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Essex Focuses on Training, Upkeep During Inport Period

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070129-03
Release Date: 1/29/2007 8:45:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Richard J. Jasmin, USS Essex (LHD 2) Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- USS Essex (LHD 2) continues to prepare for its upcoming spring patrol by conducting specialized in-rate training, replacing or repairing needed shipboard components and practicing live operations.

“Essex must always be ready for mission tasking, we never really ‘stand-down’ from shipboard operations,” said Essex Commanding Officer Capt. Brian T. Donegan. “Essex maintains its ready-for-sea, always on short notice to deploy status while achieving substantial improvements in both material and operational readiness.”

As part of Essex’s in port training period, about 20 crash-and-salvage flight deck team members had the opportunity to participate in a live-action aircraft recovery and flight deck fire team certification process Dec. 4 in Pensacola, Fla.

“Although the flight deck was simulated,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class (AW/SW) Keith B. Heatherly, “all of us had a live controlled cockpit and aircraft fire experience. It is really a tight space to work with when dealing with a fire.”

Heatherly serves as Essex’s Crash and Salvage leading petty officer, who would be in charge of flight deck operations related to aircraft and personnel recovery simulation, if an aircraft mishap were to occur.

“I was very pleased with the level of in-depth training provided to Essex Sailors during the short training period,” said Heatherly.

Other examples of training for Essex Sailors include simulated electronic warfare attacks, scheduled amphibious certification operations, as well as damage control training and certification efforts by both engineers and duty section personnel.

Other training opportunities included the chance for culinary specialists to hone their service skills. In early December, the department hosted inspectors for the preliminary stage of the Capt. Edward Ney Award finals. The Ney Award is given to a ship’s galley and personnel based on selection criteria such as quality of food presentation, galley decoration, customer service attitude, food service records maintenance (supply organization) and quality of the raw stored and refrigerated product. Essex had to display these elements to a distinguished set of supervisors.

“I don’t know yet how we did, but everybody was ready for this event. We did our best, and we hope to win,” said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Markus Ramirez.

Essex is the only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and serves under Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.