JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Oct. 23, 2015) -- Logistic Support Vessel-2, the U.S. Army Vessel CW3 Harold C. Clinger, returned here, Oct. 22, after completing the first Army-watercraft trans-Pacific voyage in support of Pacific Pathways 15.2.
Pacific Pathways 15.2 involves joining multinational partners for a three-part series of military exercises intended to increase readiness across the region through additional training and strengthened partner-force relationships.
Crew members aboard the vessel were greeted by fellow military service members, Family, friends and some surprises.
"It feels amazing to be back home with my Family," said Spc. Jaren Littles, a seaman also known as a deckhand aboard Clinger. "My wife, I love her, is five-months pregnant and I am so happy. I was so excited to see the big belly! I had to rub the belly."
The vessel, crewed by 29 Army mariners from the 605th Transportation Detachment, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, supported the third iteration of the Pacific-directed concept by traveling 18,000 nautical miles for eight port calls at six different ports across three different host nations: Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia in 139 days.
"Our Army mariners are best in the business," said Maj. Gen. Edward Dorman III, the 8th Theater Sustainment Command's commanding general. "They are self-contained and they are able to go out for 139 days, self-sustaining. Our Army watercraft operate in the littorals in support of operational movement and maneuvers and provide the sustainment of ground forces and joint counterparts."
More than 7,000 square-feet of military equipment transported by this vessel was critical for exercise support of joint forces and host nation's militaries during Exercise Talisman Sabre 15 in Australia, Exercise Garuda Shield 15 in Indonesia and Exercise Keris Strike 15 in Malaysia.
"With our ability to travel great distances to facilitate ship-to-ship exchange and ship-to-shore as well as move into the waterways that are contested often and often have shallow draft, they are able to go in there and work with other countries navies," Dorman said. "They are building partner-nation capacity, which allows them the ability to operate in a complex world."
The crew used its time out to sea as a way to conduct inspections and test the crew's preparedness and reaction time during battle drills.
"Our Army mariners are here to stay and Pacific Pathways is here to stay because we see the tremendous benefit, not just for the Army but for the joint force," Dorman said. "It allows us to rehearse how we carry out operations regardless of the type of operation. It builds relationships with various countries and interagency and multinational partners and build on the readiness required to execute the Army operation concept."