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Patriot Arrives in Yokosuka for TRAV, Trains Hard in Transit

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070125-15
Release Date: 1/25/2007 5:55:00 PM

By Chief Electrician’s Mate (SW) Noel Corneja, USS Patriot Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS Patriot (MCM 7), along with its Sasebo, Japan-based avenger-class mine countermeasures counterpart USS Guardian (MCM 5), arrived in Yokosuka Jan. 19, to begin its training availability period (TRAV).

“This training is very important, especially to the new personnel that have never been on a mine sweeper before,” said Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class (SW) Hanlin C. Edwin. “Lets stay focused, get the job done, go to school and learn new techniques in fire fighting, and apply if needed.”

But, even before the ship began its focused training using Fleet Activities Yokosuka’s renowned training facilities, crew members turned up the notch on training, using the transit time for drills and other evolutions pertaining to the mine countermeasures mission.

In what was nearly a week-long transit from Sasebo to Yokosuka, the ship conducted engineering evolutions and casualty control drills, mine sweeping operations and damage control drills. Additionally, the crew used the time to qualify in their respective watch stations.

“Lots of qualifications are being done in my division while on watch at radio central,” said Chief Information System Technician (SW/AW) Eric N. Turner. “No hours are wasted.”

While many new Sailors were getting a feel for life at sea on a mine sweeper, one experienced Sailor was also going through the same thing — the commanding officer. Taking command just days before departing, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas E. Shultz said he was enjoying the ride thus far and appreciated his crew’s effort to maximize its skill sets.

“As the Navy’s tip of the spear, we are getting some crucial sharpening,” said Shultz. “We are focusing on a number of ways to better ourselves as individuals and as a crew. I was told great things about these iron men on this wooden ship, and I must say, I am duly impressed.”

Patriot is a forward deployed mine countermeasures ship, serving under Task Force 76, whose mission is to neutralize mine warfare threats in order to keep sea lanes open to flow of trade.