Military

USS Tortuga Conducts Training with Philippine Sailors

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091019-16
Release Date: 10/19/2009 3:46:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Detachment Japan

MANILA BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- Forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) began Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) Oct. 14, training with Sailors from the Republic of the Philippines.

PHIBLEX is a bilateral exercise conducted in accordance with agreements made by the United States and the Republic of the Philippines and is designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional relationships between the two forces.

Twenty-eight officers and enlisted Sailors from the Philippine Navy's Patrol Force Unit, Fleet Training Centers and various ships of arrived on Tortuga and started training in visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) techniques; Maintenance and Material Management (3M); and a ship familiarization. The 3M class provided an opportunity for Sailors from both countries to share their maintenance experience.

"Getting to know the students and answering questions on how we do things is a good opportunity and experience," said Electronics Technician 1st Class Jason Williams, Tortuga's 3M coordinator. "I learned a lot about how they do maintenance and how we do ours; and there are some similarities."

The combined shipboard training will continue for the next two days during the first week of PHIBLEX. Training will also cover subjects such as shipboard firefighting and damage control.

"While working closely with the Philippine Navy, we expect to build camaraderie, share techniques, and learn from each other," said Lt. Adam M. Stein, Tortuga's operations officer.

Harpers Ferry and Tortuga are forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan and assigned to Commander, Task Group 76.4, Capt. Donald A. Schmieley. The group reports to Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, who is headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.