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Boxer Back at Sea to Off-load Ammunition, Train New Sailors

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070726-06
Release Date: 7/26/2007 11:39:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jon Rasmussen, USS Boxer Public Affairs

USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) returned July 19 from a one-week underway period off the coast of Southern California for the first time since returning from its nine-month deployment nearly six weeks ago.

During the time at sea, the crew off-loaded ammunition in preparation for an upcoming maintenance period, which will help ready the ship for future operations.

“Anytime you have work done to the ship when you return from deployment, you have to off-load ammunition due to the amount of welding and ‘hot-work’ being done throughout the ship,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman (AW/SW) Kenya Owens. “You can’t do certain types of maintenance with ordnance aboard, so it’s usually a requirement for all vessels when they return from deployment.”

The short underway also provided a host of training opportunities for the nearly 100 new Boxer Sailors who have reported aboard since the ship’s return from deployment.

“We’re training them on things like storage [and handling] procedures and loading helicopters,” said Owens. “There are a lot of things going on and that’s why we have a lot of qualified people here to monitor, watch and train [the new Sailors] to ensure the job gets done safely.”

In all, more than 900 pallets of ordnance were off-loaded via four SH-60B Seahawk helicopters during the evolution. For some new Boxer Sailors, watching flight operations from the ship’s tower above the flight deck was their first chance to get a look at their new jobs once qualified to work on deck.

According to Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) (AW/SW) Roy Thomas, new Sailors have to watch flight operations from a distance before being qualified to work on deck.

“They are required to watch flight evolutions and conduct a flight deck physical before they’re authorized to be on the flight deck,” said Thomas. “So this off-load is a good opportunity for them to get qualified.”

The underway was also an opportunity for the ship to conduct chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) drills as a refresher and to train Boxer’s newest Sailors.

Over a period of two days, Sailors cycled through the four mission oriented protective postures (MOPP), requiring them to act quickly and respond to different types of CBR attacks.

The training culminated in a general quarters (GQ) drill during which Sailors advanced through higher MOPP levels, learning about protective garments, treatment and decontamination procedures and eventually sealing off the ship during a simulated attack.

“My GQ station is on the bridge,” said Yeoman Seaman Michael Wolf, a new Boxer Sailor. “It was really interesting and I learned there is a lot going on throughout the entire ship. I really got to see a lot.”

The ammunition off-load, influx of new Sailors and intensive damage control training mark the beginning of preparations for future operations. Boxer will enter its maintenance period this fall.