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Foreign Observers Get a Close-Up Look at Valiant Shield

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060626-13
Release Date: 6/26/2006 4:42:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Christopher Koons, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- As USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) got ready for its participation in Exercise Valiant Shield June 17, seven observers - five from the Republic of Korea and two from Singapore - came aboard to get a close-up look at how Kitty Hawk and other U.S. Navy ships conduct high tempo operations.

“The purpose of their visit was to further mutual understanding and friendship amongst our Asian-Pacific allies and to foster cooperation between their countries and ours,” said Capt. Scott Weller, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5’s assistant chief of staff for material and logistics.

The visitors flew aboard Kitty Hawk June 17 and stayed one night. During their time aboard, they toured the ship’s vital centers and observed the preparations for exercise Valiant Shield 2006, the largest joint exercise conducted by the U.S. military in recent history.

“Their tour began with a meeting with [Rear Adm. Douglas McClain, CSG 5 commander],” said Weller. “They also observed day and night flight operations, toured medical, the aircraft intermediate maintenance department, the bridge, the forecastle, the carrier air traffic control center and the combat direction center.”

According to Weller, the visit was timed to coincide with the beginning of Valiant Shield so the group could observe a photo exercise involving Kitty Hawk, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) carrier strike groups June 18.

“It was important that they visit during Valiant Shield because we wanted them to see the U.S. Navy involved in a large-scale command and control exercise and to see a large number of Navy ships operating in close vicinity to each other,” he said. “It gave them a better understanding of the capabilities of the U.S. military to respond to a contingency in the Asia-Pacific region.”

For the observers, touring Kitty Hawk and watching the beginning of Valiant Shield was a chance to experience firsthand the sights and sounds of a modern aircraft carrier battle group.

“We had a great time watching flight operations and observing the photo exercise,” said Col. Ki-Seom Kang from the Republic of Korea. “We were very impressed by the size and capability of the battle groups involved.”

“I saw Kitty Hawk once before when it was docked in Busan, but this is the first time I’ve ever been on it,” said Lt. Col. Heon Young-Park, also from Korea. “I was impressed with the leadership and all the preparations they did before our visit.”

According to Weller, the observers were impressed with everything they saw on Kitty Hawk.

“They left with an excellent understanding of our mission and of our capabilities in the Asia-Pacific theatre,” he said. “They were also impressed with the pride and professionalism of the Sailors they met and with the quality and material condition of our ships and aircraft.”

The Kitty Hawk Strike Group is the largest carrier strike group in the Navy and is composed of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, the guided-missile cruisers USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), and Destroyer Squadron 15.

For related news, visit the USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cv63/.