Page 8 - Ft. Huachuca Scout 7-24-15

8A The Scout
Navy: USNS Impeccable rescues distressed fishermen
By Mass Communication Specialist
2nd Class Brian G. Reynolds
Commander, Submarine Group 7 Deputy Public Affairs
YOKOSUKA, Japan – e Military Seali Command
Impeccable-class ocean surveillance ship USNS Impec-
cable (T-AGOS 23) rescued 11 shermen while in route
to Subic Bay, Philippines July 19.
Impeccable Sailors spotted personnel on a partially
submerged ship and noted debris in the water.
e Impeccable Master immediately deemed assis-
tance was required and began preparations to deploy
their rigid hull in atable boat (RHIB) to rescue the per-
sonnel.
“ is was a team e ort with civilian mariners, SEC-
DET [security detachment], MILDET [military de-
tachment] and Lockheed Martin working together to
achieve an e cient rescue of all 11 shermen,” said Rob-
ert Wiechert, Impeccable’s Master.
“ ey [Impeccable crew] initially spotted only eight
people on the partially submerged vessel,” said Lt. Cory
Hilgart, the theater anti-submarine watch o cer at
Commander, Task Force 74. “ ey then realized that it
was actually 11 and made the call to commence the res-
cue e ort.”
e RHIB made three trips to the distressed vessel
and recovered all 11 individuals.
“One of the crew members spoke English,” said Hil-
Marines: U.S. Marines, Ghanaian soldiers refine infantry skills
By Staff Sgt. Steve Cushman
Marine Corps Forces Europe
NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy – More
than 40 Ghanaian infantrymen traditionally par-
ticipate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
ese operations require the Ghanaian service mem-
bers to be pro cient in infantry skills—something the
U.S. Marines know well.
A team of approximately 15 U.S. Marines and sailors
assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task
Force Crisis Response-Africa trained with the Ghana
Army near Accra, Ghana, from June 15-July 10, 2015.
Focusing on light infantry skills, the Marines
worked with their Ghanaian partners to re ne the
force’s capacity to provide security to a larger area with use have been received
challenging terrain. e training will also help expand
the host force’s ability to operate from established bor-
der outposts.
“Our mission is to train with a unit comprised of
Ghanaian Army infantry and military police soldiers
to improve the Army’s capability to assist in securing
the country’s borders,” said 1st Lt. Nathanial Kaine, the
team’s o cer-in-charge. “We’re hoping to help re ne
their current practices and instill in the trainees the
Marine Corps’ concept of ‘brilliance in the basics.”
e training engagement emphasized fundamental
infantry skills as a way for the Marines and Ghanaians
to establish a working relationship. e skills focused
FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015
gart. “He told the Impeccable crew that they were sher-
men from the Subic Bay region. He con rmed that there U.S. N
were only 11 on board.” Distressed fishermen await rescue from their sinking fishing
boat by the Military Sealift Command ocean surveillance ship
Once the mariners were brought aboard Impeccable, USNS Impeccable (T-AGO-23). Eleven fishermen were rescued
they were examined by medical personnel and given from the partially submerged boat.
food and water. No serious injuries or illnesses were re-
ported. U.S. N
The military Sealift Command ocean surveillance ship USNS
Shortly a er Impeccable arrived in port in Subic Bay, Impeccable (T-AGOS-23) is one of five ocean surveillance ships
July 20, all 11 mariners were turned over to the Philip- that are part of the 25 ships in the Military Sealift Command
pine Coast Guard. Special Mission Ships Program. Impeccable directly supports
the Navy by using both passive and active low frequency sonar
U.S. N arrays to detect and track undersea threats.
Sailors and personnel from the Military Sealift Command ocean
surveillance ship USNS Impeccable (T-AGO 23) help a distressed
fishermen after his is rescued from a sinking vessel. Eleven
fishermen were rescued from their partially submerged ship.
around patrolling, and
included land navigation
and combat medical care
instruction.
“ ere are many simi-
larities between our train-
ing and the Ghanaian
Army. Our instruction
compliments theirs and
gives them additional
tools to use,” said Sta
Sgt. Fredrick Volz, the se-
curity cooperation team’s
senior enlisted leader.
“While their tactics for
re and movement are
very similar to ours, they
are not mirrored. Some C
of the considerations we U.S. Marine Cpl. Stephan James, a team leader with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task
Force Crisis Response-Africa, directs Ghanaian soldiers moving a simulated casualty to a litter
near Accra, Ghana, June 23, 2015. The Marines and Sailors of SPMAGTF-CR-AF partnered with
very well and seems to be the Ghanaian army for a month-long security cooperation exercise in infantry skills to help foster
modifying their own tac- a stronger working relationship between the two nations’ militaries.
tics.” di erent tactics and ways of operating as infantrymen,”
e sharing of experience with infantry training said Seaman Richard Lucero, a hospital corpsman with
bene ted the Marines and sailors as much as the Gha- SPMAGTF-CR-AF. “A er understanding the di erent
naian soldiers. e respect shared by both parties led traditions and history of training and their personal
to tighter bonds professionally and personally. ways of maintaining discipline; I realize we are much
“During our time operating with our Ghanaian alike and we have mutual respect for each other and
comrades, we learned from each other covering our our goals of ensuring a strong, lasting relationship.”