Navigating Navy ships in and out of port can be tricky business. Junior officers (JO) assigned to amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) are learning to overcome the difficulties of navigating the Navy's newest amphibious assault ship.

America's JOs are beginning their harbor navigation training - a prerequisite to earning their surface warfare qualification - by embarking aboard local tugboats to learn the transit route through San Diego harbor.

"Channel navigating involves managing draft, harbor contacts, tidal ebb and flow, as well as the shape of the harbor," said Ens. Ben Travers, assigned to America.

Normally, officers receive this training on the bridge as the ship enters and exits homeport. Because America is currently receiving upgrades as part of a post-shakedown availability (PSA), the JOs are getting a unique experience.

"One of the pilots knew we were going into a long yard availability and said they'd be happy to have our crew aboard for tug rides for professional development and training," said Lt. Cmdr. Paul Fischer, America's navigation officer. "The objective is to get the junior officers to see a side of ship handling and ship maneuvering that they wouldn't ordinarily be able to see."

According to Fischer, civilian pilots assist officers in navigating while entering and exiting port, and have a wealth of knowledge, and a different perspective, that can greatly benefit the JOs in their training. The lieutenant commander also stressed the vital role tugboats play in getting America underway.

"A [littoral combat ship], a destroyer and a cruiser can get underway and moor up pier side without a tug if the conditions are right," explained Fischer. "On a ship as large as America that is not an option."

America is 844 feet long and 106 feet in width. With ships this size and larger, tugboats are needed to support their movement so that the ships do not slide off course due to tidal drift or the amount of power the propulsion puts out.

"If you give the slightest bit of extra power or the right amount of power for just a few seconds longer than necessary, without the tugs, we would end up in a bad place," said Fischer. "We could end up in shallow water or in the sand across the harbor."

The junior officers observed amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) get underway, learning much about the intricacies of navigating the San Diego Harbor channel.

"We get to learn the other side of port operations," said Ens. Ryan Warner, assigned to America. "It's a beneficial experience that makes us better mariners."

America has sent six junior officers to date and will continue the training throughout the PSA period.

For more news from USS America (LHA 6), visit www.navy.mil/local/lha6/