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USS Winston S. Churchill Returns Home with Third Battle-E

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS130328-22
3/28/2013

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Chase, USS Winston S. Churchill Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) returned to homeport, March 28 with its third Battle Efficiency Award, or Battle 'E' in a row.

The Battle 'E' recognizes the hard and proficient work of Winston S. Churchill Sailors after a nine month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AOR), along with time spent preparing the ship for an inspection by the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).

'The exceptional Sailors of Winston S. Churchill set the standard everywhere they served,' said Cmdr. Chris D. Stone, commanding officer of Winston S. Churchill. 'After a year of top-notch work in-port and at sea, we now have something in common with the 1996 to 1998 Chicago Bulls and the 1998 to 2000 New York Yankees - a three-peat.'

The Battle Efficiency Award is awarded annually to the small number of U.S. Navy ships, submarines, squadrons, and other units who demonstrate the highest state of battle readiness while carrying out assigned warfare tasking.

To win the Battle 'E' a unit must demonstrate sustained superior performance in four command excellence areas - Maritime Warfare, Engineering/Survivability, Command and Control, Logistics Management, and be nominated by their immediate superior. Winston S. Churchill earned special distinction in the areas of Maritime Warfare and Engineering/Survivability.

'It gives me great pride to know Winston S. Churchill continues to set the highest standard and its Sailors deserve recognition for their continued excellence,' said Capt. Dan Voth, Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 28.

Winston S. Churchill Sailors can now wear the Navy 'E' Ribbon and Battle 'E' Device among their medals. Churchill Sailors who have served three years with the ship have the distinction of donning three Battle 'E' Devices on the ribbon.

'Sailors aboard this ship have the rare ability to rise to the occasion no matter what's thrown at them,' said Chief Fire Controlman Matthew A. Shaffer, a divisional leading chief petty officer aboard Winston S. Churchill who served on the destroyer for three years. 'Every single department and every single division works incredibly hard. Our chain of command pushes the crew to be the best and the crew expects the best from its leadership. And when the pressure's on, the ship comes together and finds a new level of excellence.'

Quartermaster 2nd Class Tej H. Fountain, who volunteered for deployment aboard Churchill from the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), also volunteered to paint the second hash below the signatory black-outlined white 'E' on the ship's starboard bridge wing, signifying Winston S. Churchill's third award.

'When I came here, (the crew) accepted me as a Winston S. Churchill Sailor immediately. We all come together to be the best,' said Fountain.

Ship's Serviceman 1st Class Rodney M. Caliste said he expects Winston S. Churchill's excellence to continue following its return to homeport. Caliste said the ship's supply department started with a less-experienced crew but distinguished themselves in March 2012 by winning the Ship's Store, Retail and Service Excellence Award from the Navy Exchange Service Command. Caliste said his Sailors, with little in the way of direct deployment experience, quickly acclimated to the up-tempo environment.

'These Sailors went from good to great over this year,' said Caliste. 'I expect them to keep getting better as they become leaders themselves.'