Oak Hill Revs Up Vital Force Protection Training
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090814-07
Release Date: 8/14/2009 5:54:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Hendrick L. Dickson, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
USS OAK HILL, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the Harper's Ferry-class amphibious dock-landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) are conducting anti-terrorism and force protection training during the three-week transit home after operations in support of Southern Partnership Station '09 and Southern Exchange 2009.
The crew also received training in various subjects including Naval Security Force-Sentry (NSF-S), .50-Cal crew served weapons, M16 rifle and 9mm pistol qualifications and oleo resin capsicum (OC) spray qualifications.
"We want our watchstanders to be as qualified and as trained as possible," said Lt. j.g. Scott Cheney-Peters, Oak Hill weapons officer and anti-terrorism officer. "There are many, many requirements for each watchstander, depending on the watch they are standing and the weapon they carry. This is a good opportunity to do this training."
During the next couple of weeks, nearly the entire crew will complete several types of AT/FP training. The ship is also conducting routine anti-terrorism drills to ensure watchstanders are able to make the right decision if they are involved in a real-world terrorist scenario.
"Before we pull in port, we're going to do a nighttime small boat attack at anchor drill, that's one of the drills we have as a continuous certification requirement," said Cheney-Peters. "One of the main purposes of all these drills and the training, OC spray and shooting the weapons, is so the Sailors will have the experience if they're ever confronted with a real-life situation."
According to Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Patrick Fairley, anti-terrorism training team member, the qualifications are more intense.
"The shooting courses aren't just familiarity courses where we're just asking them to shoot the weapon," said Fairley. "They have to be able to hit a target and are scored on how they do through a course of fire. They have to shoot from the kneeling position and standing as well as in a low-light situation."
Regardless if the ship is underway or in port, the threat of terrorism is always there. This is why AT/FP is so important – something the training team always stresses to the crew.
"We try to drive home the importance of anti-terrorism and force protection, especially to the younger Sailors" said Fairley. "We're asking them to do some things they're not used to doing because when it comes to protecting the ship, Sailors are required to do more. But I feel confident they will be able to respond if given the call."
"Our philosophy – the captain's philosophy – is that every Sailor is here to protect the ship," added Cheney-Peters. "To that end, we're getting everybody, including all the engineers and all the CSs (culinary specialists) through the NSF-S training to make sure they have got the basic level of training. We need everybody able to pick up a weapon and [be] ready to defend the ship against any threat that may be out there."
"By the time we return to Little Creek, 100 percent of our Sailors will have completed SRF-B (Security Reaction Force-Basic) and will be qualified on at least one weapon type. That is a significant achievement for any ship," said Lt. Cmdr. David Bauer, Oak Hill executive officer.
Oak Hill departed its homeport in Little Creek, Va., for Southern Partnership Station '09 June 3. The ship is scheduled to return this summer. Oak Hill is also supporting U.S. Marine Corps Forces South multinational amphibious exercise Southern Exchange 2009.
For more news from USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), visit www.navy.mil/local/lsd51/.
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