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USS Ogden Utilizes Crew Diversity on Final Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061129-02
Release Date: 11/29/2006 10:31:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark G. Logico, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sailors from the amphibious assault ship USS Ogden (LPD 5) bridged the gap between U.S. and regional gulf nations through language and culture while conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf during their six-month deployment last summer with Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3.

Damage Controlman 3rd Class Kamran Forghani and Personnel Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Mohammed Bouziane served as translators for the ship as it supported MSO while assigned to Task Force 158 in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command area of responsibility. The ship also provided training and support to coalition and multinational efforts to help rebuild the Iraqi navy.

“We were in Iraq to help the Iraqis get back on their feet,” said Lt. Micah Brewer, the tactical action officer for Ogden. “Having them learn how we run the Navy on our ship gave them much better insight, especially further down the road.”

Bouziane, who is of Moroccan descent, said the Iraqis were very appreciative of their ability to communicate with them.

“One of them told me that this was the first time they were up close with the Navy and Marine Corps team,” said Bouziane. “They were impressed. They appreciated that they had somebody who they could relate to.”

With the diverse cultural makeup of the United States, American Sailors bring unique perspectives that can be translated into operational capability.

“Without the translators aboard, we would not have been as effective and efficient in carrying out our mission,” said Cmdr. James F. Hruska, commanding officer of Ogden. “It was great to have one of my own crew who could speak Farsi, because for one, I trust them and they trust me. We understood each other’s goals and they understood the command’s mission.”

Farsi, the primary language of Iran, was the language Forghani spoke when he was called upon to translate distress calls in the Gulf. Forghani’s ability to communicate with vessels that had Farsi-speaking crews enhanced Ogden’s ability to perform the MSO mission, that also included assistance to mariners in distress.

Forghani, a naturalized American citizen from Iran, represents one of the diverse cultural backgrounds in the U.S. Navy today.

“We all have one color and that’s blue,” said Forghani.

As the Navy represents the strength of the country’s diversity, ships like Ogden are showing the Iraqi navy what a mix of cultures can bring to an organization.

“We act as a role model for them,” said Hruska. “When they saw how diverse the U.S. Navy is, both in race and religion, it gave them the baseline that a nation can have differences and still can function as one team.”

Ogden returned to Naval Base San Diego Aug. 16 after a six-month deployment with ESG 3.

Ogden will decommission this February after more than 40 years of service, as part of the replacement of the older Austin-class LPDs with the new San Antonio-class LPD 17.