Singaporean Residents Tour USS George Washington

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Charles Oki, USS George Washington (CVN 73) Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Sailors from USS George Washington (CVN 73) welcomed aboard Singapore residents for public tours of the aircraft carrier Aug. 14 as part of the ship's port visit to Singapore.

The tours provided people a chance to experience a small portion of life aboard an aircraft carrier.

Among the visitors were local families and students, youths from the Jamiya Children's Home and members of the Navy League, the Singapore military and other various organizations.

"It's definitely been a great experience," said Cmdr. Paul Haycock, a British Royal Navy liaison officer living in Singapore. "The entire tour has been extremely well organized, and we learned a lot from the Sailors giving the tours."

"I really enjoyed seeing all the jets and learning about how they shoot off the ship," said Haycock's son, Matthew.

Of the tour groups visiting the ship, the deepest impression might have been for the children of the Jamiyah Children's Home. The home hosts children, age 2-19, who have lost their parents or are from unstable families.

"I think that this is a great experience for the kids," said Md Irwan Masop, senior welfare officer of the Jamiyah Children's Home. "I feel that this is a great learning experience, and it gives them a great chance to see what the U.S. military is like. We were invited to visit an aircraft carrier six years ago, and we were happy to give the children the opportunity again."

The tour groups visited several spaces on the ship, including the hangar bay, flight deck and navigation bridge where children got the chance to sit in the captain's chair.

"I really enjoyed being able to see and learn how the jets take off and land on the ship," said 15-year-old Muhammed Farhan. "I think this might be a once in a lifetime experience, and I've enjoyed seeing things in real life that I'd only seen on TV. I hope I get the chance to see a ship like this again."

The tours also provided Sailors the opportunity to meet with the citizens of Singapore.

"First and foremost we're Sailors, but a close second is that we are ambassadors," said Boatswain's Mate Seaman (SW) Latoya Towns, from Orlando, Fla. and a member of George Washington's Deck Department. "I really enjoyed showing the people what we do because not a lot people in the United States even get to see what we do so showing someone who knows nothing about us really made it a great time."

George Washington is the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates from Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. It is currently on its summer patrol ensuring security and stability in the western Pacific.