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Higgins, Benfold Crews Complete First Arleigh Burke Crew Swap

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030428-13
Release Date: 4/28/2003 7:17:00 PM

From Logistics Group Western Pacific Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- In a break with tradition, Cmdr. Randy Hill relieved Cmdr. Mike Gilday as commanding officer of USS Higgins (DDG 76) during an otherwise traditional ceremony April 24 - and brought his entire crew with him. That new crew took Higgins to sea April 28, when the ship departed here to continue its anything but traditional deployment, marking a key milestone and historic first during the second phase of the Navy's "Sea Swap" experiment.

Hill's crew, the former crew of USS Benfold (DDG 65), is now the crew of Higgins. Gilday's crew, which took Higgins into action during Operation Iraqi Freedom, will return soon to San Diego and take over Benfold, fully completing the first ever crew swap cycle of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

"History. Some write it, you made it happen," Gilday told the assembled crews during the change of command ceremony, just minutes before his crew passed the Higgins torch to the former Benfold crew. "Today, the eyes of the Navy are on you, Higgins, and you, Benfold, and all that you have done for the past year, and especially the past several weeks to prepare for this moment."

The crew swap keeps Higgins forward-deployed without the need for the timely transit back to the ship's home port of San Diego. During the experiment, Higgins, which is approaching the six-month mark on its current deployment, will remain forward-deployed for 18 consecutive months. The crew of USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) is scheduled to relieve the current Higgins crew later this year. The reclaimed transit time results in approximately three months of additional forward presence when compared to a typical three-ship cycle.

The former Benfold crew arrived April 16 and following four days of liberty and the arrival of the ship April 20, began the turnover process with the Higgins crew while the ship took on needed maintenance.

Sailors said communication was the key factor during turnover. "The biggest challenge initially was communication with the other ship, trying to get each other on the same page," former Higgins crew member Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Nicalus Haynes, from Tucson, Ariz., said. "But once we got to Singapore, things worked themselves out, and it went far better than I thought it would."

Ship's Serviceman 1st Class Jeromy Long, a new Higgins crew member and native of San Bernardino, Calif., said the turnover process was a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. "You can't be afraid to ask the little questions," he said when asked if he had advice for Sailors in future "Sea Swap" evolutions. "It's difficult coming on board and taking over a shop. Talk to your counterpart, and go into the turnover giving 100 percent."

The former Higgins crew, following post-turnover liberty, will fly back to San Diego to end their six-month deployment. In their waning days aboard, the emotional ties to their ship were evident. "Every crew member takes pride in this ship and what we've gone through," said Senior Chief Damage Controlman Monette Walker, a Medina, Ohio, native. Haynes agreed. "It's sad to see our ship go. But I know they will take care of her," he said.

Hill ensured that sentiment. "We will continue the proud Higgins tradition," he said during change of command remarks.

Naturally, the emotional ties to former hulls go both ways. The new Higgins crew is keeping the memory of their former ship alive with "Team Benfold" embroidered on the side of their Higgins ball caps.

"Be assured," Gilday said to the incoming Higgins crew during the ceremony, "We will carry on your traditions as you will ours. It's an even trade - and an important one."

The first phase of Sea Swap took place earlier this year in Freemantle, Australia, when the crew of the then recently decommissioned USS Kinkaid (DD 965) relieved the crew of USS Fletcher (DD 992). The Spruance-class portion of the Sea Swap experiment will continue later this year when the crew of USS Oldendorf (DD 972), which is also to be decommissioned, relieves the current Fletcher crew.