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Ingraham Sailors Return from JTFX

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070314-18
Release Date: 3/14/2007 5:28:00 PM

By Information Technician Specialist 3rd Class Sabrina Wade-Brent, Fleet Public Affairs Center Det Northwest

EVERETT, Wash (NNS) -- USS Ingraham (FFG 61) returned to her homeport, here, March 6, after a three-week underway period for Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFX).

Ingraham departed Feb. 12, as part of their work-up cycle, conducting operations off the coast of southern California.

Cmdr. Rick Odem, commanding officer of Ingraham, said Ingraham played various roles during the exercise to help the other ships better prepare themselves for missions they may face at sea.

“We got to do something that was unique, because we got to play the good guys with the battle group,” said Odem. “Later in the exercise, we were able to play the bad guys.”

Chief Operations Specialist (SW) Ronald Glass, Ingraham’s operations leading chief petty officer, enjoyed the opportunity JTFX provided.

“A lot of training is done during JTFX and it has been a good opportunity for the junior officers, especially since a lot of them are new to the ship,” said Glass. “We timed most of the drills in conjunction with the exercises, so it provided the feeling of having more purpose.”

“Any time you can do a JTFX with a strike group, it is a great opportunity,” said Glass. “There is a lot of training that gets done during those types of exercises.”

During their underway, crew members were able to work towards accomplishing in-rate goals and warfare qualifications.

“Some of the things we are working on is our enlisted surface warfare training program,” said Odem. “We’re trying to get a lot of the Sailors enrolled qualified sooner rather than later. We are also starting a mentoring program to reach out and lead them down the right path.”

Seaman Jason Culligan, assigned to the Ingraham’s Chief’s Mess has been onboard Ingraham more than a year. He said he enjoyed going through the exercise and was able to see new things.

During their underway period Ingraham was awarded the Green “H” for annual medical wellness unit for 2006.

“We are the only ship in DESRON (Destroyer Squadron) 9 to [win] the award," said Odem. “This is a big deal for us, because there are only a few ships that have won it more than the Ingraham.”