Photo By Spc. Nadine White | Members of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Commissions and Liaisons Office tour the inside...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - The future USS America (LHA 6) made a scheduled 24-hour stop at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay on Monday, as part of her maiden voyage through the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations, en route to her home port in San Diego. The short visit offered hundreds of military personnel and civilians stationed here the opportunity to tour the pristine warship and catch a glimpse of some of the Navy and Marine Corps’ new capabilities.
The first in the America-class of amphibious assault ships and the fourth to be named after the United States of America, USS America will ultimately embark, deploy and land elements of a Marine Landing Force in operations by helicopter, landing craft, vehicle or any combination thereof. Its motto boldly states, “Prepared in war or in peace.”
Visitors from the naval station and Joint Task Force Guantanamo were welcomed aboard the 844-foot-long vessel by a small gathering of uniformed Sailors into a museum-like cargo bay.
Posted Sailors and Marines guided the tour through the bay, up a ramp to the hangar deck and up to the flight deck where guests were free to walk around and explore.
Although much smaller than other American aircraft carriers, USS America gave some service members a chance to see an environment completely foreign to their particular military branches of service while its unique design awed even those most knowledgeable about Navy watercrafts.
“I have been on ships before,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Canning, a JTF GTMO Maritime Safety and Security guardsman from San Francisco. “I came to check it all out, see what all was going on with the new boats. I’m surprised, it’s really nice.”
Designed for optimal aviation, the America is capable of supporting the Marines’ new tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter jets. The MV-22s and U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawks were two unanimously-favorite attractions to see on the flight deck.
“The Osprey looks cool and pretty much denies the laws of physics,” said Spc. Jeremiah Washington, a JTF Joint Detention Group Soldier from the 66th Military Police Company. “It’s amazing.”
Flight crews encouraged visitors to walk through the aircraft and sit in the pilot’s seat, all while patiently and enthusiastically answering any questions about their jobs, helicopters, USS America living conditions and their future journey around the continent of South America.
While its limited stay at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay was just one of many port calls on the USS America’s inaugural voyage, it definitely left a lasting impression.
“Being able to freely walk around the hangar and flight deck, talk to the aviation crews and see a ship so new in all its glory, that was a once in a lifetime experience,” said Washington.
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2014 10:31 |
| Story ID: | 137135 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 385 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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