USS Columbia Departs for Western Pacific
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050922-20
Release Date: 9/22/2005 4:30:00 PM
By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) David Rush, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) departed Sept. 17 for a deployment to the Western Pacific.
Cmdr. Eugene Sievers, Columbia’s commanding officer, said the crew came together as a team in order to get the submarine ready for deployment.
“The guys worked really hard to get the ship ready to deploy," said Sievers. "They hit all of the marks.”
Sievers, who took command of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine in November, said that preparing a submarine for deployment is a very complex process that requires teamwork and the effort of all hands, particularly given the relatively small crew size of attack submarines.
"Each submariner has his role, from the most junior to the most senior," said Sievers. "If they don’t do their job, the ship doesn’t get underway.”
Columbia completed a three-month surge deployment to the Western Pacific in May 2004 after having returned from a regular deployment to the Central Command area of responsibility just eight months earlier. That deployment made Columbia the first Pacific Fleet submarine to conduct a surge deployment as part of the Navy's Fleet Response Plan.
Sievers said he finds it personally and professionally fulfilling to witness all of the training and preparations come together during the deployment.
"When you walk around seeing young guys enjoying their job, that’s what makes the energy level that much better - it’s kind of infectious," he said. “I’m looking forward to taking 160 guys from Pearl Harbor and watching them do what we have trained to do.”
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