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Boxer Certifies Well Deck and Flight Deck

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080315-06
Release Date: 3/15/2008 10:05:00 AM

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

USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) completed certifications March 7-13 for flight deck and well deck operations while at sea conducting training and assessments off the coast of Southern California.

The capability to provide ship to shore movement anytime, anywhere, of personnel, cargo and equipment by aircraft and landing craft is one of Boxer's core missions as an amphibious assault ship.

"Ship to shore movement is what Boxer is here for, that's our mission," said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Rankin, Boxer's combat cargo assistant. "It's a joint effort with the Navy and Marine Corps to be able to deliver our passengers and cargo anywhere in the world to support any mission."

The ability to conduct well deck operations utilizing various landing craft to provide ship to shore movement is what sets amphibious ships like Boxer apart from other Navy ships.

In order to receive the certifications necessary for future operations, Boxer Sailors were evaluated on their seamanship, safety and how they performed well deck operations with landing craft air cushioned and landing craft utility vehicles embarking and debarking Boxer. These evolutions are a side to Boxer which many Sailors are getting to see for the first time.

"Since our last deployment, approximately 60 percent of Deck Department has turned over," said Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW/AW) John Pompey. "We have an influx of a lot of very new and eager seamen on deck and it is really important for us to go through this training to teach them what we do."

Boxer's Air Department also had many new airmen to train while they achieved multiple certifications and received scores of 'outstanding' in all of the flight deck and aviation assessments, finishing with a final score of 99.7 overall.

Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handler)(AW/SW/MTS) Curtis Evans credits their success to constant training and the ability to adapt that training to stay proficient despite the large amount of repair work that was performed during Boxer's recent maintenance availability.

"Every second we had we trained," said Evans. "Some of the training we couldn't do because of the shipyard work going on, so we went to other ships and used their flight decks."

Twenty Sailors who make up Boxer's Crash and Salvage team also attended a school in Pensacola, Fla., which allowed them hands-on training fighting real aircraft fires and responding to various rescue situations.

"You're all taking the training on board and putting that Boxer effort into it, and for that I truly thank you and appreciate it," Said Boxer's Commanding Officer, Capt. Matthew McCloskey, to the crew as the ship returned home. "It's important to understand what the standard is and then exceed that standard every chance you get. I know you can do it and you're doing a great job at it."

Boxer is scheduled for future command certifications later this month.

For more news from USS Boxer, visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd4/.