Peruvian Navy Day

By: LT Paolo R. Camogliano, Peruvian Navy

October 8 is a national holiday celebrating not only the anniversary of the creation of our navy in 1821, but also commemorating the Battle of Angamos (1879) in which our greatest naval hero, Admiral Miguel Grau, and the crew of the Ironclad HUASCAR under his command immortalized their names fighting during the War of the Pacific.

When I think of Navy Day, the first thing that comes to my mind is a memory from when I was a small child, probably around 4 years old.  My father took me to Miraflores’ beachfront at night in order to see our fleet at anchor in the bay.  The ships were displaying all their lights, ready for the “pass and review” the next morning.  That is when my love for the Navy started.

In Peru, Navy Day starts early.  All naval personnel in the Lima-Callao area participate in a ceremony and parade over which our president presides.  After the parade, there's a pass and review of the fleet at anchor followed by a cocktail and buffet in which everybody has the chance to meet with fellow shipmates. Similar events are held nationwide and abroad hosted by our Naval Attachés.

Navy Day 2012 will be different for me than in past years; I will be underway sailing in the Caribbean aboard the USS UNDERWOOD.  I will have the privilege to represent my Navy in this fine ship and share with my new naval family this important date.

“¡Viva la Marina de Guerra del Perú!”

LT Camogliano is a foreign exchange officer embarked aboard USS Underwood.

USS Simpson officers embark Underwood

            I am Ensign Andrew Miller. I am embarked on the USS Underwood (FFG 36) with my fellow colleague Ensign Brody Henderson. We are on this ship to receive Surface Warfare Officer training because our permanent command, the USS Simpson (FFG 56) is back in Mayport, Fl. in dry-dock getting repairs done to it. With Simpson being unable to get underway, our commanding officer arranged for us to go to Underwood to get our qualifications.

            The Surface Warfare Officer qualification is a long process involving twelve to eighteen months of different areas of training such as combat information center watch officer, Officer of the Deck underway, and Officer of the Deck in-port. All of this training culminates in an oral board. The goal of all of this is to become designated as a fully qualified Surface Warfare Officer.

            I embarked on the “Wood” on Sept. 15 in Key West and was received with open arms by the officers and enlisted personnel aboard the ship. I would rather be underway focusing on the mission rather than being back in port filling out paperwork. I find it exciting and rewarding to be out at sea and am looking forward for my colleague and I to get pinned as Surface Warfare Officers. It is a big step in our careers and carries with it greater responsibility as officers. It has been a great experience so far and the training has been invaluable.

Very Respectfully,

Ensign Andrew Miller

UNITAS Atlantic 2012 Participants Exchange Subject Matter Experts

Naval forces participating in UNITAS Atlantic 2012 conducted subject matter expert exchanges with other participating nations for the duration of UNITAS Atlantic 53-12 multinational exercise hosted by U.S. 4th Fleet.

There are 14 U.S. Navy personnel embarked on various partner nation ships and foreign personnel from France, Peru, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, France, and Canada on four U.S Navy ships and one U.S. Coast Guard cutter.

There are four partner nation officers aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36), seven aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68), four aboard the USS Bradley (FFG 49), one aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), and three aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter CGC Escanaba (WMEC-907).

"I like the idea having personnel from different navies onboard our ship because it gives us an opportunity to exchange ideas and make connections that could be helpful in the future," said Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan M. Griffin, the combat systems officer aboard Anzio. "It gives us insights on how other navies handle different situations and how we might be able to help each other in future operations together."

The subject matter experts are aboard the different ships to increase the operational capability on a multi-national level and to bring a spirit of friendship and cooperation between partner nations.

"I am enjoying my experience so far and I am learning about different platforms and systems," said Sub-Lt. Garrett Aitken, a junior officer assigned to the Canadian Oiler HMCS Preserver (AR-8) and embarked aboard Anzio. "I believe that by holding these subject matter expert exchanges each partner nation can work together to accomplish our missions."

They also bring their own ideas and experiences to the table with them and can help find better ways to problem-solve during different situations.

"I think that different cultures and traditions have an impact when they come together," said Aitken. "Each one brings something different to the table that may help the mission proceed more smoothly. I definitely would recommend any officer or enlisted person to cross-deck to another ship and experience what I have so far."

UNITAS Atlantic 53-2012 is a U.S. and South America-sponsored international naval exercise. This is the 53rd year partner nations have participated in UNITAS, which stands for "unity" in Latin, making it the longest ongoing maritime exercise in the region. Thirteen warships from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United States and the United Kingdom and observers from France, Jamaica, Panama and Peru are participating in the exercise, which will run from Sept. 17 though Sept. 28, 2012 in the west Caribbean and associated areas.

UNITAS is designed to train each naval force in a variety of maritime scenarios, which each operating as a component of a multinational force to provide the maximum opportunity to improve interoperability. The exercise develops and sustains relationships that improve the capacity of our emerging and enduring partners' maritime forces to achieve common desired effects. This annual exercise fosters friendly, mutual cooperation and understanding between participating navies.

Ships Sortie for At-Sea Phase of UNITAS Atlantic

By Lt. Stephanie Homick, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) -- Thirteen ships representing the seven countries participating in the Atlantic Phase of UNITAS 2012 sortied to their operating area in the Caribbean, Sept. 20.

After spending a few days in port in Key West, Fla. preparing for the exercise through planning meetings, ships from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard departed the Mole Pier on the Truman Waterfront throughout the day.

"Meeting all the new people from all the different countries - it was fun to talk to them, hear their stories and I think it's going to be fun to work with them in the exercise now after having met with them in all the meetings and spending some time with them," said Lt. Matthew Bornemeier, a pilot embarked aboard USS Underwood (FFG 36). After leaving the pier, each ship completed a simulated channel transit and then rendezvoused at a predetermined location in the Caribbean. The afternoon comprised of each ship's air department conducting deck landing qualifications.

"It's one of those skills that's a perishable skill," said Bornemeier of the deck landing qualifications. "If you don't continue to practice, you become a little rusty and it's something we do all the time...to maintain our proficiency. It's a challenging exercise and we do it every time we take off and land."

The afternoon concluded with an air defense exercise, the purpose of which is to assess each ship's combat information center in air plotting and anti-air warfare radio telephone procedures.

"An air defense exercise tests a unit's capability to detect, track and engage an air target," said Lt. Lori Rose, Underwood's operations officer. "It flexes combat's ability to conduct anti-air warfare."

Sept. 20 is the first day of the eight-day at-sea phase of the 53rd iteration of UNITAS Atlantic.

UNITAS is the longest running and largest maritime exercise in this hemisphere. The 12-day exercise will entail a variety of operations intended to enhance interoperability between the partner nations.

UNITAS Atlantic Participants Compete in Cooking, Sports

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stuart Phillips, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) -- Sailors from ships representing the seven countries participating in the Atlantic Phase of UNITAS 2012 joined together for a sports day and cuisine contest in Key West, Fla., Sept. 19.

Teams representing the Brazilian, Canadian, Colombian, Dominican Republic, Mexican, U.K., and the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard went head-to-head in contests of basketball, running, soccer, tug-of-war, volleyball, and cooking.

"It was a pretty exciting game, playing the Brits," said Logistics Specialist Seaman Christian Jones, who is assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG-68). "We put a lot of energy into it. We lost a previous game so when we came back, we had to put more energy in the game. It was pretty intense."

As the sports teams competed against each other, cooks from each ship were preparing dishes representing their respective countries in an international cuisine contest.

"We had to choose dishes that represent our country and the XO's [executive officers] from every ship came by to taste test the food and pick the best ship's food," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Kenneth Bohan, USS Underwood's head chef. "We did macaroni and cheese and fried chicken to represent southern cooking and especially where our Culinary Specialist Seaman (SW) Trent Powell is from, Georgia. He's been working out here with Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Ernesto Lopez and they have really been putting their hearts and souls into it. We're just representing our countries so the judges can taste everything and pick the best one."

The day culminated in an awards ceremony presided over by Capt. Ace Van Wagoner, the commodore of Destroyer Squadron 40. The Brazilian navy took first place in running and volleyball. Sailors representing Anzio won first place in basketball and tug-of-war, and the British took first place in cooking and soccer.

"Brazil was our most difficult opponent," said Leading Seaman Martin Kelly, captain of the soccer team from the British destroyer HMS Dauntless (D-33). "We just beat them with a 2-1 win that we scored in the last minute. It was good to play different countries all at the same time. At some times tensions were a little bit high, but we all shook hands at the end of the game."
UNITAS is the longest running and largest maritime exercise in this hemisphere. The twelve-day long exercise will entail a variety of operations intended to enhance interoperability between the partner nations.

COMUSNAVSO/COMFOURTHFLT supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Underwood Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago's Independence

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stuart Phillips, Southern Seas Public Affairs

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (NNS) -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) pulled into Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Sept. 7, just in time to help celebrate the country's 50th anniversary of independence.

The port call provided an opportunity for Underwood and the U.S. Embassy to host a reception aboard the ship to honor the milestone anniversary.

"Our countries enjoy a strong relationship through both commercial ties and military partnerships," said Cmdr. Peter Mirisola, commanding officer of Underwood. "This bilateral relationship enhances political and social stability and both nations' goal of stemming transnational crime, health promotion and international law."

Co-hosting the reception and representing the U.S. Embassy was U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Trinidad and Tobago, David C. Wolfe.

"We are here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago's independence day and to mark more than 200 years of commercial, personal and military ties between our two nations," said Wolfe.

"This ship and crew are working with nations throughout the Caribbean to combat narcotics trafficking and build ties so that we can work together to address other common problems such as trafficking in persons and responding to natural disasters," Wolfe added.

Officers from the Brazilian Naval Ship BNS Greenhalgh (F-46), also visiting Trinidad and Tobago, were invited to join in the festivities.

Underwood and Greenhalgh will be sailing from Port of Spain en route to Key West, Fla., to participate in the multi-national UNITAS exercise later this weekend. Coincidentally, Sept. 7 is also the anniversary of Brazil's independence.

Underwood is deployed to Central and South America and the Caribbean in support of U.S. 4th Fleet's mission, Southern Seas 2012.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/Commander, U.S. 4th Fleet support U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Ship Rider from Panama

My role here is to facilitate the ship’s entry into Panamanian waters. Through diplomatic channels it would take too long and we would be unsuccessful in capturing the “go fasts” and the narcotics. My role here is to call via cell phone since we’re in range. I call my boss. They already have notification that we’re in and around these waters and they give us the go ahead to chase after them. I was chosen because of previous experience doing counter-drug operations.

Back home I am in charge of the transportation department and I am in charge of the building maintenance. The reason I was chosen for this mission is because I have 20 years of Navy service right now and it’s good for me as an officer to get this experience as a liaison between the U.S. and Panamanian navies. It also helps me because I have to learn the different rules as far as pursuing go fasts and learning what lines of communication need to be established to enter different waters. 

V/R

Ensign Jose Camarena, Panamanian Navy

Ship’s Reaction Force-Basic

We’re learning how to safely and effectively search the ship in case of a security alert or a terrorist alert. We’re learning the steps we would take if the ship were infiltrated.

We’re learning how to close out a space with a reaction force and then if there’s a security alert within a space, how to secure them – have the subjects put their hands up, put them on the ground, search them for weapons – things like that. We also learn how to search different hiding spots on the ship.

A typical team would be six people or as many people as needed depending on the kind of security alert. We try to each rotate through different roles on the team so that in a real life scenario any one person could take any position throughout the security alert.

There’s the team leader who will yell out commands to the team, and if you’re the last man you’re always checking the team’s “6” – checking  the back of the reaction team just to make sure know is coming from behind and to help secure spaces.

The first week of the training is for watch standing and for qualifications for the OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) spray and the second week is the security alert reaction force training. It’s two weeks overall.

Personally, I think it’s good to know, especially for the new guys, the things that you don’t go over in your A School or the things you don’t go over in your specific division on the ship. It is separate training and the instructors have had specific training on this so it’s a good change of pace for us and it is good knowledge to know.

I think the most important thing I’ve gotten from this training is to stay aware and to know that different situations happen and to stay calm and to rely on the people who have trained with you. Have their backs and know they have your back.

V/R

Seaman (SW) Aaron Drendel

7 Chief Selects!

I found out about my selection when the CO announced it over the 1MC this afternoon. I didn’t know before the announcement that I’d made it and it’s one of those things where you try not to get too involved as it winds down to the last few days, because on the flipside, if your name doesn’t get called it can be a heart crusher. At the same time you try to stay positive and stay focused and you wish that your name will be on that list.

I was here in the S-1 [Supply Support] shop with the rest of my guys when the announcement was made. We listened to the names being called one by one and once the CO called my name, all hell broke loose in this office. I didn’t get a chance to hear the remaining names being called because there was a lot of yelling and congratulating and commenting going on.

Prior to the announcement, I had my head down and my hands were sweating and I breathing hard and had butterflies. AS soon as they called my name I felt at ease. I won’t be taking any more exams either, and that’s a great feeling.

Today was the official beginning of chief induction, so from now until we get pinned is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears and just trying to keep our minds focused and our ears open. These seasoned chiefs are going to have a lot of wisdom and a lot of leadership scenarios to help us out in our careers. It’s going to be interesting. I’m looking forward to. I’ve been waiting for it for a while and it finally came.  

I reached my 15-year mark in March. This is definitely an accomplishment and a milestone in my career. I was blessed to be selected for chief.

The best advice I can give to the Junior Sailors is that hard work will pay off. Listen to your leadership for wise counsel. Take the tools that you learn early in your career and implement them into your work ethic. All the little things like the attention to detail, caring for folks, and staying late come together to strengthen your package. It’s a unique thing to think about, but although my individual name was called out, it wasn’t just me that got me here. I’ve had a lot of people who’ve supported me from day one. Individuals from all the way up and down the ranks, including my old leadership, new leadership, and also my family and friends have supported me from the very beginning. It was my name that was called, but getting here was a group effort.

I have a couple mentors I’d like to mention and thank for helping me: Mr. Koonce who is out in Japan and of course my current chief, Chief Logistics Specialist Brooks, who was one of the mentors that got me on the right path and really pushed me and gave the encouragement I needed when I was losing focus. 

V/R

Chief Select Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Josue Negron

Fire Main Maintenance

Senior Chief Engineman (SW) Joel Fletcher explains maintenance conducted aboard USS Underwood (FFG 36).

Right now we have a seawater-circulating pump that normally cools a diesel engine that is powered off the backside of the switchboard off the generator circuit breaker side. The pump is actually bad so we have the pump tagged out. You can run the diesel with emergency fire main back up aligned to it, which we are currently doing. Unfortunately, on the bad pump we had a mechanical seal let go and we also have a butterfly valve and a check valve with malfunctions.

So, as opposed to the fire main coming through a reducer at 32 plus or minus two PSI and going through the coolers and overboard, about 50% of the water is currently leaking by the two valves that have failed, leaking out of the mechanical seal, and going through the suction valve back to the ocean the opposite way of its original design.

What my guys are doing right now is shutting down the fire main to the entire space, tagging out the suction and the overboard valve. They’re removing the piping from the suction and the discharge side of the pump. They’re going to put blank flanges in on the pipes, and that’s going to keep the fire main from going back through the pump, which has a bad seal. It will be like that until the new pump gets here.

This is what’s called a voyage repair. You’ve gotta do what you gotta do to make things work.

Community Relations (COMREL) Project in Jamaica

St. Christopher’s School for the Deaf was an amazing place to visit. I was teaching sign language on the ship to interested Underwood sailors even before I knew there was going to be a COMREL and was very excited about the prospect of holding an event at this school. The Jacksonville-St. Augustine area, where I live and close to Mayport where the Underwood is stationed,  has the distinction of being the largest deaf community in the entire country, and my wife works at a school for the deaf. After being married for 16 years, I’ve been able to learn a great deal of American Sign Language, and so the experience at St. Christopher’s was made even more incredible and I knew that I would be able to bring some of my skills to the table. At the school we received a warm welcome, but once I started signing with them I could tell that they were even happier to have us there. Being able to converse with them in sign definitely put them at ease and created a very warm atmosphere between us. The other sailors and I distributed stuffed animals, played basketball, and communicated with the kids. Some of the Underwood sailors that had been a part of my American Sign Language classes were even able to carry on short conversations with the students! It was great seeing the sailors having so much fun with the kids, and seeing the kids genuinely happy that we had come to be with them for the day. I’d say that this day was the best I’ve ever had in my entire 18-year Navy career.  

V/R

IT1 (SW) Maitland

The experience for me at the St. Christopher School for the Deaf was one of the greatest moment’s I’ve ever had. Despite the fact that my signing wasn’t the best we were able to communicate through means other that signing. The facial expressions and smiles and hand gestures said more than enough for me. They were glad to have us there and we were glad to be there for them. IT1 Maitland was the main point of contact for signing as he is very skilled at it and he helped us make the experience even that more pleasurable. For me this was an unforgettable day because I left feeling proud that that could bring so much joy to kids and young adults and I didn’t even have to say a word. Their expressions of gratitude and thanks said it all.

V/R

OS1(SW) Parrish

International Maritime University of Panama

On June 27th, four shipmates and I visited the International Maritime University of Panama. They included EM2 Rodriguez, ET3 Delafuente, BMSN Garcialorenzo and MC3 Pikul, who came to take photos. The students invited us over to tour their compound and academy after we’d given them tours of the ship for the past two days. We were picked up at 0845 by Mr. Eddie Munoz who is a retired ENC and who works over at the academy now as the head of the cadets. He picked us up at the front gate at Vasco Nuñez de Balboa and we headed to the academy.

We were given a tour of the compound. It was a pretty good-sized facility. Then they showed us their navigation simulator, which is pretty cool. I loved it. We saw their engineering plant simulator. It wasn’t a full-hands-on experience, but it was pretty close.

We also had a couple question-and-answer sessions with the students there. They asked us how life was at sea because these are first year cadets who haven’t been to a ship and most of them don’t have any sea-going experience. They had a lot of questions about life at sea and how the food is on a ship and how many people are on our ships; a lot of basic questions. One of the classes we saw was a class of future engineers, so they were talking to Petty Officer Rodriguez about what kind of engineering plant we have and what it’s like to work as an engineer. They were also curious about the places we’ve visited, how long we’ve been in the Navy, and some of the most fun things we’ve done in the Navy.

We got to sit down with the director of the academy and he told us how much he appreciated us giving his students tours of our ship so they could see something different. He thanked us for that and wished us a good tour around the compound.

The academy provided us lunch.  It was steamed rice, lentils cooked in a sauce, and beef chunks with a sauce that had carrots and celery in it. They have cadets there who are going to be top-siders who are going to be kitchen crew. They have chefs teaching them how to cook and about sanitation. They also have a program to provide free lunch and breakfast to cadets who come from less fortunate backgrounds.

Before we left we saw how their afternoon formation. It’s set up like a military academy with different companies and a student chain-of-command.

Petty Officer Delafuente used to be in an honor guard rifle team in high school so he was able to show their rifle drill team some stuff that he used to do. Overall it was a pretty good day. We were there for probably five or six hours.

We recognized some of the students who’d come over to see us on our ship and when they saw us at the academy, they greeted us and asked how we were doing and how we liked their facility. They were very happy to show us their side of the sea-going life. They were very proud of their academy and very eager to show everything off.

Their simulator was a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is completely different navigating with their system than it is using ours. They have a very minimal bridge team and it was just very different. When you see something different like that you understand that there is more to it than just how we navigate the seas.

I had a great time showing them around our ship and I had an amazing time checking out their academy. If I ever had the chance to get one of their navigational simulators, I would totally buy one. That is the coolest thing I’ve done in a long time. It’s like a video game with five screens in front of you, giving you a panoramic view and they had 20 different ports you could simulate pulling into. You can choose the weather conditions and the sea state and they had different maritime ships you could drive whether it was a ferry, a tug, a car carrier, a grain ship. It was completely amazing. I want one of those things for my home now.

Visiting the academy gave us a chance to see how other countries do things. We have a set way of doing things and a lot of other countries follow a similar model. It’s good to see how they do it and the differences, because sometimes you might be able to take something away from it. 

V/R

BM2 Jason Funk

International Maritime University of Panama

On June 27th, four shipmates and I visited the International Maritime University of Panama. They included EM2 Rodriguez, ET3 Delafuente, BMSN Garcialorenzo and MC3 Pikul, who came to take photos. The students invited us over to tour their compound and academy after we’d given them tours of the ship for the past two days. We were picked up at 0845 by Mr. Eddie Munoz who is a retired ENC and who works over at the academy now as the head of the cadets. He picked us up at the front gate at Vasco Nuñez de Balboa and we headed to the academy.

We were given a tour of the compound. It was a pretty good-sized facility. Then they showed us their navigation simulator, which is pretty cool. I loved it. We saw their engineering plant simulator. It wasn’t a full-hands-on experience, but it was pretty close.

We also had a couple question-and-answer sessions with the students there. They asked us how life was at sea because these are first year cadets who haven’t been to a ship and most of them don’t have any sea-going experience. They had a lot of questions about life at sea and how the food is on a ship and how many people are on our ships; a lot of basic questions. One of the classes we saw was a class of future engineers, so they were talking to Petty Officer Rodriguez about what kind of engineering plant we have and what it’s like to work as an engineer. They were also curious about the places we’ve visited, how long we’ve been in the Navy, and some of the most fun things we’ve done in the Navy.

We got to sit down with the director of the academy and he told us how much he appreciated us giving his students tours of our ship so they could see something different. He thanked us for that and wished us a good tour around the compound.

The academy provided us lunch.  It was steamed rice, lentils cooked in a sauce, and beef chunks with a sauce that had carrots and celery in it. They have cadets there who are going to be top-siders who are going to be kitchen crew. They have chefs teaching them how to cook and about sanitation. They also have a program to provide free lunch and breakfast to cadets who come from less fortunate backgrounds.

Before we left we saw how their afternoon formation. It’s set up like a military academy with different companies and a student chain-of-command.

Petty Officer Delafuente used to be in an honor guard rifle team in high school so he was able to show their rifle drill team some stuff that he used to do. Overall it was a pretty good day. We were there for probably five or six hours.

We recognized some of the students who’d come over to see us on our ship and when they saw us at the academy, they greeted us and asked how we were doing and how we liked their facility. They were very happy to show us their side of the sea-going life. They were very proud of their academy and very eager to show everything off.

Their simulator was a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is completely different navigating with their system than it is using ours. They have a very minimal bridge team and it was just very different. When you see something different like that you understand that there is more to it than just how we navigate the seas.

I had a great time showing them around our ship and I had an amazing time checking out their academy. If I ever had the chance to get one of their navigational simulators, I would totally buy one. That is the coolest thing I’ve done in a long time. It’s like a video game with five screens in front of you, giving you a panoramic view and they had 20 different ports you could simulate pulling into. You can choose the weather conditions and the sea state and they had different maritime ships you could drive whether it was a ferry, a tug, a car carrier, a grain ship. It was completely amazing. I want one of those things for my home now.

Visiting the academy gave us a chance to see how other countries do things. We have a set way of doing things and a lot of other countries follow a similar model. It’s good to see how they do it and the differences, because sometimes you might be able to take something away from it. 

V/R

BM2 Jason Funk

Time in Chile

I am Electronics Technician 3^rd Class Carl Miller.  I have been in the Navy for three years and enjoy my job.  This was my first port visit to Chile.  Valparaiso was very nice.  The locals were friendly and informative.  I think that it was a good experience and I would definitely come back again.  The locals treated us well wherever we went. 

             We also did a few exercises with the Chilean navy. It was interesting to see how other navies operate. Some Chilean sailors embarked on our ship and we got a chance to interact with them. It was great to interact with the Chilean sailors and build friendships with them. 

            Overall, Chile was a great place to visit and see. There were plenty of fun activities to take part in and the people I met were fantastic. If given the chance, I would definitely go back again.  

Very Respectfully,

ET3 Carl Miller

Remembering Those Who Have Gone Before

Today we started our next exercise, Silent Forces Exercise (SIFOREX), with the Peruvian navy. During the next few days, U.S. and Peruvian surface and air assets will practice locating and tracking Peru’s submarine fleet.

But what we want to remember today is Memorial Day. Today we pause and honor those who have gone before us. Those who have sailed the high seas and served in foreign lands and have made it possible for us to be here today to follow in their footsteps. We thank them for paving the road to freedom for all Americans.

Please take a moment today for a moment of silence, to remember those who gave all and all those who gave. We owe them more than we could ever repay. We are honored to have learned from them and to take their place in the service to our great country.  We will continue in their spirit to defend the greatest country on Earth.

On behalf of the men and women of USS Underwood (FFG 36),

Very Respectfully,

Southern Seas 2012 Public Affairs

UNITAS Ship-rider Exchange

            My name is Jose Carrion-Rodriguez. I am a yeoman 2nd class and have been in the Navy for about 5 years.  I have been to many places and have seen many things, but I have never been on a foreign ship until this deployment. I went to a Peruvian ship and a Mexican ship during a ship-rider exchange during UNITAS. It is an interesting experience to see how other navies operate and it was good to interact with the other crews. I was nervous at first because I didn’t know what to expect and how I was going to be treated.

            I was relieved when the crews from both ships welcomed me with open arms. I speak Spanish so it was easy for me to find common ground with the other sailors on these ships. The sailors on the other ships were friendly and kind to me and were eager to learn about the U.S. Navy and how we do things, such as our job titles and ranks.  They were also eager to learn about me personally.  They asked me where I was from and about my family and friends.  I engaged in friendly conversation with everyone that I met, including officers. It was an excellent experience.

            I think that it is important to understand another culture and in order to do that you must get involved with them and immerse yourself in the culture.  I definitely made some new friends.

          

Very Respectfully,

YN2 Carrion

           

Asian-Pacific Heritage Month

As one born and raised in the Philippines, I completely appreciate this recognition by America of its Asian-Pacific heritage. For too long, America has looked at Europe as the front of its history and heritage. Now, the contributions of peoples from the Asian-Pacific region in making the United States of America the greatest country in the entire world are getting recognized and even celebrated.

Among the countries of the Asian-Pacific region, the Philippines has the second biggest number of immigrants to the United States, next only to China. The Filipinos’ friendship and kinship with America hold strong in times of peace and war. Filipinos fought alongside Americans during World War II and during the Korean War. Aetas, sometimes called Negritoes, who belong to a pygmy tribe in Zambales, trained many American soldiers during the Vietnam War on jungle survival. In answer to the call of America, the Philippines sent a civic action group to Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and some armed troops to Iraq as part of the “Coalition of the Willing.”


On a personal note, I have a grand uncle, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, the equivalent of West Point, who battled Japanese invaders alongside Americans in Bataan and died during the war. Another grand uncle, still alive, is the first man in the hometown of my father to join the U.S. Navy. Another grand uncle and three uncles are retired U.S. Navy men. Three uncles have retired from the U.S .Coast Guard, one from the U.S. Air Force. A cousin serves with the U.S. Air Force and another is a member of the U.S. Army with three stints in Iraq. He volunteered to return to Iraq twice.


I feel very privileged that I was chosen to speak at our ceremony May 8 on Asian-Pacific Heritage month. It was an honor to convey, in my small way how generations of Filipinos have now become an integral part of the American soul. Perhaps, I need not even stress this. The American celebration of Asian-Pacific Heritage month is enough indication that America is fully appreciative of the contributions of generations of people from that region in shaping the United States into what it is today.

Respectfully,

GSEFN Ryan Danao

Crossing the Line

My name is Seaman Frank Pikul.  I am a Mass Communication Specialist with the United States Navy and I am deployed on USS Underwood.  This is my first deployment on a ship. The ship crossed the equator this morning and a ceremony was held to initiate those who have never crossed the line before.  It is called the Shellback ceremony.  I went through this special ceremony with many others on the ship. I started the morning not knowing what to expect and a little wary of what would be going on later in the day. It was a unique experience that tested my willpower and endurance.  It lasted about four hours and involved plenty of water and challenging fun-filled activities throughout the morning.  There were times where I thought, why I was going through this? But when I completed the ceremony, I felt like I accomplished a great deed and also felt a sense of really becoming a Sailor in the Navy.  It feels good to do something that most people never even dream of doing in their lives.  It’s fantastic to be a Shellback!  Hooyah!

Panama Canal

Hi! My name is Jordan Glenn Pugh and I am a Seaman Apprentice. I currently serve as an undesignated seaman on the USS Underwood. I shipped off for boot camp March 8, 2011. This is my first deployment and I am very excited to be here. South America is our destination and we are supposed to visit many countries along the way. Along the journey we will pass through the Panama Canal. My job will be to man the sea and anchor detail. We will drop fenders over the side of the ship and be hooked onto wires that will slowly pull us through the canal. We will be moved through a series of locks that will be lowered and heightened with water and in a few hours we will have moved from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. I just hope it doesn’t rain. As excited as I am to do this for the first time, I’m not because I’ll be engaged in the Shellback ceremony shortly after. HOOYAH!

SA Jordan Glenn Pugh

Kicking off Southern Seas 2012

By Cmdr. Peter T. Mirisola, Commanding Officer, USS Underwood (FFG 36)

We are embarking from Mayport, Fla. and heading south to the Caribbean, Central and South America on SOUTHERN SEAS 2012. SOUTHERN SEAS is an annual collaborative deployment in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility where a task group deploys to conduct a variety of exercises and multinational exchanges. SOUTHERN SEAS seeks to enhance interoperability, increase regional stability, and build and maintain regional relationships with countries in the region through joint, multinational and interagency exchanges and cooperation.

During SOUTHERN SEAS, U.S. and South America forces will participate in three major exercises including UNITAS PAC, UNITAS LANT and SIFOREX.  This year our ship will be working with a vast array of other navies during these three exercises.

I look forward to this deployment for a number of reasons. First, our partners bring diverse experiences and skills to the mission.  We can learn from them and they from us and together prepare for future events by understanding each other better. Southern Seas is a great opportunity for navies of the Western Hemisphere to conduct navy-to-navy exercises, build military relationships and enhance multinational force interoperability. It’s designed to emphasize interoperability and cooperation through various training opportunities at sea and ashore.

At the end of our mission, we hope to walk away having learned more about our partner nations and foster friendships and understanding among the nations of the Western Hemisphere. I know this ship and the Fighting Devils are ready to work with our partner nations over the next few months.

Over the course of our mission, I ask that you become a fan and follow us on Facebook. Tune in to this blog, which will be published at least once a week to learn about what we’re doing and about the people on this mission.  Sometimes I’ll be the blogger.  Sometimes I’ll have a guest blogger, such as a junior Sailor, a division chief, or a department head.  I welcome any comments and suggestions that you may have, so feel free to share them.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. The next blog post will be up in a few days.

Sincerely,
Cmdr. Peter T. Mirisola, USN

Cmdr. Peter T. Mirisola is the commanding officer of USS Underwood (FFG 36)

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