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USS Stephen W. Groves Begins Second Half of Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060726-08
Release Date: 7/26/2006 12:45:00 PM

From USS Stephen W. Groves Public Affairs

USS STEPHEN W GROVES, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) departed Mayport Naval Station July 14 for the second half of a counter-narco terrorism operations (CNT OPS) deployment for U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.

The ship completed a two-week maintenance period following the first three months of her CNT OPS deployment. Many family members were able to join their Sailors for the Independence Day holiday in Mayport.

The first half of deployment saw several successes, including extensive boarding and search operations by embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement (LEDET) Detachment 201, supported by the ship’s Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team members. The crew also carried out two Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) rescue operations, along with its aviation detachment, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 46, Detachment 8.

Many Sailors were also able to complete many educational goals during their deployment.

"During the first half of our deployment, we qualified 55 new Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists, enrolled 92 Sailors in the United States Military Apprenticeship Program, and 50 crew members completed Navy College Program for Afloat Education’s Psychology and Academic Skills courses,” said Stephen W. Groves’ Command Master Chief (SW) Billy J. Hill. “During the second half, we expect to continue to fulfill the mission and continue helping our Sailors grow personally and professionally.”

Stephen W. Groves recently completed a three-day port visit in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, and expects to operate in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific, interdicting narco-terrorism vessels throughout the summer.

For more information on Stephen W. Groves, go to www.groves.navy.mil/.

For more information on U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, go to www.cusns.navy.mil/.

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusns/.