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Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Visits Thach

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080412-02
Release Date: 4/12/2008 5:38:00 PM

By Ensign Johannes Schonberg, USS Thach Public Affairs

USS THACH, At Sea (NNS) -- Vice Adm. Samuel Locklear, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet visited guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) April 11 to tour the ship and speak with Sailors during the start of its Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX 08-5) as part of the Ronald Reagan Strike Group.

After a meeting with Thach officers in the wardroom, Locklear addressed the crew on the forecastle.

"I feel like I'm on 'American Idol,'" said Locklear on commencing his all-hands call. Locklear encouraged the crew to prepare for rigorous training during JTFEX that will include submarines searching for Thach and other ships of the Ronald Reagan Strike Group. "Things will be interesting," he promised.

JTFEX 08-5 is an integrated strike group exercise designed to provide the final building block of a strike group workup cycle.

"The Navy is small, and we aren't getting any bigger anytime soon, so we have to work harder to ensure that future generations are able to continue living like we do today," Locklear said as he discussed the Navy's current operational tempo.

Locklear also discussed the roles and responsibilities of individual augmentees in Iraq and Afghanistan and the importance of the Navy's global role.

"The ship looks great already. Thank you for what you do; I'm proud of you," Locklear said.

Prior to departing the ship via helicopter en route to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), Locklear noted,

"These shipmates are impressive; they have not been afraid to look me in the eye and say how proud they are of their ship, that they're proud of their Navy," said Locklear.

Thach is joined in the Ronald Reagan Strike Group by the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73), USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Gridley (101), and guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62).

For more news from USS Ronald Reagan - Ronald Reagan Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn76/.