Royal Thai Navy Visits Sasebo
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080327-09
Release Date: 3/27/2008 12:21:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Didier, Fleet Public Affairs Center Det. Sasebo
SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Royal Thai Navy (RTN) frigates H.T.M.S. Naresuan (FF-421) and H.T.M.S. Saiburi (FF-458) arrived at Fleet Activities Sasebo March 25, as part of a cadet overseas training tour for the Royal Thai Naval Academy.
The visit provides the academy cadets with overseas experience, an opportunity to enhance there seamanship skills, improve their international experience and help foster friendships with other countries.
"We are here to provide sea training to the 224 cadets we have on board," said Royal Thai Naval Academy Chief of Staff, Rear Adm. Prasan Sukkaset. "We are also here to maintain our relationship with Japan, the United States and the United Nations."
The Naresuan and Saiburi are visiting Japan under the U.N. flag and are entitled to access the Navy Exchange, Commissary and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tours offered on base.
During their three-day stay in Sasebo, the Thai sailors will participate in events with the U.S. and Japanese navies. Soccer and softball games have been scheduled, as well as a group picnic sponsored by host-ship USS Juneau (LPD 10).
"The United States has a long history of mutual relations with the Royal Thai navy," said Juneau Commanding Officer, Capt. Kent D. Whalen. "We like to keep those [relations] invigorated through visits to their country and [conducting] exercises with them to learn about each others culture so that if we ever do have to work together, we will already know a little bit about each others culture."
This is the seventh time a Royal Thai navy ship has visited Japan and serves as a cultural bridge between the U.S., Japan and Thailand.
For more news from Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo, visit www.navy.mil/local/cfas/.
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