USS CARR Families and Friends –
Day 90 – Sunday, September 11th
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Today we continued our journey south, passing London on our Starboard side, then turned west in the afternoon as we transited through the Dover Strait and English Channel. As we neared the end of the English Channel, seas began to build to 7-9 ft with 20+ kt winds.
Last Sunday’s email was delayed because we were down on our satellite communication system. Great job by IT2 Eric Koss and IT1 Kevin Bultman who spent 13 hours coordinating with two shore stations by satellite phone in order to reestablish communications. Their cooperative team effort and technical skills once again set the standard.
Day 91 – Monday, September 12th
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Weather continued to be the focus today, seas continued to build; we are experiencing 8-10 ft seas with occasional 14 ft waves. Not impossible conditions, but there are some who are sea sick – these seas make it hard to do maintenance and keep the ship clean. Forecast looks good once we get closer to the Azores.
The big news in the Wardroom is the ongoing moustache contest – most of the weak have dropped out, leaving only ENS Arash Haque, CWO2 Dilson Ramirez; LTJG Phillip Gordley, LT Quentin Lease, LT Sean Scanlon, CDR James Sposato, and me left in the running. ENS Maria Decristoforo will be the judge upon our arrival in Mayport – I know you are all waiting breathlessly for the results…this is more exciting than the Superbowl and the Kentucky Derby combined.
Day 92 – Tuesday, September 13th
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Today seas began to abate and they are now under 8 ft; however, because we are so light now (we burned lots of fuel between Tromso, Norway and here) we are bobbing around pretty good – combined with the fact that waves are hitting the ship directly on the beam (perpendicular to the ship…which are the worst direction they can come from).
Now that the European portion of our deployment is complete, we are beginning to see recognition for our collective efforts. We received a BZ (well done) message from Admiral Nora Tyson, Commander Carrier Strike Group Two:
FM COMCARSTRKGRU TWO
TO USS CARR
SUBJ/BRAVO ZULU//
RMKS/
1. Congratulations to the professionals of USS Carr on your outstanding deployment to C6F AOR.
2. Your team superbly executed Theater Security Cooperation, Maritime Domain Awareness, and Arctic Circle communications testing operations while executing an aggressive schedule in the North, Baltic, Norwegian, and Barents Seas. You masterfully conducted engagements with Poland, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Scotland contributing significantly to U.S. National Security relationship building, and capacity building throughout the region. The Officers, CPOs, and Crew of Carr showed flexibility and proficiency during fast-paced and diverse operations, earning widespread recognition for your professionalism and hospitality. My sincere compliments on a job well done.
3. USS Carr clearly demonstrated that winning truly is a habit.
4. RADM Tyson sends.//
Day 93– Wednesday, September 14th
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Today we arrived in Ponta Delgado, Portugal (Azores) at 1300 for a brief (five hour) stop to fill our tanks with fuel (over 100,000 gallons) – our last chance to get fuel as we cross the Atlantic. By 1800 we were underway and continuing to push westward. As always, great job by the refueling team of Chief Warrant Officer Dilson Ramirez, GSMC Gabriel Bitanga, GSM2 Nathan Woodruff, GSM3 Marco Renderos, GSM3 Robert Kirkman, GSE1 Peter Meissner, GSM3 Tyler Smith, GSM3 Joseph Powell, GSMFN Michael Vaughn, EN3 Joshua Young and HT3 Tony Oliveri.
Day 94 – Thursday, September 15th
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This morning started with the E4 Exam on the mess decks – best of luck to all the exam takers…I hope we have a long list of promotions when the announcement comes out near the end of November. Great job to Carr‘s Command Career Counselor, NC1 Brandon Giddens, who meticulously administered the E6/E5/E4 exams over the last three weeks to 71 of our Sailors. He ensured all exam worksheets were verified and signed by all participants in a timely manner to ensure our Sailors have the best chance to promote.
Good news…some calm seas! In the afternoon we had the opportunity to shoot our 76mm gun and 20mm Close in Weapons System (CIWS). Our Fire Controlmen build a target that would emit a heat signature and allow us to track it with our infrared camera – the target worked as designed and the team was able to blast it out of the water using CIWS in the surface mode. Great job to the target mastermind FC3 Nolan Mihail (who is also continuing to provide Carr with daily news stories over the general announcing system) along with our gunnery teams of GM3 Jachin Frontone, GM2 Ethan Krug, FC2 Justin Gunderson, FC2 Adam Lemons, and FC2 Stephen Stout.
Our Sonarmen were also busy today streaming our NIXIE (torpedo countermeasure), TACTAS (towed array – used to track submarines), and maneuvering Carr to practice torpedo avoidance. A professional job as always by STG2 Matthew Greenwood, STG2 John Harrold, STG2 David Botel, and STG3 Tucker Rast.
Great news today – we were informed that Carr is the Atlantic Fleet nominee for the 2012 Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award for food service excellence. We will compete against one other ship for the award – the Rentz located out on the West Coast. Congratulations to the entire culinary specialist team of CSC Renrick Adams, CS2 Brian Cook, CS2 Timothy Faulkner, CS2 Kevin Prekopa, CS3 Jonathan Brown, CSSN Aaron Kinchen, CSSN Timothy Keith, and CSSN Willie Martinez – they have continued to do a great job and put in long hours over the last several months…great to see their effort being recognized off ship.
Today our crew received yet another BZ message, this time from Admiral Harris – he is the Commander of the Sixth Fleet which encompasses all Navy assets in European and African waters. Your sons, husbands, and daughter really made a positive impact during this deployment.
FM COMSIXTHFLT
TO USS CARR
SUBJ/BRAVO ZULU//
RMKS/
1. Team Carr, congratulations on your outstanding performance both ashore and afloat in the Sixth Fleet Area of Operations. Throughout your deployment, I have closely monitored your team’s superb efforts, and I’ve been impressed. For the duration of your three months in theater, you responded magnificently to every engagement and to every challenge.
2. Your efforts in support of Theater Security Cooperation with countries throughout the Baltic Sea region continued to build on our relationships with key NATO Allies and opened doors with other European partners. From participating in PASSEXs with the Polish and Finish Navies, to providing invaluable at-sea experience and exposure to Allied Midshipmen, you reinforced why our partners’ desire to operate alongside the U.S. Navy, building a stronger maritime team.
3. Following operations in the Baltic, you focused your efforts on partner building in the high north. Your ability to flex and adapt to to short notice changes and port cancellations was commendable. In Murmansk, you expertly hosted shipboard receptions that were enjoyed by numerous local dignitaries. You participated in community relations events with orphanages and schools that garnered favorable local press. You also paid thoughtful tributes to military veterans and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in time of war. Your efforts sent a clear message of friendship to our Russian friends and your accomplishments did not go unnoticed.
4. Bravo Zulu! VADM Harry Harris, Commander, U.S. SIXTH FLEET and Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa sends.
Day 95 – Friday, September 16th
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After six long weeks of training our newly selected CPOs (GMC Orlando Munoz and GSMC Ravi Tobierre) have completed their Induction process. The Chairmen for the Induction Season were BMCS Kenneth Feagin and LSCS German Padilla. HMC David Taylor was the Induction Coordinator; he had the responsibility of coordinating well balanced training that included physical fitness, leadership and CPO Mess etiquette. Other CPOs that stood out during the Induction process was GMC Anthony Scott with military training, and ITC Joseph Wert with Naval Heritage training. The pinning ceremony was MC’d and prepared by HMC Patrick Ehrhard. ITC Wert read the “Presentation of the Anchors” and CSC Adams read the “CPO Creed”. The CPO Mess did a great job of coming together to put a class ceremony together. After the flight deck promotion, the crew was invited down to the mess decks for yet another amazing cake made by CS2 Kevin Prekopa (on loan from Kauffman).
Later in the morning, I had the pleasure of presenting LTJG Brackery Battle with his Surface Warfare Officer Pin. He showed great tenacity and drive as he continued to study a broad range of surface warfare topics – job well done! Upon him earning his SWO Pin, we also get to fly the Gold Surface Warfare Pennant along with our Silver Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Pennant!
Continued outstanding performance by EM3 Andrew Toth this week – He quickly responded to two electrical casualties this week! His vigilant watch standing and quick reaction ensured equipment was quickly repaired and returned to service.
Another BZ – This one is from CTF 65, my direct boss while we were deployed to SIXTHFLT:
Carr,
Congratulations on your exceptional performance while deployed to the Naval Forces Europe area of responsibility. Your can-do attitude exemplifies naval Forces Europe’s commitment to our partners and key NATO allies. Whether conducting Theater Security Cooperation at sea through Passexes with Poland or Finland, hosting one of your many onboard receptions or conducting incident-free liberty, you stood as model ambassadors to the Baltic. Your high-north trip to Murmansk, was especially noteworthy. Thanks to your hard work and day-to-day American hospitality, you executed a full schedule, including receptions for local dignitaries, COMREL projects at a local school, and flower and wreath laying events in memory of the WWII Dervish Polar Convoy. Your crew’s professional example will pay dividends in coming years as we continue to send ships into Russia. The fact that your crew had zero liberty incidents across nine port visits is testimony to your crew’s discipline and involved leadership. As you make the voyage back to Second Fleet, you can be justifiably proud of your many successes. Keep charging! – Commodore Dan Shaffer, Commander CTF 65
Day 96 – Saturday, September 17th
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Today we “chopped” into Second Fleet…this means we have entered the waters controlled by the Admiral based in Norfolk. Luckily Hurricane Maria is moving quickly to the North, so that we have good seas ahead of us. Right now we are in a time zone two hours ahead Norfolk!
Kudos to OS3 Caleb Bryant and OS3 William Parker for dedicating numerous hours of their time and dedicated hard work to get our Combat Information Center up to cleanliness and preservation standards. CTT3 Ryan Blank and CTT2 Jonathan Brown took charge of overhauling one of our fan rooms – this area is susceptible to corrosion because it contains ventilation piping that causes condensation and it is exposed direct to the sea air. Their effort fixed significant material deficiencies and made it look like a brand new space.
In the next few days we will be entering the Bermuda Triangle…
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Until next week, stay safe Carr Family and Friends!
CDR Patrick Kulakowski
Commanding Officer
USS CARR (FFG 52)
“Courage, Will, Determination
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