see the weapons system and see for yourself how things work on their bridge,” said Egli. “I took away a lot of lessons learned from this interaction.”
For related news, visit the Destroyer Squadron 24 Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/desron24/.
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