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USS Louisiana Earns Omaha Trophy

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070703-20
Release Date: 7/3/2007 12:45:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/NAC) Eric J. Rowley Fleet Public Affairs Center Det. Northwest

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- U.S. Strategic Command announced USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) the winner of the Omaha Trophy, May 31.

The trophy recognizes excellence in the ballistic missile submarine fleet.

“What’s great about this award is it means we have shown continuous strategic excellence, not just on one crew, but both crews working together all the time, as one unit and one family to get our strategic mission done,” said Senior Chief Electronics Technician (SS) Thom Metcalf, Louisiana (Gold) chief of the boat. “This is the highest level of award we can get for our overall mission completion. This award makes both crews, blue and gold, feel like they are the best of the best in the submarine force on our primary mission of being a ballistic missile submarine.”

“The Blue crew and the Gold crew work very well together,” said Missile Technician 1st Class (SS) Dan Ford, Louisiana (Gold) command career counselor. “We have different types of leadership, but we communicate well and work together as one team.”

In order for the crews of the Louisiana to receive this award they have had to achieve excellence in every category possible from loading weapons and strategic tactical scenarios to Sailor retention and crew morale.

“We have the best manning on the waterfront, it’s amazing to me,” said Ford. “One of the reasons is we have a chief of the boat who is 110 percent involved with Sailors' retention. We don’t just man we over-man.”

The Omaha Trophy was presented to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1971 on behalf of the citizens of Omaha, Neb. by the SAC Consultation Committee, with the request it be awarded annually to the outstanding SAC wing.

Since 1971, the award has grown to four different categories including Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Command, Strategic Aircraft Operations and Strategic Space and Information Operations.

“Winning this is a point of pride for us,” said Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SS) Tony Hustedt, Louisiana (Gold). “It means all the hard we did paid off. For all of the training and countless hours of maintenance we did, it was a nice pat on the back in the end. It tells us we are doing our job well and somebody appreciates what we do.”