On Dec. 8, students from Waialua High and Intermediate School, Moanalua High School, and KUPU Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps came aboard Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS 60).

The students toured Pathfinder to learn about the oceanographic products and process the ship's crew provides in support of the Department of Defense.

"We are excited to be a part of the celebration of how far our nation's Navy has come since the attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago," stated Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) Commanding Officer Capt. Greg Ireton, "and we couldn't think of a better way to participate in that celebration than welcoming our future generation aboard to learn about our small oceanographic community that plays a very big part in protecting our nation."

Pathfinder is one of six ships operated by Military Sealift Command and under technical control of NAVOCEANO located at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. This was a rare opportunity for area schools, because all six Pathfinder-class ships are forward-deployed 75-80 percent of the year with no port to call home. It is uncommon for one of these ships to be in the states, much less in the local area and inviting the public aboard.

"It was so inspiring for our students to see science in action," stated Waialua High and Intermediate School Science Teacher Maria Plottier. "Talking about things in the classroom is different; This is much more engaging."

Pathfinder was named for Matthew Fontaine Maury, known as the "Pathfinder of the Seas" and "Father of Modern Oceanography and Naval Meteorology." She is built to optimize America's sea power by applying relevant oceanographic knowledge in support of U.S. national security. NAVOCEANO survey detachments consist of an average of 12 civilian and military personnel who conduct 30-120 days of survey operations each year.

NAVOCEANO, comprised of approximately 800 military, civilian and contractor personnel, uses a variety of platforms including ships, aircraft, satellite sensors, buoys and unmanned underwater vehicles to collect oceanographic and hydrographic data from the world's oceans.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Oceanographic Office, visit http://www.navy.mil/.