Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific and Commander Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR) U.S. Atlantic Fleet awarded aircraft carrier departmental awards to multiple departments aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Feb. 12.
The awards were presented to individual departments that achieved outstanding levels of readiness. Stennis earned 14 departmental efficiency awards for 2012: the Air Department Yellow “E,” Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Black “E,” Combat Systems Green “CS,” Deck White Crossed Anchors with Black “D,” Environmental Protection Energy and Conservation Award, Health Services Blue “M,” Navigation White Ship’s Wheel, Operations Green “E,” Reactor Red “E,” Safety Green “S,” Security Black “S,” Supply Blue “E,” Weapons Black “W,” and Carrier Maintenance Purple “E”.
Capt. Ron Reis, Stennis’ commanding officer, noted the departments’ achievements.
“Every department contributed a maximum effort, achieving unprecedented combat operations, material readiness and Fleet Readiness Training Plan training,” said Reis.
According to Reis, Weapons Department led Stennis to become the first CVN in two decades to tactically employ 2.75 inch rockets, providing increased combat capability to Operation Enduring Freedom.
In addition to winning the Blue “E,” Stennis’ Supply Department took top honors in the COMNAVAIRFOR Supply Services Excellence Awards for the Pacific Fleet. The department also won the prestigious Carl Scheuefelle award for the chief petty officer mess which recognizes the most outstanding chief petty officer food service operations within the aircraft carrier community.
“I’m proud of all my supply brothers and sisters,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Michael Farmer, from Yakama, Wash. “We demonstrated sustained superior performance and knocked it out of the park. This recognition is well deserved.”
The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG), consisting of Stennis, Carrier Air Wing 9, Destroyer Squadron 21, and guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) are forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 20, 2013