USS Truxtun Completes Exercise, Inaugural Port Visit

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110606-15
6/6/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin J. Steinberg, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, England (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) successfully completed Saxon Warrior II followed by its first port visit to Portsmouth, England, during its first ever combat deployment May 31.

The four-day port visit provided Sailors with a chance for rest and relaxation and the opportunity to experience some of England's culture and history.

"The biggest thing that we did to be successful is just encourage our Sailors to go out, meet people, have fun, and be professional. That's one of the greatest lasting impressions that we can make," said Cmdr. John. H. Ferguson, Truxtun commanding officer.

The port visit set the stage for him to set his expectations and for Sailors to show they are capable of increased responsibility, Ferguson said.

Ferguson said the port visit was important because it gave Sailors a chance to be ambassadors, therefore Truxtun leadership spent time preparing Sailors for the port visit through various forms of training.

"It's not something we could do off the cuff. We have to identify the requirements, we have to plan towards it, we have to communicate to our Sailors and we have to exercise some leadership," said Ferguson. "It's really about identifying what needs to happen and communicating that to the whole crew and then giving them the opportunity to be professionals."

The port visit highlighted the end of Saxon Warrior II, an exercise led by the United Kingdom-based Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST).

Truxtun is deployed as part of the George H.W. Bush Strike Group, consisting of Carrier Strike Group 2 staff, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron 22 staff, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), guided-missile cruisers USS Gettysburg (CG 64), and USS Anzio (CG 68), guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), and the Spanish navy frigate ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbon (F102).