USS WASP

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Johnny Michael

CARIBBEAN SEA – As the Sailors and Marines aboard USS Wasp continue the Southern Partnership Station deployment, the blue and green teams continue to find things they have in common, this time through guided discussions.

These weekly discussions focus on a particular scenario as a means of teaching young Marines not only how to be better Marines, but better people. Gunnery Sgt. Rodney Vest of Wasp's Combat Cargo department has invited Sailors to attend this Marine past time.

"I like to incorporate Sailors into these whenever possible," said Vest. "I try to give them leadership questions that make them think outside the box. One day they may run into a scenario where this discussion will help them make a better decision."

The typical guided discussion is 20 to 30 minutes long and consists of a senior Marine walking through the day's topic with the junior Marines. A recent discussion focused on two fictitious Marines deploying to Iraq. One of the Marines, a sergeant, had a large family and was perpetually broke and unable to meet his financial obligations. Once the pair arrives in Iraq, they stumble upon a cache of cash – stacks of U.S. dollars – while clearing a city block. The Marines do the right thing and call in an investigation team. There's a hitch, however.

"While in the room getting interviewed you recall you THINK you remember seeing [the sergeant] putting money in his cargo pocket but you are NOT for sure. The investigator asks at the end of the interview, 'Do you have anything else to add to your statement?'" Vest asked the assembled Sailors and Marines.

Hands immediately go up and a slew of answers are given and then discussed, with Vest going over both the merits and the problems of each given recommendation. This goes on for 20 minutes, until everyone is satisfied with the ramifications of the different courses of action.

"This was my first time, and it was interesting to see the different views between the Sailors and Marines, and even between the Marines themselves," said ATAA Contessa Barfield, of Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department's IM03 Division.

According to Cpl. Sterling Spurlock of Combat Logistics Regiment 27, holding these guided discussions while underway adds a new spin to their regular sessions.

"It's a little different having the Navy guys in here, especially when talking about combat scenarios – they added a different perspective," said Spurlock.

Wasp and the Security Cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force are working alongside Mayport-based Destroyer Squadron 40 during a three-month deployment to build and instill interoperability and cooperation between U.S. and partner nation naval forces through a variety of exercises as part of SPS.

Associated Images

Control Panel