CARR Families and Friends,
COMPTUEX has wrapped up and we returned to Norfolk today. CARR did an excellent job at sea – including VBSS, USW, live fires, to Chaff firing events!!
This week’s significant events included:
Day 17 – Sunday, May 6th
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Today’s focus was undersea warfare yet again. The goal today was to screen the high value unit (HVU), USNS BIG HORN, (HVU is usually a carrier or a refueling ship) from enemy submarines. CARR’s team worked with other ships and air assets to attempt to detect the subs; then at the designated time we broke off as planned, transited at high speed to commence our operations in another operating area. It was excellent practice for both the Combat Information Center watchteams and Bridge team. OS2 William Parker and OS3 Caleb Bryant did a great job at maintaining an undersea warfare plot of all detections; their hard work allowed our sonar team to maintain situational awareness regarding red forces (bad guys) in the area as well as blue forces (good guys).
Our Helicopter detachment is one of our main weapons in the undersea warfare fight – our helo spent almost 12 hours flying overhead while dropping sonobuoys (microphones to detect submarines) and using their radar to detect periscopes. Great job to STG1 Christopher Wilson, STG2 Matthew Greenwood, STG2 John Harrold, STG3 Matthew Baker and STG3 John David Wilkinson for their tireless work in sonar.
Congratulations to QM3 Justin Arnold upon qualifying Quartermaster of the Watch (QMOW)! This position is critical in ensuring safety of navigation; QMOWs are responsible for ensuring we know exactly where we are and avoiding all navigational hazards.
Day 18 – Monday, May 7th
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Another day focused on undersea warfare.
Congratulations to GM2 Ethan Krug who reenlisted on the Mess Decks…the reenlistment was followed by cake and strawberry ice cream. Later in the afternoon I had the pleasure of promoting ENS Maria Decristoforo, ENS Arash Hague, and ENS Andrew Berry to Lieutenant Junior Grade. This marks a significant step in their Naval career as they continue to progress to becoming full Fleet Lieutenants.
This afternoon we conducted our last Maritime Security Patrol. Our VBSS team did a great job, taking control of the vessel of interest and securing the propulsion spaces. Great job to GSM2 Jesus Santana, GSM3 Marco Renderos, and DC3 Andy Fernandez who did a thorough job, finding a weapon on one of the boat’s crew and monitoring the boats propulsion plant during the boarding. Awesome job to BM3 Eric Jones for skillfully operating CARR’s rigid hull inflatable boat throughout COMPTUEX – he ensured the VBSS team was transported safely and effectively. Nice job to IC2 John Taylor who was instrumental in the boarding through his expert ability to marshal and control of the detainees. OS1 Salvatore Pacileo did an amazing job as Naval Liaison Officer (LNO); as LNO I trust him to make all communications between CARR and the ship we are boarding…in addition he is my primary communications path to my boarding team.
Day 19 – Tuesday, May 8th
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This morning started with most of the ships participating in COMPTUEX attempting to conduct passenger transfers via tugs near Mayport, FL. This made for a bit of a navigation challenge, but very impressive to see all the Navy grey hulls…must have looked great from the beach.
Once the passenger transfers were complete, the ships formed up into two groups and formed a column to practice transiting through a strait and transiting a mine swept transit lane. In the event that an enemy lays mines, minesweepers and mine hunters from ours and coalition navy’s (sic) will have to remove mines to allow ships to safely pass through a mined area. It takes a bit of skill to maneuver through a swept channel because they are typically not too wide…just enough to get ships in and out. During the transit we also had a dozen small boats simulating smugglers and terrorists. All went well during the transit. Great job to FC3 Jacob Gonzales who used the camera on CARR’s Close in Weapon System to monitor the suspect vessels; had they tried to get close to CARR, Petty Officer Gonzales would have made short work of them.
Just after exiting the strait, we received a VIP via helo, Rear Admiral FitzPatrick. Admiral FitzPatrick is in charge of Strike Force Training Atlantic…the organization in charge of training all the Strike Groups…including COMPTUEX. The visit went well and he had great things to say about CARR’s Sailors.
Once out into open ocean we headed to our late afternoon refueling at sea with USNS BIG HORN. The BIG HORN steadied up on a course, but when we got 500 yds astern of her, BM3 Joshua Fidler was experiencing difficulty holding us precisely on course because the seas (waves) were coming from astern of us. A Frigate does not handle well with the waves passing from the stern and tending forward. Upon BM3 Fidler’s recommendation, I coordinated with BIG HORN to turn us around and head into the seas…a much better ride. Although the other ship in company with us didn’t speak up initially, they were more than willing to change the course for the underway replenishment. After Ensign James Kenny drove us alongside as CARR’s Conning Officer, CARR received a total of 58,086 gallons of diesel fuel marine.
Kudos to BMSN Michael Dimick who was our Line Handler Petty Officer in Charge (POIC) – responsible for ensuring that the men from several divisions safely and efficiently handle the lines that drag the fuel probe from BIG HORN to CARR. Tonight the team had to drag across a double probe, which Weighs about 2,000 pounds.
I also want to recognize BM1 Toney London, this was his last underway and last replenishment at sea evolution on board CARR. In the past three years, BM1 London has overseen countless high risk deck evolutions, including underway replenishments, anchoring evolutions, flight operations, and towing evolutions. We wish him “Fair Winds and Following Seas!” as he moves on to Beachmaster Unit 2. Thanks for all your hard work BM1 London!
Day 20 – Wednesday, May 9th
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This morning we arrived in Naval Station Mayport to offload the helo det – we will be picking them back up on the way to deployment. We also took advantage of the in port time to get some fresh fruit and vegetables, along with ice cream and parts.
Before getting back underway we took the opportunity to catch up on recognizing some of our shipmates. Congratulations to the following who earned recognition:
CARR Senior Sailor of the Quarter: FC1 Cody Koch
CARR Junior Sailor of the Quarter: DC3 Andy Fernandez
CARR Blue Jacket of the Quarter: LSSN Augustine Otwori
Navy and Marine Corps Achievements Medal:
HT1 Joshua Linton – Service while leading CARR’s Corrosion Control Team
OS3 Quinton McDonald – Service while in Iraq
BM1 Toney London – End of Tour Award
CS3 Justin Evans – Service in Iraq
Good Conduct Medal
DCC Justin Jones EM1 Patrick Sharp LS1 Larry Stephens
EM2 Jereme Fuller LS2 Daniel Shelton IT2 Richard Freese
FC2 Stephen Stout CS3 Jonathan Brown HT3 Isaac Boston
EN3 Joseph Kruse ET3 Gregory Dyson BM3 Matthew Mudderman
OSSN Jonas Flesher YNSN Timothy Crowell OS3 Quinton McDonald
Letter of Commendation:
IC1 Derek Hotop
Food Service Attendants of the Month
ET3 Corey Mink
OS3 Caleb Bryant
QM3 Mark Gary
Congratulations to GSE1 Peter Meissner upon earning his Engineering Officer of the Watch qualification…well done!
Day 21 – Thursday, May 10th
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We have been trying to locate Haze gray paint for over a month, and DefenseLogistics Agency (DLA) keeps rejecting our order. LS2 Daniel Shelton was able to locate 125 gallons of “free issue” paint at a savings of over $6,250. His persistence ensured our deck division will have the ship looking Good for INSURV and beyond.
BZ to EN2 Blake Petenbrink upon earning his Electric Plant Control Console qualification – he did an exceptional job during his board and has demonstrated superior watchstanding ability!
Congratulations to OS3 Quinton McDonald, CSSN Aaron Kinchen, and EM3 Andrew Toth upon earning their Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification – great job!
Day 22 – Friday, May 11th
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Arrive Norfolk!
Our next newsletter is scheduled for 3 June.
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Please join CARR along with our OMBUDSMAN and Family Readiness Group on
Facebook:
CARR https://www.facebook.com/FFG52
OMBUDSMAN http://www.facebook.com/pages/USS-CARR-
CARR Family Readiness Group
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137767426300026&ap=1
Jessica Meissner OMBUDSMAN
April Linton Co-OMBUDSMAN
Jackie Lease FRG President
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Until our next letter, stay classy CARR Family and Friends!
CDR Patrick Kulakowski
Commanding Officer
USS CARR (FFG 52)
“Courage, Will, Determination”
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