Last Person to Qualify for Quartermaster of the Watch and other Underway News

CARR Families and Friends,

We have finalized our Tiger Cruise guest list and sent out additional information and registration forms to our guests. Once we receive the medical screening forms back, our Corpsman will review them and then we will send confirmation emails letting our guests know whether or not they are medically cleared to join us.

Heads up on mail delivery, mail will need to arrive in Miami by 8 October in order to make CARR’s final scheduled mail delivery of deployment. Anything that arrives in Miami after the 8th has no guarantee of arriving prior to our return to Norfolk.

We have reviewed all post deployment stand-down leave chits (three periods between our return and January) for our post deployment leave period. I wanted to get those approved early to ensure our Sailors could make plans with their families and friends as well as have the opportunity to buy cheaper plane tickets.

Not much activity as we continue our Countering Transnational Organized Crime mission – perhaps our luck will change this week.

Day 115 – Sunday, September 23rd (In port VNB, Panama)
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Today the crew enjoyed their last day of liberty in Panama City while those on board prepared for Monday’s underway. Several Sailors took advantage of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) sponsored fishing trip and horseback riding tour – looks like these were great events for all involved.

Day 116 – Monday, September 24th (Underway from VNB, Panama)
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Weather was ideal as ETC William Dowe skillfully maneuvered CARR off the pier and outbound the channel as we sailed back into the Eastern Pacific.

Great job to IC1 Derek Hotop and ET3 Kaz Warren who methodically worked to remedy connectivity issues with our speed sensor. We need that sensor to provide our systems with indication of how fast CARR is moving through the water.

Day 117 – Tuesday, September 25th
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The seas were the calmest we have seen since arriving in the pacific.

Although many asked me to hold a swim call; the sighting of sea life (sharks and rays) made that imprudent. Hopefully we will get the chance for a swim call back in the Caribbean where sea life is a bit less threatening.

As the end of the Fiscal Year approaches, our helicopter detachment was given several extra hours to fly which other helicopter units had not used. For the remainder of the week we will be busy conducting helicopter operations from after lunch to midnight as they search for narcotics smugglers.

Day 118 – Wednesday, September 26th
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Congratulations to BM2 Matthew Mudderman who requested to be reenlisted by the Executive Officer in my cabin today. Some how we managed to get a couple dozen Sailors packed into my cabin to observe the reenlistment.

BM2 is one of our three Search and Rescue (SAR) Swimmers and a valuable member of Deck Division. Following the reenlistment the masses made their way to the Mess Decks to devour a cake made for the event.

Day 119 – Thursday, September 27th
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Great job to Deck Division and Navigation Division who have been knuckling down to accomplish topside preservation. The next couple of months will be our last chance to conduct topside preservation; upon our return to Norfolk I expect it will be too cold to paint.

BZ to FC2 Jacob Gonzalez for his stellar work painting and preserving our Close In Weapons System (CIWS) cooling system piping and CIWS catwalk. This is one of our most challenging spaces due to the constant heat and humidity.

Day 120 – Friday, September 28th
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Congratulations to QMSN Austin Holcomb, our newest qualified Quarter Master of the Watch! This is a major qualification for QMSN Holcomb and follows his demonstration that he is knowledgeable of navigation, weather, signaling, and record keeping. QMSN Holcomb quickly qualified in three months (typically a six month qualification) and will be the last person to qualify Quartermaster of the Watch on CARR.

Great job to our MWR committee led by IC1 Derek Hotop, FC2 Justin Gunderson, and CTT1 Billy Bernal, for coordinating an ice cream social for the crew on short notice. Everyone always enjoys the chance to eat some ice cream. MWR also hosted a Spades Tournament on the Mess Decks.

Day 121 – Saturday, September 29th
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Today I met with the Department Heads and Department Leading Chief Petty Officers to further discuss our plan to prepare CARR for decommissioning upon our return to Norfolk. We are attempting to put in time now to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible between December and decom in March.

Lots of good work in Engineering Department this week and it was tough to pick just one Sailor for Engineer of the Week, so we chose three.

Great job to GSMFN Kadeem Anderson for discovering and repairing a leak in our engine starter cooling system, EM2 Germaine Pelican for repairing a vital motor controller that was damaged, and EN2 Hezekiah Crandall for his quick response to motor controller damage. Great job to each of you!!

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Jessica Meissner   OMBUDSMAN
April Linton       Co-OMBUDSMAN
Jackie Lease       FRG President
Please join CARR along with our OMBUDSMAN and Family Readiness Group:
CARR
https://www.facebook.com/FFG52
OMBUDSMAN
http://www.facebook.com/pages/USS-CARR-
ombudsman/219688138070847?sk=wall
CARR Family Readiness Group
www.facebook.com/USSCARRFRG
Sailors Name
Department/Division
USS CARR (FFG 52)
FPO AE 09566-1506

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Until next Sunday, stay safe CARR Family and Friends!

CDR Patrick Kulakowski
Commanding Officer
USS CARR (FFG 52)
“Courage, Will, Determination!”