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Essex Fire Controlmen on Target

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061004-13
Release Date: 10/4/2006 1:27:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corey Truax, USS Essex Public Affairs

USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- In an example of the strength of a ship’s self defense capabilities, USS Essex (LHD 2) fire controlmen (FC) successfully fired three Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) Oct. 1, and then fired two CIWS Oct. 2, to take down a towed drone unit (TDU).

“It is great to have the opportunity to prove our weapons systems in action on TDUs,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Meskimen, combat systems officer. “Essex’ superior Close-In Weapons Systems are two-for-two in TDU live firings, completely destroying the targets.”

"The credit for the success goes to Essex FCs' competency and their efforts to maintain and operate vital weapons systems, including CIWS, Sea Sparrow Missile System, Rolling Airframe Missile System, Target Acquisition System and many other data systems and consoles," said Meskimen.

“Ninety-nine point nine percent of the time most Sailors don’t even know we exist,” said Chief Fire Controlman (SW) Jesse J. Souza. “It’s in that .1 percent of the time when we are defending the ship from actual missiles or incoming air contacts…it’s then Sailors will never forget us and what we do.”

According to the FCs aboard Essex, on the job training has to be taken to a new level. Because FCs are typically trained on a specific piece of equipment, once they arrive at a new ship, cross-training is a priority.

“Once you get on board a ship, you have to start training with your fellow FCs to truly understand how to maintain and operate the equipment,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Jeremy S. Hoefer. “To be honest, most of what we do is learned by hands on involvement.”

Hoefer’s fellow fire controlmen shared similar thoughts on learning on the job.

“There is a pretty steep learning curve when a new guy gets on the ship, because there is no way any school can fully prepare you for the job,” said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Zachary A. Kramer. “There is a bit of friendly rivalry between the different weapons systems, but we all have the same mission when it comes down to it.”

Souza noted that there is a solid unity among those that share the FC rating.

“Here on Essex we, as the Combat Systems Department, are one team - one fight. We all have the same goal, just different roles when it comes to down to blowing stuff up,” said Souza.

Meskimen, reiterating his praise for the combat systems personnel, said that the success of the exercise was due to the high amount of readiness displayed by the department.

“Wherever the target would have flown from, Essex was ready with all three CIWS mounts fully operational, pre-fired and tested. All the hard work culminates into this event, proving the effectiveness of the systems and ensuring taxpayers are getting their money’s worth,” said Meskimen. “BZ [Bravo-Zulu] to my fire controlmen for a job well done!”

Essex, commanded by Capt. Brian T. Donegan, is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and is the flagship for the Sasebo, Japan-based Essex Expeditionary Strike Group, which serves under Commander, Task Force 76. Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.