From July 5 to August 5 LTJG Mindaugas Žukas and LTJG Tomas Mameniškis of the Lithuanian Navy conducted apprenticeships in Arleigh-Burke class USS Farragut (DDG-99) ship of the U.S. Navy. The ship completed tasks in the Mediterranean Sea and later conducted a week-long transit to Riga Seaport.
Lithuanian officers conducted service in the command section of the ship and integrated into the ship's crew. Throughout the apprenticeship period they were involved in daily activities on the ship and this way familiarised with the organisation, tasks completed, combat training, specific features of service, and the traditions of the U.S. Navy in the ship. Lithuanian officers also attended inside training events of the ship, observed artillery firing events and operations of re-supply while completing a task.
After the apprenticeship Lithuanian officers named new experience and knowledge as well as new acquaintances in the ship's crew as positive attributes of the apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship as well as the officers' trip to the service location and maintenance throughout their service on-board was covered by the U.S. Embassy in Lithuania.
The possibilities for the Lithuanian Navy officers to conduct apprenticeships in the ships of the U.S. Navy ware provided on an annual basis. On May 2-3 of 2010 four representatives of the Lithuanian Navy (2 officers and 2 NCOs) had an opportunity to complete apprenticeships in VICKSBURG (CG-69) TICONDEROGA class guided missile cruiser of the U.S. Navy on her way from Scotland to Klaipėda. On August 1-16 four officers of the Lithuanian Navy conducted apprenticeships in USS CARR (FFG-52) frigate of the U.S. Navy.
Archive photo of the U.S. ship USS Farragut (DDG-99)
Release by LTJG Tomas Mameniškis and CIMIC Representative of the Lithuanian Navy LTN Antanas Brencius, office phone 00370 46 391 207, cell phone 00370 698 18 196
