CAPE MAY, N.J. – Coast Guard Training Center Cape May played host to a group of foreign military visitors, Monday, as part of the group’s tour of Coast Guard commands and facilities.
Twenty-seven countries were represented in the class, which is organized and sponsored by the International Division of the Resident Training Branch at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown, Va.
The class is a 16-week immersion into the Coast Guard, but also offers opportunities to learn about and experience American culture and history.
“We take them to Philadelphia, to New York City, and Boston to learn about our culture and history ” said Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Schopp, a member of Training Center Yorktown’s International Division. "but we also take them to places like Gettysburg," she said.
In addition to these site visits, the class also visits 4 of the 5 service academies.
“It is always an honor to be able to meet with service members from other countries and show them how we conduct business here in Cape May,” said Capt. Owen Gibbons, commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. “It provides us the opportunity to showcase the genesis of our service’s professionalism and pride by exposing them to the training program that eighty-percent of our workforce has experienced.”
During their visit, the class had the opportunity to utilize the training center’s firefighting simulator and weapons simulator as well as spend time at the seamanship building where they learned about basic knot tying and ship navigation.
The group also had the opportunity to eat lunch at the recruit galley before departing for their next stop in New York City.
Captain Owen Gibbons, commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., speaks to members of foreign military during their visit to the training center, Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. The group is participating in an international training opportunity designed to familiarize foreign military members with the Coast Guard as well as to learn about American history and culture. Twenty-seven countries have members participating in this class. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards/ Released)
Captain Owen Gibbons, commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., greets Lt. Yacob Tri Raharjo, an officer in the Indonesian navy, and congratulates him on achieving the top score for his group on the training center's weapons simulator. Raharjo and his classmates represent 27 different countries as part of an international training opportunity sponsored by the Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Va. The course is 16 weeks long and exposes its participants to various military commands and training facilities including visits to four of the five service academies. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards/ Released)