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USS Enterprise, CVW-1 On Station in 5th Fleet

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS031027-03

Release Date: 10/27/2003 11:38:00 AM

By Journalist 1st Class Misty Trent, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At sea (NNS) -- The crew of USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 was officially welcomed to 5th Fleet Command Oct. 26 with a visit from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, Vice Adm. David C. Nichols Jr.

After a compressed work-up schedule of only five months instead of the usual 10, Enterprise departed Naval Station Norfolk Aug. 29. After four weeks of training exercises, Enterprise immediately deployed across the Atlantic to assume responsibility for patrol in the Arabian Gulf. The crew of Enterprise and the embarked air wing are now on station in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

In a meeting with Enterprise and CVW-1 chief petty officers, Nichols applauded the entire crew for their hard work and dedication in getting the ship on station.

"My hat is off to you for how far you've come in a relatively short period of time," Nichols said.

In an open question forum, Nichols discussed a variety of manpower issues facing the Navy today, including Perform to Serve, National Call to Service and the Fleet Response Plan.

"The goal of all of these programs is to have more of the naval force more deployable more of the time," Nichols explained. "We had seven carriers surged for Operation Iraqi Freedom. We were able to do that because of the way the Chief of Naval Operations invested in readiness."

Another area of particular interest aboard Enterprise is the growth of programs like Navy Knowledge Online and Task Force Excel. The chief petty officer community aboard Big E is committed to helping their junior Sailors grow as Sailors, but must sometimes deal with technological limitations while deployed, and Nichols addressed those concerns.

"We're not just looking at bandwidth issues, it's also a matter of technology," Nichols said. "Sometimes there is a disconnect between strategy and execution, but we're better now than we were five years ago, and we'll be even better five years from now."

As the reconstruction and stabilization phase of OIF continues, OEF is still ongoing throughout the region. Even with the end of active combat operations, the crew of Enterprise could still be sailing in harm's way.

"In every country in this area of responsibility, al-Qaida is doing business," Nichols stated. "We're working closely with these countries to put a lid on this, but the potential threat from terrorists is real. My goal is to continue to do the things we can do and not overreact to the terrorist threat.

"This will be a dynamic for you the whole time you're out here," he added.

The Big E crew understands this, and is more than ready.

"This is exciting!" said Damage Controlman Fireman Stephen W. James of engineering department's damage control division. "We finally get to do our job. We always have work to do in terms of regular maintenance and keeping the ship running, but out here, when the bells ring, it's what we were trained for. That's our real job."

That sentiment stretches from below decks up to the flight deck. "I'm finally out doing my job," agreed Airman Anthony V. Comerford of air department's arresting gear division. "I enjoy my job a lot, and it's a bigger rush when the planes are actually hitting the deck."

In just two months, the ship's company and nine embarked squadrons have worked hard and trained together to become a unified fighting force.

"I like seeing so many different commands performing together as a team throughout the ship, in the hangar bay and on the flight deck," said Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class (AW) Carl Marshall of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123. "If there's a problem, it's not just one person's problem, it's everyone's problem, and they all have to work together to fix it."

"The air wing has an important job," said James. "Out here on the carrier, it's all about launching aircraft. That's why the carrier is the center of attention. Everything revolves around us, so we depend on the guys in the squadrons and the flight deck. We need them and they need us."

The crew of Enterprise plans to make the most of this deployment, and Nichols encouraged that spirit in his address with the chiefs.

"It's about more than just the efficient use of our Sailors, it's about the personal and professional growth of our Sailors," he said in his address.

The crew of USS Enterprise and embarked air wing have taken responsibility for operations in the Arabian Gulf. With a 'welcome aboard' from Nichols, the Sailors of Big E are, as the ship's motto states, "Ready On Arrival."