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Benfold Crew Starts Second Phase of Sea Swap

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030416-02
Release Date: 4/16/2003 11:09:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd class (SW) Jason Heavner, Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Crew members of the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) kicked off their deployment yesterday (April 15) by flying to Singapore to relieve the crew of USS Higgins (DDG 76). This deployment kicks off the second phase of "Sea Swap."

"Sea Swap" began last year in the Pacific Fleet surface force starting with the deployment of USS Fletcher (DD 992), a Spruance-class destroyer.

Crew members from the destroyer USS Kinkaid (ex-DD 965) relieved the Fletcher crew in Perth, Australia. The DD Phase will conclude this summer when crew members of USS Oldendorf (DD 972) relieve the Fletcher crew and begin their six-month deployment.

The Benfold/Higgins exchange will be the first sea swap event for an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.

"Basically, we're getting three additional months forward presence when compared to what'd we get out of a standard three-ship deployment," said Vice Adm. Tim LaFleur, commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific. "When you look at three standard six-month deployments from the west coast to 5th Fleet [Arabian Gulf], the transit time there and back results in ships being on-station for about 100 days. With Sea Swap, we're flying two crews out, thus eliminating time from some of those lengthy transits and apply it to on-station time."

USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) is the third ship involved in the DDG swap. The John Paul Jones crew will relieve the new Higgins crew later this year.

Benfold crew members said they are looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of taking Higgins to sea.

"I look at this as an opportunity to do something different," said Lt. Andree Bergmann, who is the weapons officer on Benfold. "There are some different weapons systems aboard Higgins that are not on this ship, but that's part of the challenge, and I'm ready for it," adds the Albuquerque, N.M., native.

"I think going to another ship breaks the monotony for me. I've been on the Benfold for three-and-a-half years, so going to another ship will make this deployment fulfilling," said Fire Controlman 2nd class (SW) Curtis Woods of San Diego.

"I'm actually looking forward to Sea Swap. It's a new program for us, and I'm always excited to try new things in the Navy," said Fireman Jesse Alvarado.

Cmdr. Randy Hill, commanding officer of Benfold, said the transition, so far, is going well.

"We've been constantly communicating with Higgins' department heads and LPOs [leading petty officers] on what preparations, such as equipment issues, they are doing to coincide with our arrival. Establishing that connection early in our deployment preparations was both helpful and reassuring to my crew members. They're ready to go!"