Deployment 2011 Volume 5 September 2011

Deployment“Hawaii and Guam were like ‘Oh my gosh, it’s hot.” Originally from Alaska, she struggled to adapt to the 90 degree or higher temperature and humidity. “Thailand was an interesting experience. The food was great. I went to a commu-nity relations event that I really enjoyed. Afterwards, I went out with a couple of people that I wouldn’t have usually hung out with.”“Singapore was absolutely beautiful. I in-tend to go back there someday, even if it’s not with the navy. The people were very honest. It was a great experience.”When STG3 Ziv-Wynn explained what we did in 5th fleet, she said:“I freaked out when we went after that first pirate ship. I had so much adrenaline. The second time we did it, I was really wor-ried about my friends (on the Visit, Board, Search and Seizure and Small Caliber Ac-tion Teams). The fact that they were able to do it, so I could to” filled her head for the remainder of deployment. She left me by sharing the one thing that got her through deployment. “You have to be silly.”

How can you sum up the lives of over 300 sailors during the last six and a half months? Do you approach it chronologi-cally? The USS Howard left homeport San Diego on April 14th, 2011. Howard participated in Cooperation Afloat Readi-ness and Training (CARAT) operations in 7th fleet, working with the navies of Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. After that, Howard traveled to 5th fleet and conducted counter-piracy op-erations under a combined coalition task force in the Gulf of Aden.

That explanation doesn’t seem to suffice. How about we sum it up by statistics? How many gallons of fuel did the ship burn? How many burgers did we eat? How many miles did we travel? That doesn’t seem to cover it exactly, but we’ll ‘wow’ you with some numbers later on.

If not by statistics or chronology, how about the emotions we felt? There was a little bit of stress, a little bit of excite-ment, a little bit of frustration, and a lot of longing for loved ones. Each sailor experi-ences their own battles and triumphs to at-tain their goals, whether it be the number of sailors who qualified Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) or Surface Warfare Officer (SWO), or the Captain, who kept each sailor safe and supervised the execution of multiple missions in dif-ferent fleet concentration areas.

After several days of deliberation, I was still lost in my attempts to summarize our deployment. I decided to ask a few sailors for help.

It was the very first deployment for a good

amount of the crew. STG3 Terah Ziv-Wynn checked onboard Howard only a few weeks before the ship left San Diego. First she shared her thoughts on being a Food Service Assistant (FSA), and after three months, her return to her division.

“I got the FSA experience this deploy-ment. I was miserable for three months. While I was cranking (the term for the time served as an FSA), I spent an hour a day studying for my advancement exam, which I got to take this deployment. I completed a lot of personal qualifications. I really wanted to show the ship that I was an outstanding sailor. I was so glad to get back to my division (STGs work in sonar). For me, a division is like a small family. We laugh, we joke…I’d rather spend time with my STGs.”When I asked her a little bit about how she enjoyed our port visits she responded:

By: ENS Ashley Valanzola

For OSC Federico Olvera, this was not his first deployment ever, but it was his first deployment as a Chief. He shared a few thoughts about the progress that he saw from his group of 23 sailors in OI division. “I enjoyed watching my division develop and grow. We had 6 sailors qualify Enlist-ed Surface Warfare Specialist, and 1 Sur-face Warfare Officer. There were 5 combat information center watch officers, and 3 warfare coordinators. One person became the sailor of the quarter, and another the junior sailor of the quarter. They earned 6 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, 5 Letters of Commendation, and 2 Fleet Letters of Commendation. They executed the mission as a team, and they covered down for last minute tasking from CTG 73.1. They did all of this flawlessly. I enjoyed my first deployment in the chief’s mess and working with my division.”

Through the unique port visits, the long boring watches, and the pirate adventures, this 2011 deployment changed us in some way. There may be a young sonar tech who realizes she can accomplish anything, or a chief who can stand back and admire the achievements of his 23 sailors before he transfers, but they all have something to share. In a few short weeks, Howard’s sailors will come back to their families and demonstrate the way they changed, and the things they learned on this tumul-tuous deployment.

Deployment (Cont’D)

• Used 4.3 million gallons of H2O• Used 54,074 gallons of aviation fuel• Flew over 500 flight hours• Burned 3,562,588 million gallons of fuel• Cracked 975,900 eggs• Drank 100,000 pots of coffee• Sold 35,000 candy bars• Ate 8,500 hamburgers• Spent $2.2M in ship parts and repairs• Replaced 2,100 light bulbs

End of Deployment Statistics:

During its 2011 Deployment, the Howard:

and their LPO is IT1(SW) McAllister. The CE, or Combat Electronics divi-sion’s Division Officer is ENS Rex Foster, its acting Leading Chief Petty Officer is ET1(SW/AW) Stuart McFar-lane and IC1(SW) James Wiggins as Leading Petty Officer. It is composed of mainly Electronics Technicians (ET) and Interior Communications Elec-tricians (IC). The ET’s job probably ranges the greatest out of all the ratings onboard US Navy ships, as they help repair everything from External Com-munication gear to their own radars. The radars that they perform mainte-nance on are the SPS-67 and SPS-64 radar, used for surface tracking of oth-er ships, and navigation, respectively. The ET Sailor is also relied upon for repair of highly sensitive circuit card assemblies that repair a steady hand and spot-on solder points. IC Sailors are responsible for all interior commu-nications to include the Interior Voice Communications System, the ship’s intercom system, alarms, and the high-ly-important combat information cen-ter communication boxes. At this point I would like to introduce my home division, CF or Combat Fire

They say that the Gunner’s Mate and Boatswain Mate ratings are two of the oldest in this nation, or any other na-tion’s Navy. What sets this country’s Navy apart is our ability to reach out and touch our enemies before they even know we’re here. Enter; The Combat Systems of the modern US Navy.With the advent of new technology such as Radars, Long distance satellite communications, and advanced com-puters we have far superior firepower and presence than that of our enemies and our own predecessors. The need to bring the battle to our adversaries brought into light a problem of range, most of the time our firepower was limited to what we could see using our eyes to zero in on targets along the horizon. Using the ship’s guns system and fire control computer to ensure ordnance landed on target was more of an art form, guesswork, and luck. Today’s advanced systems are able to send our missiles miles above the earth to destroy enemy ballistic mis-sile threats, the equivalent of hitting a bullet in the air at an extremely long range….with another bullet.The Combat Systems Department on-board USS Howard is led by Combat Systems Officer (CSO) LCDR Kelly Martin with help from the Electronic Materials Officer (EMO) LT Robert Taylor and Systems Test Officer (STO) CWO2 Gregory Smiler. CC, or Combat Communications divi-sion is responsible for all communica-tions coming into and out of the ship. This responsibility includes the ship’s internet accessibility for important email coming to and from the ship, a nice commodity that is a far cry from the weeks of waiting for paper mail to arrive from home. CC division is also responsible for the encryption of the classified material that ships and land-based commands use to make their in-formed decisions. The Division Officer is ENS Tara Cheezem, their Leading Chief Petty Officer is ITC(SW)Rivera,

Department of the month : Combat SyStemSBy: FC2(SW) Charles Slagle

Control. Its Division Officer is LTJG Brick Christensen, the Leading Chief Petty Officer is FCC(SW) Jeremiah Holler and Leading Petty Officer is FC1(SW) Santos Fernandez. The three work centers of CF division operate and maintain three distinct branches of the AEGIS Weapons System; SPY-1D, Advanced Computer Network, and the Fire Control System. CF01’s SPY-1D is the Arleigh-Burke AEGIS Destroy-er’s primary air search radar capable of searching out to 256 nautical miles; it also gives the ship the means to engage targets with our Standard Missiles. The Advanced Computer Network that CF02 maintains links all of the sen-sors, signals, and commands together to create an incredible picture for the watch standers in Combat Informa-tion Central to make a highly informed decision during exercises and battle alike. The FCS illuminators of CF03 are responsible for the incredible reli-ability of our missiles to destroy all in-coming threats, by putting a signal on the enemy that our missiles follow for terminal guidance.

HOWARD Sailors in the Combat Systems department wait to begin their portion of Fresh Water Wash Down.

It has been a long deployment and as we wrap up the final preparations to return home, we should reflect on all the good reasons why we ‘DO WHAT WE DO’. This has been an experience of a lifetime that we will someday look back on and remember traveling many miles through several different bodies of water, half-way around the world. The days may have seemed long, but we accomplished every task put in front of us. There was nothing that could stand in our way of achieving overall mission success. We were overall focused on the mission at hand, and as a team we made through this obstacle. One of the most important things to each and every one of us is returning to our loved ones back home. Just seeing our families again is what everyone is looking forward to the most. A few have kids you haven’t seen before, and a few emotions will run wild as you see your loved ones for the first time in seven months. Our families are the reason why we deploy for long periods of time, and why we joined the Navy. We sacrifice our time with our families so their freedom at home is al-ways protected. Having returned from deployment numer-ous different times and ways, I can tell you it is nothing better than manning the rails on a U.S. Navy ship as she approach-es the pier in homeport, uniforms clean

and freshly pressed, families holding up signs, balloons, flowers and posters. Your adrenaline will be pumped; you will feel a rush like no other to be back in the United States, back in San Diego, CA, the great-est port of the deployment. It is by the way football season and most of the sports fans are looking forward to watching football, whether college or pro all day long on Saturday and Sunday, and even attending some games live in per-son. Although we have see a few games on AFN when the satellite cooperated, it will be much better to watch a game and not worry about the signal going out in the middle of a great play. We are all looking forward to spending quality time with our families and taking advantage of well deserved leave periods. Cherish each day whether sitting around the house, traveling throughout CA, or elsewhere around the U.S. and world. I am proud of each and every crewmem-ber onboard HOWARD for having a safe and enjoyable deployment. Take care of your family and thank you for all that you do!!!

CMDCM(SW/AW) R. L. BRADYUSS HOWARD (DDG 83) COMMAND MASTER CHIEF

WorDS from the CmC...

excited to finally walk on dry land and enjoy a few drinks and some delicious food after 63 straight days underway. Okinawa

Okinawa was a great op-portunity for sailors to get out an experience Japanese cuisine and shopping. Howard pulled in to the Naval Base at White Beach and sailors were transported to Kadena Air Force Base for liberty, 45 minutes away. Once on Kadena, sailors purchased the essentials at the BX (like the NEX for the air force), and headed out in to town for sushi and shopping. For the first two days in port the rain was relentless, but the sun finally broke through on Howard’s last day in Okinawa. The atmosphere when the ship finally departed from Okinawa was anxious and excited; this would be our last stop before we came back to the United States.

Howard stopped in two more ports before the ship stopped in Hawaii. The first was Singapore in late September for 2 days, and the second was Okinawa at the very beginning of October. Here is a brief description and some pho-tographs of what the ship experi-enced.

Singapore

The Formula One race was finishing up as Howard pulled in to Singapore on a Sunday morn-ing. After a long working party, sailors left for liberty, which was a 20 minute bus ride and 10 minute cab ride to downtown. The city was more crowded than expected, but the festivities for the race were still going strong. In places like Clarke Quay, cars were set up along the streets and demon-strations lasted through the night. Although slightly expensive, the sailors onboard Howard were

pit StopS

A word from our ombudsmAn...

coming as well. The FRG is making every effort so that all crew members feel welcome home. There is a homecoming party for families planned by the FRG prior to homecoming. It is a time of celebration here in San Diego for all of us families as we await your return. We know you all are almost home and we could not be any more excited and anxious. We look forward to greeting you as you all return back to us here in San Diego.

Terra Cramer,Command Ombudsman

Howard Family and Friends,

As we anxiously await your return, the FRG is getting prepared for your homecom-ing back here in San Diego. There is a lot of effort and long hours that have gone in to planning by our families. We are all excited to be able to welcome you home with the appreciation you so deserve. We are very proud of you all and want to make sure that is known on homecoming day.

The FRG has been an integral link in keeping families connected and supported. There have been many outings and events planned and hosted for your families dur-ing this deployment. They have gone above and beyond to ensure our families see and know a friendly face. Howard families knew they were not alone and had the support of fellow Howard family and friends. There have been preparations to make sure all of you returning have a happy home-

happy birthDay!

OSCS EDWARDS, GSM3 RINGSTAFF, IC2 WILBERT, IC3 ROBBINS, OS2 BOHLINGER, QM3 DURAND, EM3 BILOKONSKY, FC3 DUNLAP, GSM3 LENOIR, GSE2 MACIASTEJEDA, YN3 OROS, HT2 THORNTON, LT COLLINS, EMC GREENO, CTR2 SOLOMON, GSCS BURKE, FC2 MARTIN, ET1 MCFARLANE, OS3 DILLARD, FC2 MARTINEZ, ISC LIVELY, ENS PAROBEK, GSCS BASSO

Happy Birthday to Howard Sailors with Birthdays in the Month of September!

September eSWSSTG2 JORDON M. GORDONSHSN RICARDO N. DOMINICKOS3 JOAN N. ALSTONLS3 NICKELAS S. BRADYIC3 NATHANIEL L. FOSTERGM3 MATTHEW R. NOMICOSCTRSA ADAM T. CUNNINGHAMCTT3 JAMES A. GAITHERAMAN SABRINA L. HEINSAT2 KEVIN O’CONNELLBM3 ZACHARY T. LEWISEMFN MATTHEW R. EASONET3 DEREK J. MAYET3 JACOB P. OBEROSLER

Congratulations to the following Howard

Sailors on earning their Enlisted Surface

Warfare Specialist(ESWS) qualifications!

ENS ROBERT ATHERTONENS MICHAEL AUSTINENS TARA CHEEZEMENS JONATHON LLOYDENS JENNIFER MALHEREKENS DANIEL PAROBEKENS ASHLEY VALANZOLA

September SurfaCe Warfare offiCer QualifiCationS (SWo)Listed Alphabetically:

September eSWS

Howard Dragons: Great Achievements

by: fC2(SW) Cierra Wyre

Words From Home

Shaun Martin your lover and buggy miss u and are waiting for u. We Love You.

Dear FC2 Scott J. Anderson, Hi Kiddo! We miss you lots and can’t wait to see you again! Especially Audrey. She is getting so big! Take care and stay safe, Love, Mom, Dad and Audrey

LTJG Chris Green: Almost home and your new life. Love you. Miss you. So proud of you. Mom and Dad.

GM1 Jose Nixon HAPPY BIRTHDAY love we wish we could be with you on your special day but that’s okay we will cel-ebrate when you come back to us. We love you and miss you very much Angelica, Jojo, Alexis, and Bella.

GSCS MIGUEL BASSO!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY ESPOSO MIO!!Can’t wait to see you. Elizabeth

ITC Rick Rivera We love and miss you so much and can’t for your return home. Love: Kay, Brandon, William, Jacen, Justin & Amanda

GM3 Tiffany O’Bryan I can’t wait to see you. Hugs and Kisses! Love, Mommy

OS2 Lislee Bohlinger I love and miss you honey! Can’t wait for you be back home! Kurt Bohlinger

BMC Conrad G Mathis, we miss you, love you & can’t wait until you get home. Love Always, Genie, Ashlee, Aiana, Amara & Aaron

GMC Rolando Peña, I’m so happy homecoming is around the corner! I miss you so much, Giovani says: hi and your kids love and miss you and are glad you’re coming home :). Xavior, Alex, Roman, Vani and Vale are so proud of their dad and send their love. I send you all my love as well. Can’t wait to have you home! – Tani

LT Christopher Torres: Happy Anniversary Sweetie! Can’t wait for you to get home! Love, Katie

PO2 Michael Boss: I love you miss you very much. I am so excited to see you and can’t wait to join you in Pearl Harbor. I am very proud of you. Love, Mom

GSM3(SW) Christopher Ewigman - Dear Chris I cannot wait for you to come home, love you Adam so proud of you and all you do! Can’t wait to see you! Be safe - love Mom, Tim and Adam

Words From Home

Jr. Dragon Corner

Editor in Chief: ENS Ashley ValanzolaAssistant Editor: FC2(SW) Charles SlagleLayout Editor: CTMSN Rebecca Marinacci

Staff Writers:ENS Ashley ValanzolaOS1(SW) Eric PeoplesFC2(SW) Cierra WyreEM1(SS) Joseph SeinaIT2(SW) Stefani WellsBM3(SW) Meryl Vogel

Dragon Times news sTaff

Q: Why couldn’t the pirate’s kid go to the movie?A: Because it was rated ARRRRRRRRRR.

Jr. Dragon Joke of the Month

Jr. Dragon WorD of the month: SCUttBleBUtt

“SCUTTLEBUTT” is what we call our water fountains on the ship. So next time you need a drink at the park, ask where to find the scuttlebutt!