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Oak Hill, Partner Nation Liaisons Personnel Learning from Each Other

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090622-02
Release Date: 6/22/2009 2:09:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Hendrick L. Dickson, Oak Hill Southern Partnership Station '09 Public Affairs

USS OAK HILL, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) departed for Southern Partnership Station (SPS) '09 in early June steaming toward South America, and once on station, the ship will provide support for the U.S. Marine Forces South multinational amphibious exercise Southern Exchange 2009.

During its transit, Oak Hill with embarked partner nation personnel from Peru, Uruguay, and Brazil, is conducting a variety of training evolutions which are tailored to ensure all participants gain a better understanding of how each other operate, by sharing ideas, and building cooperation.

Oak Hill has implemented a diverse training plan in which partner nation liaisons are integrated into ship's company and the command element from Commander Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 2.

"Much of the focus is on daily underway scenarios and evolutions – such as damage control, combat systems and navigation – but having the partner nations integrated gives both Oak Hill and partner nations sailors a chance to see how things are done in other Navies," said Oak Hill Training Officer, Lt. j.g. Bruce Hallett.

In the initial SPS '09 planning meeting the original training agenda was more direction driven. The liaison officers were to sit in the same training that Oak Hill junior officers receive. But follow on coordination found that many of the embarked officers are senior leaders at their commands, so the agenda became more engaging.

"They're able to share more life experiences," explained Hallett. "They bring more to the table and are able to discuss how they've handled similar situations outside that training evolution."

The training remains beneficial to junior partner nation personnel as well. Many of whom, are anxious to use the things they've learned during SPS '09 when they get back to their commands and hopefully make an immediate impact.

"We have had the opportunity to plot courses in the Combat Information Center," said Petty Officer 1st Class Edgard Moises Echevarria Quispe, of the Peruvian Navy. "We got the opportunity to work with equipment that we don't have on our ships that will be more efficient and save us money. What we are doing here we can take back and share."

"The SPS '09 mission allows the United States to improve interoperability with our partner nations and will help build a stronger maritime environment," said Commodore, COMDESRON 2 and SPS '09 mission commander, Capt. Brad Williamson. "The day-to-day interaction not only improves us all professionally, it builds everlasting friendships."

For more news from USS Oak Hill, visit www.navy.mil/local/lsd51/.