By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Dan Meaney
CARIBBEAN SEA - The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark (WPC 1106) hosted search and rescue (SAR) training to representatives from six countries here today.
The Jamaican Defense Force – Coast Guard, Belize Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy, British Royal Navy, Mexican Navy and U.S. Navy were all on hand for the extensive, day-long training.
“We’ve started with some basics,” said Ensign Meghan Daleiden, weapons officer aboard the ship. “SAR patterns, patching and plugging, basic response to fire - even basic medical training, and that’s just the classroom portion.”
The afternoon was given over to hands-on drills where the students were put on small boats and sent out to sea. The drills simulated real-world fire and flooding situations and required the students to put their classroom training to practical use.
“No matter what coast you’re protecting, you will encounter these situations,” said Chief Machinery Technician Wesley Johnson, the engineering petty officer aboard Paul Clark. “And when that happens you’ll be very glad you have these skills.”
It was an exhausting day at sea for all the students but the relationship building experience here during the maritime phase of Tradewinds 2015 has already made an impact.
“I know I can work with all the people I’ve worked with here again,” said Lt. Cmdr. Aceion Prescott of the Jamaican Defense Force-Coast Guard. “Tradewinds has given all of us the opportunity to learn that valuable lesson and, as professional and necessary as all the training has been, I think this is by far the most important lesson learned.”
Tradewinds is a combined, joint U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise and an opportunity for the participating partner nations to come together to enhance regional maritime security.