Students of the United States Army War College (USAWC) toured amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) as part of an international event to foster relationships with partner countries March 1.

The visit gave approximately 40 Army officers from various nations a chance to familiarize themselves with the U.S. Navy, the ship and its mission.

"On a strategic scale this is a major plug for diplomacy," said America's cryptologic warfare officer and tour coordinator Lt. Stephanie Stamm. "Being able to maintain good relationships with other countries, showing them our hospitality, as well as helping them with their studies are great ways to build relationships with our allies."

The purpose of the USAWC is for officers of various nations to study together for a year in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where they inspect elements of national power, best practices in military management and the development of lasting military power, all while building lifelong relationships.

These leaders were given an in-depth look at operations on the first-of-its-class warship while tour guides answered questions and described the features, challenges and successes of America.

"They were all very eager to know all of the strengths the America has," said Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Salvatore Polizzi, assigned to America. "They want to know how powerful we can be when we go out to sea and on deployments, and I feel like they left very confident in the knowing our ship's capabilities."

Events like these are organized to reinforce bonds with other countries through shared military experience and to reassure allies of the U.S. Navy's role as a 'global force for good.'

"We are not the only country in the world," said Stamm. "We Recognize that a lot of these officers are coming from a variety of different countries, and that gives us that opportunity to show them our good will and take the experience they had here in our country and share it back home."

America is an aviation centric amphibious assault ship that supports Marine aviation requirements, from small-scale contingency operations of an expeditionary strike group, to forcible entry missions in major theaters of war.

The ship is homeported in San Diego and is preparing for its maiden deployment later this year.

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