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Vietnamese Ministry of Defense Officials Visit USS John C. Stennis

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090424-08
Release Date: 4/24/2009 2:04:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steve Owsley

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- Vietnamese Ministry of Defense staff visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) April 22, marking the first visit by members of the Vietnamese military to a U.S. aircraft carrier.

Nine members from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense, five delegates from the U.S. Embassy and five members of the Vietnamese media arrived aboard Stennis via a C-2A Greyhound from the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30.

Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CCSG) 3 Rear Adm. Mark Vance welcomed them aboard Stennis in the commanding officer's in-port cabin.

"It's a pleasure and an honor to have our distinguished guests aboard. We've got an action packed four hours aboard," said Vance. "The crew is looking forward to meeting you and answering your questions."

After a safety brief and refreshments, guests met Stennis Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Kuzmick on the flag bridge. Kuzmick answered questions about naval aviation and presented each guest with a Stennis command coin and ball cap.

"We have a tradition here," said Kuzmick. "We give our guests a coin. It's worth very little [monetarily], but it's a remembrance of your visit and the friendship between us."

Later in the tour, the group visited Stennis' Air Operations Center and flight deck control before donning flight deck gear to observe flight operations firsthand from the flight deck.

Vietnamese Ministry of Defense, Deputy Chief of Staff, Navy Command Senior Capt. Nguyen Huu described the flight operations as, "Very busy with many activities happening at once. It looks very professional. I can tell that they have a very high level of discipline. They are working with each other very smartly."

After observing flight operations from the flight deck, the group moved to the flag bridge to see flight operations from another perspective.

The distinguished visitor tour wrapped up with a look at aircraft maintenance, and as Vietnamese guests began the day's travel to Stennis with a C2-A Greyhound recovery, they concluded their visit with a catapult launch from Stennis.

For more news from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn74/.