Essex Completes Successful Spring Patrol
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090511-04
Release Date: 5/11/2009 3:05:00 PM
From USS Essex Public Affairs
SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) returned to Sasebo, Japan, May 7, following a successful spring patrol.
"This year's spring patrol was extremely successful. We had the opportunity to work with two partnership countries and learn more about each other's capabilities and limitations which will directly improve our interoperability," said Capt. Brent Canady, Essex' commanding officer.
"This deployment also enabled us to complete a variety of shipboard certifications in order to maintain Essex' high standards as the most professional Sailors in the fleet."
Essex initially departed Sasebo in January, to participate in Cobra Gold 2009 (CG09), an annual exercise with the Kingdom of Thailand designed to ensure regional peace and stability. This year's exercise marked the 176th year of U.S.-Thai relations.
CG09 exercises included a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) drill, deck-landing qualifications (DLQ) involving Royal Thai Navy S70-B Sea Hawk and Super Lynx 300 helicopters on Essex.
"It's always important for the United States to conduct exercises with foreign countries for the camaraderie," said Lt. Patrick Isom, Essex assistant operations officer. "This was training that could be helpful down the road if we ever get into a conflict because we would already have interoperability, a working [relationship] with the country, and it would ease the ability for us to operate as a team."
"Combined training like this is very important to our efforts," said Royal Thai Navy Capt. Piya Ardmoongkun, an AV-8S Harrier jet aircraft pilot. "Who knows what is going to happen in the future? If something would happen and we really needed to rely on each other, this training will allow us to do that."
After the exercise, the crew enjoyed a four-day port visit to Pattaya Beach, where Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tours offered them the chance to explore the area and experience Thai culture.
Some Sailors opted to use their free time to help out the community in a friendship building project at the Ban Bang Lamung Boys Home Foundation. Volunteers painted a building, taught the children English and hosted a friendship barbecue.
"I really enjoyed getting to know the kids," said Personnel Specialist Seaman Clinton Heller. "There was a little bit of a language barrier, so we had to use different visual aids to get our messages across. It was a great experience."
Others enjoyed Thai culture at its finest.
"The food is one of my favorite things about Thailand," said Seaman Apprentice Mark Lewis. "I think the food is a big part of their culture, and it's really a great way to directly experience that culture."
After Cobra Gold, Essex proceeded to the Republic of South Korea to off-load Marines for Foal Eagle 2009 before returning to Sasebo for a maintenance availability in preparation for Balikatan 2009 (BK09). Balikatan, a Tagalog phrase meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder," is an annual Republic of the Philippines-U.S. bilateral military humanitarian assistance and training exercise.
The two nations teamed up for air operations, conducting deck-landing qualifications on the Essex flight deck. According to Lt. Cmdr. Ben Sigurdson, the ship's flight deck handler, this type of training improves multinational interoperability, making it easier for Pacific nations to operate together if called upon during a real crisis.
"Any time we have the opportunity to work with a foreign country we try to get their helicopters out here," said Sigurdson. "It really helps out if we need to respond to something in one of the countries in the region, such as a natural disaster.
"Maintaining positive relations and training with countries like the Republic of the Philippines allows us to respond to contingencies more effectively."
U.S. and Philippine Marines also banded together for a simulated beach raid exercise. More than 40 Marines of the 38th Marine Company, Armed Forces of the Philippines, embarked Essex to participate in the simulation with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
The exercise also allowed the Philippine Marines to experience the amphibious capabilities of Essex through the use of its landing craft units (LCU) and aircraft like CH46-E Sea Knight helicopters.
"Operations like the combined raid are excellent," said Marine Capt. Serge Morosoff, Kilo Company commander, 31st MEU. "It's a great opportunity to train together militarily, but it's also a way to build relationships."
In addition to the military operations, the exercise included five community friendship projects. The events provided Sailors a chance to bond with the Filipino people and experience their culture. The projects included a variety of activities from facility maintenance, education, recreation and spending time with the host country's citizens.
"I think it says a lot about the character of the Sailors on Essex that so many people would want to make new friends and learn about the local culture here," said Ship's Servicemen 1st Class (SW/AW) Jacarlos House, a community friendship building project volunteer. "We never have a shortage of people who want to come out and make friends with the community. It's beautiful."
BK09 also gave Sailors an opportunity to hold a sports day with the Filipinos. The event put Essex against host nation teams of Sailors and Marines in friendly matches of softball, volleyball, soccer and basketball.
The port visit provided many opportunities to explore the Philippines through activities and tours provided by MWR. The most popular trip was an all-day trip that began at Itramuros, one of the worlds best-preserved medieval cites and ended at the Mall of Asia.
"The mall had a plethora of stores and an intriguing selection of different brands," said Quartermaster Seaman Elvis Gomez. "There were a lot of restaurants and even the ride there was entertaining. It was great."
While the patrol was an unusual deployment in both length and operations, the Essex crew made the most of the opportunities before them. Completing the exercise marked another success in the continuing relationship between the U.S. and Philippine armed forces.
While in Sasebo, Essex will conduct a brief maintenance period while preparing for another upcoming multinational exercise. Other activities scheduled during this inport period include Essex hosting a naturalization ceremony and the graduation ceremony for E. J. King High School, the Department of Defense sponsored school in Sasebo.
Essex is commanded by Capt. Brent Canady and is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. amphibious ready group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
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