Military

USS Carl Vinson Recognized for Outstanding COMREL Efforts

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070517-03
Release Date: 5/17/2007 9:21:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Candice Villarreal, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy’s chief of chaplains presented USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) with the 2006 Project Good Neighbor Flagship Award for large commands afloat May 16 at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard.

Rear Adm. Robert Burt presented the award to Carl Vinson’s commanding officer, Capt. Ted Carter, and the crew during a ceremony held after touring the ship’s spaces and meeting crew members. The award recognizes large at-sea commands for their outstanding community service projects.

“I wanted to personally show my appreciation to this great crew for the tremendous support you give your surrounding communities,” said Burt. “A lot of commands really went after this award. But, after seeing all of what USS Carl Vinson has done with community relations, the decision was obvious. You really stood head-and-shoulders above the competition.”

In 2006, the “Gold Eagle” crew put in more than $750,000 worth of volunteer hours to the Hampton Roads area alone, said former Carl Vinson Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Dan Berteau.

The award is the latest of several community service awards Carl Vinson’s crew has received this year.

“USS Carl Vinson’s crew is setting a fine example for us,” said Burt. “We are the Navy. We’re about wanting to make a difference everywhere we go.”

Carl Vinson is currently undergoing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The RCOH is an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the midpoint of their 50-year life cycle.

During RCOH Carl Vinson’s nuclear fuel will be replenished and the ship’s services and infrastructure will be upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet and prepared for another 25 years or more of service.