USA: Sailors, Marines Attached to BATARG Reach New Year’s Goals

Sailors and Marines attached to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) closed out the year by reflecting on the personal and professional goals they have achieved, and they set their sights on fresh goals for 2012.

The BATARG deployed more than nine months ago and has since conducted exercises and operations in the U.S. Fifth and Sixth areas of responsibility.

For many Sailors, earning their Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) or Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist (EAWS) qualification was a top priority.

“When I first found out I was coming to the ship I was nervous like anyone else would be, but I had a great group of people in my shop that took a lot of time and prepared me for what I needed to get done as soon as possible,” said Electronics Technician 3rd Class (SW) Philip Strube. “I think that if my friends in my shop were not so hard on me that life would have been easier, but I would have done nothing to better myself. I am glad that they put pressure on me to get qualifications because looking back now, I am further ahead than I was expecting.”

Having successfully achieved his ESWS goal, Strube plans on earning his EAWS qualification in 2012.

Professional development was an important goal for many service members, with many Sailors and Marines using the long deployment to become well-versed in their rate.

“I not only earned my EAWS qualification, but I made the next rank, allowing me to stay in the Navy and open up even more opportunities down the line,” said Aviation Aerographer’s Mate 2nd Class (AW) Jason Quinn, attached to Fleet Weather Center Strike Group Oceanographic Team based out of Norfolk, Va. “I have pushed myself, and I have accomplished more than I thought imaginable.”

“I earned my ESWS on this deployment and I also was able to show my team that I can be a leader by stepping up as a Seaman Apprentice,” said Cryptologic Technician Collection (SW) Seaman Veronica Holston, attached to Navy Information Operations Command. “I made it a priority to learn everything I could about all the equipment that I work around, and that has helped me to become a better cryptologist. I am positive that I will be ready to put on third class when that time comes.”

Holston says one of her professional goals for 2012 is to work towards the Information Dominance Warfare Pin (EIDWS).

For Quinn, the deployment gave him a chance to explore his strengths and test his character and has opened the door to new opportunities.

“I owe the Navy a lot,” said Quinn. “I have found out more about myself and who I am as a person, and I am proud of myself and proud to be in the Navy.”

Marines attached to the embarked 22nd MEU have also gained valuable career development skills during the deployment through the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP).

“I started this deployment as a gray belt in MCMAP, and my goal was to earn my black belt, which is the highest level you can go in MCMAP,” said Lance Cpl. Chad Springer. “I am currently a brown belt, and next week I will be doing my final test to get my black belt.”

Springer credits the program for teaching him discipline and says that the experience has helped him mature both personally and professionally.

“Earning my black belt is a milestone that I have taken head on, and it will open up a lot of career opportunities for me in the future,” said Springer. “I am hoping that since I received my black belt as a lance corporal, that I will be able to pick up rank as a corporal next year. I joined partially for the college aspect and now that I have some of my qualifications out of the way I can focus on getting my degree. I am definitely proud to say that this was the best thing I could have done for myself.”

The ships assigned to the BATARG include multipurpose amphibious assault ship Bataan (LHD 5), amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), and dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41).

Bataan is the command ship of the Amphibious Ready group (ARG), supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

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Naval Today Staff , January 04, 2012; Image: navy