PLAN invited to participate in RIMPAC for first the time (2014)

Royal Australian Navy Commodore Peter Leavy, the RIMPAC Expeditionary Strike Group Commander, talks with Commanders of the Australian 4th Combat Landing Team and United States Marines 3rd Marine Battalion during an urban warfare training exercise conducted at United States Marines Base Kaneohe Bay during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014 (RIMPAC).




Soldiers of the the Australian 4th Combat Landing Team practice urban warfare at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014 (RIMPAC).



Australian 4th Combat Landing Team soldiers and United State Marines come together for a debrief, following an urban warfare training exercise at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, conducted as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014 (RIMPAC).




Indonesian Marine Corps members make their way to a Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion United States Marine Corps Helicopter to undertake a fast roping exercise at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, during exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014 (RIMPAC).



Soldiers from the Australian Army's 4th Combat Landing Team and members of the United States Marines Corps move towards a Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion United States Marine Corps Helicopter for a fast roping exercise at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The personnel, from various units of the Australian Army, exercised with the United States Marine Corps and Army and Marines personnel from various other nations during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014 (RIMPAC).



Soldiers from the Australian 4th Combat Landing Team watch as a Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion US Marine Corps Helicopter departs from Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, after the completion of a fast roping serial, conducted as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014 (RIMPAC).

Lucky guys got a free trip to Hawaii.

Does anyone know whether foreign personnel are allowed to leave base and visit?

siegecrossbow said:

Lucky guys got a free trip to Hawaii.

Does anyone know whether foreign personnel are allowed to leave base and visit?

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I'm sure they do, otherwise it would be too cruel.

However, even if they don't, they are still in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Does anyone know if navy vessels have a large environmental on the waters? Can you, for example, go snorkeling just a short distance away from the naval port?

siegecrossbow said:

Lucky guys got a free trip to Hawaii.

Does anyone know whether foreign personnel are allowed to leave base and visit?

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Oh yes. No problem at all. It's called status of forces agreement. Each navy will set it's own liberty (shore leave) policy.

I do wonder what the PLAN liberty policy is. Do PLAN "Soldiers" have to go on liberty in groups like in 2006? Can a couple of shipmates go out on the town and just roam around have a couple of beers & dinner..maybe catch a movie, go to Wakiki etc? I do wonder.

Here are a three of photos from a PLAN visit to Pearl Harbor in 2006;

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Sept. 7, 2006) - Chinese Sailors from the destroyer Qingdao (DDG 113) and oiler Hongzehu (AOR 881) march in formation from Merry Point Landing to their ships at the conclusion of a historical white boat tour of Pearl Harbor. More than 150 sailors representing the Chinese Navy from destroyer Qingdao (DDG 113) and oiler Hongzehu (AOR 881) accompanied U.S. Navy Sailors attached to USS Arizona Memorial Detachment to learn about the history of the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor. Qingdao and Hongzehu are currently at Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a routine port visit. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl (RELEASED)

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Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Sept. 7, 2006) - Chinese sailors view the shrine area of USS Arizona Memorial during a historical white boat tour of Pearl Harbor. More than 150 sailors representing the Chinese Navy from destroyer Qingdao (DDG 113) and oiler Hongzehu (AOR 881) accompanied U.S. Navy Sailors attached to USS Arizona Memorial Detachment to learn about the history of the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor. Qingdao and Hongzehu are currently at Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a routine port visit. U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl (RELEASED)

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solarz said:

I'm sure they do, otherwise it would be too cruel.

However, even if they don't, they are still in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Does anyone know if navy vessels have a large environmental (impact) on the waters? Can you, for example, go snorkeling just a short distance away from the naval port?

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No environmental impact. Barriers are set up to prevent any oil spills from spreading. And sewage and trash is properly disposed of. That's how the USN rolls these days. I'm sure the other navies follow the host country procedures.

No you cannot dive near the ships harbored in Pearl Harbor unless you'd like to be interviewd by the FBI. Plenty of places to dive on Oahu!

This is an excellent video about the MWR (Moral Welfare and Recreation).. all these facilities are available to visiting military personnel and their dependents.

Excellent video!

[video=youtube;adOuOs6rALE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adOuOs6rALE[/video]

In case anyone was wondering all USN bases have an MWR available for use.

My gosh Hawaii is so beautiful. I wonder how many of those foreign sailors are lucky enough to see a Hawaiian luau dance and the hula girls?

bd popeye said:

Here are a three of photos from a PLAN visit to Pearl Harbor in 2006;

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Great pics...and they are certainly showing a lot of respect at a place that is considered hallowed ground by most Americans.

Jeff Head said:

Great pics...and they are certainly showing a lot of respect at a place that is considered hallowed ground by most Americans.

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Given the history of Pearl Harbor, I would not be surprised if most Chinese consider it a part of their own history.

solarz said:

I'm sure they do, otherwise it would be too cruel.

However, even if they don't, they are still in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Does anyone know if navy vessels have a large environmental on the waters? Can you, for example, go snorkeling just a short distance away from the naval port?

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There's going to be a certain level of impact like any other port and shipyard. You wouldn't want to eat the fish or crabs caught in the basin as they contain levels of PCBs that are a concern.

Equation said:

My gosh Hawaii is so beautiful. I wonder how many of those foreign sailors are lucky enough to see a Hawaiian luau dance and the hula girls?

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Especially the 2 high resolution version pics posted by by78 are really breathtaking. What a beautiful place!