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Stennis Kicks Off First Leg of Tiger Cruise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070824-04
Release Date: 8/24/2007 8:55:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Davis Anderson, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departed Pearl Harbor on Aug. 22 with over 1,000 family and friends for the ship’s Tiger Cruise and subsequent return to homeport.

Stennis and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 arrived at Pearl Harbor on Aug. 20. The following day, 1,149 Tiger Cruise participants checked aboard Stennis for the carrier’s transit to San Diego and Bremerton, Wash.

While on board, Tigers will participate in activities that give family members and friends an up-close look at what Sailors do when underway and deployed.

Cmdr. Scott Robertson, Stennis’ auxiliaries officer and the schedule-of-events coordinator for Tiger Cruise, said Stennis and CVW-9 Sailors will offer an air show at sea, a close-in weapons system live fire exercise and a mock replenishment at sea alongside USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10).

In addition to these activities, Tigers will tour work centers aboard the ship, such as the jet shop, medical ward, dental clinic and combat direction center.

“We have a whole slew of static displays,” said Robertson. “These will showcase various types of equipment used for firefighting, crash and salvage and aviation electronics. There’s a lot to see.”

For Sailors and Marines bringing Tigers aboard Stennis, this will be an exciting trip.

“It’s a good feeling,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Johnathan Salazar from embarked CVW-9. “I haven’t seen my family in a long time; it’s almost been a year. It’s good to see them and show them what you do every day.”

The Tigers aboard Stennis are also excited about the cruise. Some of them have been planning for this since Stennis’ deployment began back in January.

“It’s just unbelievable how large it [Stennis] is,” said the father of Electronics Technician 3rd Class (SW/AW) Libby Zuber, assigned to Combat Systems Department. “It’s just really impressive to see it from above and then to come on board the ship, you can’t imagine what it’s like when it’s sitting on the water. You can’t imagine it being able to float the way it does.”

Zuber, a former member of the Air Force, noted some of the differences between shipboard life and his time in the military.

“We did our job and went home,” said Zuber. “I can’t imagine being out to sea for seven months.”

Zuber added he wished he joined the Navy because of the port visits the Navy offers.

“I just think that would be awesome to have those experiences,” said Zuber.

While deployed, the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, maritime operations, coalition operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Expeditionary Strike Force training and most recently Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 in the Pacific. Stennis and CVW-9 departed San Diego on Jan. 20.