USS John L. Hall Completes Theater Security Cooperation Port Visits To Georgia

From Feb. 25-March 4, John L. Hall's Sailors conducted numerous training sessions with the Georgian Coast Guard including first aid, damage control, search and rescue (SAR) and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) tactics while also hosting a reception for United States Ambassador to Georgia John Bass and Georgian officials, painting and cleaning a local orphanage as a community relations project, playing Georgian Coast Guardsmen in a soccer game and attending several Georgian-hosted cultural tours.

John L. Hall's Sailors are experienced in conducting TSC port visits while attached to the United States Sixth Fleet. The visits serve to promote better relations between the United States and host nations through inport and underway training, media events, and liberty ashore. In particular, engagement in the Black Sea is part of the United States Sixth Fleet's strategy to promote Global Maritime Partnerships with regional countries to improve maritime security and safety.

While off the coast of Poti, John L. Hall spent two days at anchor conducting damage control and VBSS training onboard before two days underway with a variety of cutters from the Georgian Coast Guard. After conducting Rescue and Assistance (R&A), VBSS, and SAR exercises, as well as basic ship handling maneuvers with the cutters, John L. Hall sailed for Batumi for three days inport.

"In Poti, we did some classroom training on the firefighting ensemble and self contained breathing apparatus and conducted a walkthrough of a R&A drill where we integrated the two teams so that it was half Georgian Coast Guard and half John L. Hall Sailors. The next day of training, they were able to conduct the R&A on their own and simulated fighting a flammable liquid fire after transporting their equipment to another ship," said Lt.j.g. Kim Koss, John L. Hall's Damage Control Assistant.

Before entering port in Batumi, the Regulators from HSL-48 Detachment 9 made several runs to the Batumi airport to pick up Ambassador Bass, Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili, Deputy Defense Minister Nick Vashakidze, and Major General Zaza Gogava, commander of the Georgian Border Guard for an elaborate breakfast prepared by Culinary Specialist Second Class (Surface Warfare) Michael Escue, Culinary Specialist Seaman Pedro Andujar-Torres, and Culinary Specialist Seaman Lou Andrei Barrameda.

The guests were able to experience a warship enter port and moor for their first time. Shortly after mooring, the ambassador, Cmdr. Derek Lavan, John L. Hall's commanding officer, and Command Master Chief (Surface Warfare) Dion Beauchamp, attended a welcoming ceremony on the pier featuring the national anthems of the United States and Georgia, traditional Georgian dances by a group of local children, and the presentation of small bowls of wine as a welcoming gift. The ceremony was followed by a short media interview period with about 20 members of the local and national press. Throughout the visit, Georgian media was interested in the training being conducted and the interaction between Georgian and American Sailors.

Twenty-seven John L. Hall Sailors, led by Chaplain Lt. Cdr. Philip Bagrow, helped clean and paint the Batumi Orphanage as a community relations project and spent some time with the 62 children housed there, who range in age from six to 16. While at the orphanage, the Sailors were involved in numerous projects such as painting walls in the main hall, the foyer, and the kitchen, as well as the floor of the kitchen; firewood was chopped and stored in the cellar, some computer maintenance and software installation was performed, and the grounds were cleared of trash. The COMREL not only involved painting and general maintenance, but also allowed the Sailors to interact with the children. Project Handclasp materials were presented to the orphanage as well; in addition JLH's Corpsman, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Lennard Small, assisted in a local pediatrician's visit to check on the children's health. The experience was truly enjoyable by both the Sailors and the children they entertained.

"The facilities were just very decrepit and they really needed our help. But as poor as they were, they were very happy and enjoyed us being there and it was really cool to see how they reacted," said Religious Programs Specialist First Class (Air Warfare) Justin Kirby, who participated in the event.

Interior Communications Specialist Lamarc Trask (Surface Warfare) learned from his experience.

"This was an eye opening experience for me. I saw people less fortunate than me, but still enjoying themselves with the little that they do have. Even though we couldn't speak the Georgian language we still connected with kids through music and dance. I would say that this is a life experience that I will cherish forever."

John L. Hall Sailors brought their grill and cooked hamburgers for the children with the help of several Georgian Special Forces soldiers and also played with the children and taught several of them American dance moves. From the joy in the children as they interacted and played with the crew, the American sailors made some lasting friendships that day.

"I painted the floors and the walls, and then played hide-and-go-seek, tag, basketball and on the see-saw and the swings with the kids. They loved it. One little girl even started crying when we had to leave," said Gunners Mate Third Class Bradley Harris, adding, "I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Training with the Georgian Coast Guard continued in Batumi. Crewmembers provided instruction to Georgian coastguardsmen from the Batumi district on VBSS, damage control, and first aid.

"I thought it was fun and interesting seeing how they do things and how we differ in our tactics. They picked up pretty quickly on what we had to teach them and they incorporated what we taught them into their own practices," said Fire Controlman Second Class (Surface Warfare) Logan Hutson.

John L. Hall Sailors also enjoyed liberty in Batumi, which is the largest port in southern Georgia. It is well known throughout the region for its beaches and resort areas, and is a popular summer travel destination for people from Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. Fifty Sailors were able to take advantage of three cultural tours arranged and paid for by the Georgian Coast Guard.

"The Georgians were amazingly warm and genuine hosts," said Cdr Lavan. "I have never been to a country where we were as welcomed and made to feel at home as Georgia; people went out of their way to take care of my Sailors. Their Coast Guard was incredibly eager to train with us and learn, and the result of training with US Navy and U.S. Coast Guard Sailors over the past few years is obvious in their level of skill." Approximately 60 Sailors were invited to one of two traditional Georgian supras, which are feasts held in their honor. A supra consists of far more food than the guests can eat, homemade Georgian wine, toasting and dancing.

One supra was hosted by the Mayor of the City of Batumi while another was hosted by Major General Gogava, Head of the Georgian Border Police, of which the Georgian Coast Guard is a part. Both supras were an extremely generous outpouring of hospitality from the ship's Georgian hosts.

"This was my second supra since I was here in 2008, what a great time to get to know your host on a personal level and enjoy some of the best food I have ever eaten. You may not know what it is off the bat but I was lucky enough to have the US Ambassador to Georgia at my table to explain the dishes to me. We all had a great time and learned so much about the Georgian culture and traditions," said Master Chief Beauchamp.

John L. Hall's 165 Sailors and 25 officers, as well as HSL-48 Det. 9's 25 Sailors and six officers are homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.