Week Four – The fourth week of the CGC Mohawk’s journey brought them down Chile’s coast and into the opening days of this year’s Unitas exercise. Before the crew could begin Unitas there was still much work and training to be done.

They honed their skills and worked together to ensure a safe boat doing fire drills and practicing for the fueling at sea that would come in the next week.

The engineers continued to work many hours receiving and installing a new governor on the main diesel engine while at sea. The deck force made sure the cutter looked her best when they met up with their naval counterparts.

Upon arriving in Chile a section of the crew helped the Coast Guard’s International Training Division from Yorktown, Va., to teach the foreign services how the U.S. does law enforcement and to learn the techniques that other nations use. On the last day of the training the Mohawk’s law enforcement team enjoyed playing the role of the bad guys while teams from each of the other nations boarded their vessel and used their newly learned techniques.

Just before the beginning of Unitas the crew of the Mohawk enjoyed a cookout on a Chilean Naval Vessel and made friends with our neighbors south of the equator. Many a laugh was had and a few songs were song during the cookout even though there was a large language barrier, almost all in attendance enjoyed and learned something about each other.

With the repairs to the engines complete and the cutter looking new again the crew is ready to teach and learn from the international gathering during the following week.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Aaron C. Harris prepares to lead the number one fire team into the engine room during a drill in the South Pacific on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Lindsay E. Jones (left) and Petty Office Second Class Justin E. McLaury practice fighting a main space fire during a drill in the South Pacific on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Ensign Michael P. Cortese looks at the CGC Mohawk as it is moored next to the Chilean Navy fuel tanker Araucano near Mejillones, Chile on July 26, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Stacey W. Tate unlocks Petty Officer Third Class Lindsay E. Jones's handcuffs during law enforcement training on the Chilean Naval Vessel Ortiz near Mejillones, Chile on July 26, 2006.

Chilean Naval Vessel Ortiz anchored outside of Mejillones, Chile on July 25, 2006. The crew of the Ortiz hosted a reception for the crew of the CGC Mohawk to welcome them to UNITAS.

Coast Guard Fireman Keriann K. Crites polishes the door of the engine room in the South Pacific near Peru on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Joshua Pollard works on the governor to the main diesel engine in the South Pacific near Peru on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Robert C. Smith takes a moment to enjoy the view as the Mohawk passes by mountains in the South Pacific on her way to Chile on July 22, 2006.

The deck force of the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk lift a part for the main diesel engine from a tug in the South Pacific near Peru, on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Stacey W. Tate is handcuffed by a member of the Chilean Navy during law enforcement training on the Chilean Naval Vessel Ortiz near Mejillones, Chile on July 26, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Javier Castillo-Torr translates as the CGC Mohawk receives fuel from the Chilean Navy fuel tanker Araucano near Mejillones, Chile on July 26, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Robert Mattingly sews his first class patch onto his bravo jacket in the South Pacific near Mejillones, Chile on July 23, 2006.

Coast Guard Lt. Nelson Santiago, International Training Division Yorktown, Va., gives law enforcement training to the Chilean Navy on the Chilean Naval Vessel Ortiz near Mejillones, Chile on July 26, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Beau C. Briley scrubs the hull from the Mohawk's small boat in the South Pacific near Peru on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Seaman Joshua K. Forsyth hands garbage to a Chilean garbage boat near Mejillones, Chile on July 26, 2006.

Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk plows through the South Pacific near Peru on its way to Chile on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Seaman Jorge A. Gomez cleans the side of the Mohawk in preparation of UNITAS on the cutter's way to Chile on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Seaman Lauren B. Cubitt cleans rust off the side of the Mohawk in the South Pacific near Peru on July 22, 2006.

Crewmembers on the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk put together medical gear during a drill in the South Pacific near Peru on July 22, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Stacey W. Tate hides behind a door waiting to ambush a member of the Chilean Navy during law enforcement training on the Chilean Naval Vessel Ortiz near Mejillones, Chile on July 26, 2006.