USS Whidbey Island Hosts Portuguese Marines in Lisbon

PORTUGAL

12.10.2016

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nate McDonald 

USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41)

While in Lisbon, members of the Fuzileiros- the Portuguese Marine Corps - visited Whidbey Island and conducted joint training with 22nd MEU Marines.

Quote:

"We also demonstrated Marine Corps marital arts program moves, did some fast-roping exercises, and finished with a mud run over a series of obstacles with them. It was a bit of a change of pace for us. It was a good time."
- Sgt. Jonathan Swaffer, 3rd section leader for amphibious assault vehicle platoon

"I enjoyed all of the history, whether it was the castle in Lisbon or the building at the entrance to the port, and the friendliness of the people. As always, I'm pleased with the crew and how they helped the ship. We had the Portuguese Marines on board and we were able to give them a tour, demonstrate some static displays and show the variety of missions we're able to support as an amphibious ship. Then, we went right into bringing on the stores to make sure we're ready to make the last leg of this trip."
- Whidbey Island Command Master Chief Brett Menne

"We spent about four to five hours at each COMREL location and had a great time with both groups of people."
- Whidbey Island Chaplain Lt. Calel Butler

Quick Facts:

While in Lisbon, Whidbey Island's Sailors and Marines were able to participate in two community relations (COMREL) projects and tour the Portuguese countryside on a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) trip.

COMREL participants did landscaping work at a daycare and kindergarten center and a home for youth in distress.

During the visit Whidbey Island took on fuel, supplies and mail.
The ship and its embarked Marines departed Norfolk, Virginia, on June 25, 2016, for a regularly scheduled deployment as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

Whidbey Island is deployed as part of the Wasp ARG to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. Commander, Amphibious Squadron Six commands the Wasp ARG, which consists of Whidbey Island, amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17), and amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). The 22nd MEU is currently embarked on the Wasp ARG.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with joint, allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more information on Whidbey Island, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lsd41 or join the conversation at http://www.facebook.com/USSWhidbeyIsland.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/naveur/.

• Date Taken: 12.10.2016
• Date Posted: 12.13.2016 06:12
• Story ID: 217469
• Location: PT