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Forrest Sherman Prepares Ship, Crew for Sea

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070123-07
Release Date: 1/23/2007 8:19:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kieshia Savage, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk Jan. 19, after completing a successful 10-day work up and training period in preparation for its upcoming deployment as an element of USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

According to Forrest Sherman’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Michael G. Van Durick, during the underway crew members accomplished several missions such as providing “spotter” services for Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., conducting integration exercises, and hosting various training evolutions for new crew members.

“The five-inch cannon exercises with Camp Lejeune went very well,” said Van Durick. “The purpose was to train Naval Surface Fire Support spotter’s ashore for the Marine Corps. We were able to train just over 50 spotters in the course of two days.”

During this exercise, the crew and Marines were able to overcome a communication challenge by using new technology for the first time.

“We had hoped to begin to use the Navy Fire Control System,” said Van Durick, describing a new system the ship and Marines tried to test, where a spotter on the ground uses a personal data assistant (PDA) to communicate with the ship digitally. “But because of the communication paths that were available, we weren’t able to establish a good two-way link. However, we did manage to establish communications via voice from ship to shore using the traditional call for fire method. That’s the first time they’ve actually been able to do that and see that, so that was a success in itself, in terms of adapting new technologies.”

Forrest Sherman also used this underway period to focus on integrating the helicopter squadron into its daily operations, and also allowed the squadron to become comfortable with shipboard underway operations.

“The helicopter squadron is already part of ‘team Forrest Sherman,’” said Lt. Cmdr. Robert Brown, executive officer of Forrest Sherman. “They’ve met all of their qualifications for integrating on board the ship with their work-ups, and we’re off to a good start.”

The embarked helicopter squadron wasted no time learning the “ropes” on board, thanks to an intensive program and a lot of team work.

“We’ve implemented a more rigid time line and more rigorous training, and it’s been great both for us and the squadron,” said Van Durick. “We’ve learned a lot, they’ve learned a lot, and I think it’s a much better process than I had been through previously on week-one work-up’s, where the objective was to just get it done and move on.”

Before the ship deploys, more training will be conducted to prepare the crew to operate with other elements of the Enterprise CSG.

“They’ve done a couple exercises like ‘towing’ with other units before, but when they lash up with the rest of the ships, that’ll be the first time doing sustained operations and working in a multi-mission environment,” said Brown. “Once we get that under our belts, I think we’ll be just fine and ready to deploy.”

Crew members also feel they are ready for deployment.

“I’m very confident in a lot of the Sailors,” said Gas Turbine System (Mechanical) 2nd Class (SW) David Champion. “Everybody’s on course with training, and we look forward to the challenges and the hard work because it makes us better.”

Forrest Sherman is scheduled to deploy later this year with the Enterprise CSG.