Oak Hill Returns Home After Southern Partnership Station 2009
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090821-31
Release Date: 8/21/2009 4:46:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Hendrick L. Dickson, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
LITTLE CREEK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 300 Sailors and embarked Marines aboard the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) returned home Aug. 21 after nearly three months of operations in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2009.
Oak Hill, based at Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Va., departed June 3 for SPS 2009, a combined multinational naval and amphibious operation with Oak Hill and maritime forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.
Oak Hill also supported the U.S. Marine Corps Forces South (USMARSOUTH) multinational amphibious exercise, Southern Exchange 2009.
"The purpose of SPS 2009 is an opportunity for the United States to work with our partner nations in Latin America," said Oak Hill Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Daniel Blackburn. "The essential idea was to learn from each other, exchange ideas and to build better cooperation between all of our navies - through this we will be able to strengthen maritime security in the region."
During SPS 2009, Oak Hill embarked more than 20 partner nation liaison Sailors and Marines who worked and trained with the crew in daily shipboard operations. Embarked Sailors from the Expeditionary Training Command in Little Creek also shared their expertise in small boat operations; visit, board, search and seizure; and other areas during subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) with Sailors and Marines in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
Oak Hill Sailors who participated in SMEEs said they learned a lot from training with their Navy counterparts and enjoyed the experience.
"It was neat to see how damage control, as well as other aspects of our navies, are similar," said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Christopher Gipp, who took part in the damage control SMEEs. "Great relationships were formed through very thorough damage control training. It was interesting to bounce ideas of firefighting techniques between our navies. It was a very rewarding experience."
Oak Hill also conducted joint maritime security operations with the Uruguayan Navy. Together the navies executed a swept channel mine avoidance exercise and conducted deck landing qualifications (DLQs) with Uruguayan helicopter pilots. The crew also conducted DLQs with Brazilian pilots flying a Brazilian Super Puma helicopter.
"Conducting operations like these are important to maritime security for all nations," said Oak Hill Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. David Bauer. "We have common goals and beliefs when it comes to maritime security, and the U.S. maritime strategy is dependent on our ability to cooperate successfully with our partner nations. I think during SPS 2009 we proved that we were able to do that."
During SPS 2009, Oak Hill made port calls in Castries, St. Lucia; Puerto Belgrano, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The crew enjoyed liberty in every port, but it was their impact during community relations events that left a lasting impression among the participating Sailors. The ship delivered 51 pallets of medical and hygiene supplies, books, toys and other educational supplies to local communities in Castries and Montevideo as part of Project Handclasp.
During their stay in Montevideo, more than 50 crew members and partner nation Sailors and Marines united to restore the dining hall at the Hospital Hogar Pineyro for senior citizens. The crew welcomed aboard more than 100 orphans and troubled teens for ship tours and lunch in Montevideo and Castries. Oak Hill Medical Department personnel visited children on Marambaia Island in Brazil and handed out teddy bears.
"I know that our mission for SPS 2009 was to further improve our friendship and cooperation with our partner nations. In this regard, projects like these which connected people of all ages and from different nations, displays the United States Navy's dedication to bringing peace and harmony throughout all nations," said Yeoman 3rd Class Michael George. "Actions like these are part of what makes up America's 'DNA', so to speak."
"Everyone doesn't get a chance to go to different countries and make an impact in this way," added Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW) Ericke Slaughter. "It makes you appreciate and respect the different cultures around the world. I was honored to represent myself, Oak Hill and, best of all, my country."
Oak Hill opened its brows for nearly 500 distinguished visitors for several highly-visible events during SPS 2009. Events included receptions in Argentina and Uruguay and a Fourth of July cookout on the flight deck for families from the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay.
Blackburn says he is proud of his crew's performance during SPS 2009. He also feels the bonds formed with Oak Hill's crew and their South American counterparts made the deployment a memorable experience for everyone.
"The interesting aspect of maritime services is that we all do things in a very similar fashion," said Blackburn. "We all face the same peril on the sea, and we all have common experiences. And we've established – what I think are - lifelong relationships with our partner nations. I know if I ever need a hand in South America, somebody who knows me from this deployment will be here, and I can depend on them to help. That's what we came out here to do, establish relations, so I feel SPS 2009 was a tremendous success.
"I'm proud of the way the crew of Oak Hill executed this mission. You take a group of people, train them and prepare them to do something they're not used to doing and they execute as flawlessly as that did, I can't ask for anything more. I'm very proud of them, and I think this was a life-changing experience for many of them."
For more news from USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), visit www.navy.mil/local/lsd51/.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
