Marines Get a Taste of Ship Life on Wasp

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Koons | Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Simon (left), USS Wasp's combat cargo officer, explains to personnel from Marine Corps Forces Command about the functions that take place on the ship's flight deck, May 26. A total of 34 Marines belonging to MARFORCOM, based in Norfolk, Va., visited Wasp for an orientation of the type of ship they could eventually serve aboard during their careers.  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

05.26.2010

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Koons 

USS WASP (LHD 1)   

NORFOLK, Va. – A primary purpose of amphibious assault ships such as USS Wasp is to transport Marines into combat. A group of 34 Marines belonging to Marine Corps Forces Command based in Norfolk, Va., visited Wasp, May 26, for an orientation of the type of ship they could eventually serve aboard during their careers.

“This tour was for their professional military education,” said Col. Ken Gill, chief of Staff for MARFORCOM’s Communications Systems Department. “Most of our guys are young and have not yet had the opportunity to come aboard a Navy ship, and Wasp was the perfect place to get that first exposure.”

MARFORCOM’s chief role is as principal adviser to the commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command on Marine Corps matters. As a result, they are involved in many technical aspects relating to the overall United States military mission in the world.

“We do all communications force planning in support of the Global War on Terrorism,” said Gill. “Thus, we help decide which Marine Corps units will go to places such as Iraq and Afghanistan and what kind of communications equipment they’ll need.”

The Marines visited various shipboard areas; included among them were, the Navigation Bridge, Medical Department, flight deck, and Landing Force Operations Center, with Sailors and attached Marines explaining to them the various functions of all of these spaces.

“Our goal was to get them familiar with the working environment aboard a Navy ship,” said Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Simon, Wasp’s Combat Cargo officer. “We wanted them to see what our abilities, as well as our constraints are.”

Many of the Marines described Wasp as being impressive in its capabilities.

“It seems like a very dynamic ship, with all of its different work centers being very complex and well organized,” said Marine Capt. Curtis Thomas. “Overall, it was a pretty good introduction to the sea-going Navy.”

“For my first time on a Navy ship, it was good to be able to see things from the point of view of those who work here every day,” added Staff Sgt. Galen Marshall.

Now that they have seen up close the inner workings of a Navy ship, the Marines will go back to their command with a better appreciation of what it takes to put the Navy-Marine Corps team into action, said Simon.

“For both those who have already deployed out to sea and those who haven’t, it was a chance to see what their living environments will be like on future missions. I think they came away with a good idea of what they can look forward to,” said Simon.

• Date Taken: 05.26.2010
• Date Posted: 06.17.2010 00:18
• Story ID: 51500
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US