USS TORTUGA(LSD-46), South China Sea -- A constant swaying motion may cause nausea, known more formally as sea sickness. Walking from the head (the bathroom) to berthing (sleeping racks and troop living quarters) is similar to the effects of being intoxicated. Bumping from wall-to-wall, unstable footing and a foreign environment can make this simple task of walking 10 feet one of the most difficult tasks of the day.
When on the top deck, either smoking, exercising or getting a breath of fresh air, nothing but ocean salt water can be seen out to the horizon. Isolation in a moving, working, living entity until the destination is reached closes off the world and makes this entity into a universe; a metal-clad, hatch-sealed, sea-cramped, self-producing/consuming, multi-layered universe.
This entity is a ship in the United Stated Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD-46). The passengers are United Stated Marines who make up the Landing Force (LF) participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2010, which is a series of bilateral exercises with countries in Southeast Asia.
“The lifestyle, the ship lifestyle is definitely something to be shared,” said Sgt. Robert Janson, platoon commander, 2nd Platoon, Company A, native of Dewitt, Mich. “As a reservist you have to share this experience, from the cramped quarters to the every-other-day-showers, to the long chow lines. But it is exciting – at the same time it is really exciting.”
The Marines of the LF are guests aboard Tortuga and are experiencing first hand the real world culture of the Navy. From whistles that signal chow to the constant maintenance of the ever turning engines on ship, each Marine is immersed into this sea bourne culture.
“It’s cool, it’s a new experience but people like myself who work as messmen work 14 to 16 hour days so it’s frustrating,” said Lance Cpl. Kristopher Palmer, field radio operator, Command Element, native of Festus, Mo. “There’s a lot more rules, how you have to shut the hatch all the time, everyone has to clean at a certain time and you can’t smoke if the smoking lamp isn’t lit. But at the same time it is cool because when you get back home you will appreciate everything that you have a lot more.”
For almost all the Marines of the LF, this is the first time deployed on ship, so it’s an opportunity for them to be a part of the Navy life and experience a regular day for a sailor.
“The work ethic on ship, on the Navy side, is something that any unit whether from the Marine Corps or Navy should be proud of,” Janson said. “Any Fortune 500 company would die to have the work ethic of the Navy – and that can be traced back to Naval traditions.”
With each day that passes, the Marines of the LF become more acclimated to life on ship; living the traditions of the Corps as a Marine force aboard ship.
“The past couple of nights I’ve been able to go outside and look at the view and know that hundreds of ships have sailed before this one and our forefathers were on those ships,” said 2nd Lt. Joe McHugh, logistics officer, Command Element, LF, native of Sterling Heights, Mich. “Being able to get back to the Marine Corps roots as a Marine aboard ship is pretty amazing.”
As the ship draws closer to Brunei, the first country for bilateral training is scheduled, the LF prepare to debark from ship. Preparing to not only train and learn from foreign military forces but also to do exactly what the Marine Corps is known for – amphibious assaults.