USS Guardian Participates in Training, Community Service in Thailand

From Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

CHUK SAMET, Thailand (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Guardian (MCM 5) conducted mine warfare training with the Royal Thai Navy and participated in a community service project during a visit to Chuk Samet, Thailand June 4-6.

Thai officers went aboard Guardian and toured the ship. The crew explained concepts of many different systems, including the sonar, mine neutralization vehicle, several combat systems and then demonstrated their uses.

"It is always a great learning opportunity when working with another Navy. The event allowed both U.S. and Thai Sailors to build upon skills and knowledge that they had developed earlier in our patrol," said Lt. j.g. Miles Sexton, Guardian's operations officer.

Many of the participating officers from Thailand worked with Guardian earlier in her spring patrol during the Western Pacific Mine Countermeasures Exercise in Singapore.

Lt. Cmdr. Ken Brown, Guardian's commanding officer, worked to ensure the ongoing partnership between the two navies continues in the future. Brown was hosted by the Royal Thai Navy at a conference where representatives of the U.S. and Thai navies discussed cooperation between the two nations.

The event concluded with a gift exchange, in which Brown presented the Thai hosts with a plaque on behalf of Guardian and in turn received a ball cap from the Royal Thai navy.

During the ship's last event in Thailand, Guardian's crew, along with Sailors from USS Avenger (MCM 1), visited a local elementary school. Sailors played games with students and helped with their English lessons. The Sailors also brought several gifts to the school, including first aid supplies and toys for the children.

Guardian and Avenger's visit to Thailand was a part of a MCM Western Pacific deployment to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.