Across the bay from San Diego is Coronado Island. On Coronado are Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) and Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado. To get there you either drive across the Coronado Bridge or drive the Silver Strand from Imperial Beach to Coronado.
NAB is the home to over 30 tenant commands with a population of approximately 5,000 personnel, including major commands such as Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific (COMNAVSURFPAC), Commander Naval Special Warfare (SPECWAR) Command and the Commander Expeditionary Warfare Training Group (EWTG) Pacific. NAB is also the home of the Navy's Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) Training.
We were lucky enough to watch the U.S. Marine Recon Forces from the USS George Washington as they were training. It is hard, hard work.
Some of the Marines were paddling boats in the bay and when they landed they had to pick up their boat, run (or try to run) around a several block area to get back to where they could launch their boat again and start all over.
Other Marines were practicing fast-roping out of a helicopter.
These are the sights and sounds of freedom that we are privileged to be able to witness as we tour various military installations.
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