USS George Washington (CVN 73)

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Comment by Brad on July 10, 2011 at 10:15pm

The following is a great explaination from a Facebook post of what our AW/Resuce Swimmers do as a part of the 7th fleet working with the USS George Washington and the supporting ships also carring HS-14 helos.

HS-14 Performs Invaluable Support to USS George Washington By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman William Gatlin

by USS George Washington (CVN 73) on Friday, July 1, 2011 at 6:10pm

SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 30, 2011) – Aircraft carriers often conjure up images of fighter jets being catapulted off the bow, but aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) on patrol in the South China Sea,, that wouldn’t happen without the “Chargers” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 (HS-14) which has a new claim to fame.

 

HS-14 is the U.S. Navy’s largest Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron, first in the air and the last to land on the deck during the continuous flight operations aboard the Navy’s only fulltime forward-deployed nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. 

 

“Our primary mission is to provide plane guard and search and rescue (SAR) assets during flight operations and protect the inner zone by making sure the area remains clear from any potential threats,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Hayes, HS-14’s Operations Officer. “The fixed wing aircraft are not going to fly unless we are up in the air to provide them with SAR.”

 

To be ready to execute in a moment’s notice when called upon, HS-14 conducts extensive SAR training day and night, for both peacetime and at times of conflict.  By being able to complete this mission, HS-14 can support the Air Wing and increases the overall readiness of the Strike Group.

 

In addition, HS-14 has mission capabilities for Anti-submarine (ASW) and Anti-surface (ASUW) warfare, anti-ship missile defense, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) support.  The squadron maintains and flies two versions of the H-60 Seahawk: the SH-60F for ASW and the HH-60H for CSAR and SOF missions.

 

“Our squadron is tasked daily to support each Warfare Commander across all mission areas.  It is exciting to fly a platform that is multi-mission capable,” said Hayes. 

 

In 2010, USS George Washington navigated more than 50,000 nautical miles across the western Pacific Ocean.  During that time, North Korea sank the South Korean ship, Cheonan, taking tensions between the two nations to the tipping point.  While those tensions have de-escalated, the incident demonstrated the need for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities in the western Pacific.  With George Washington once again underway, HS-14 fulfills that mission critical need.

 

“The Chargers coordinate with the surface assets of the Carrier Strike Group to investigate surface threats near the operating area as well is any indication that a submerged threat is operating in the carrier strike group’s vicinity,” said LT Brian Carnes.  “Helicopters in their nature are a flexible asset, so as a squadron we have to remain flexible to the needs of the strike group.”

 

That flexibility is plain to see when George Washington is conducting a vertical replenishment-at-sea (RAS).  While fixed wing aircraft stand down during this evolution, the helicopters of HS-14 are still in the air, moving hundreds of pallets back and forth between the supply ship and George Washington’s flight deck.

 

Vertical replenishments are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the logistical support capabilities HS-14 brings to the fight.  HS-14 also conducts medical evacuations, personnel transfers between ships and shore and deliver mission essential parts among the strike group.

 

“Our missions might not always be as cool as others, but we play a vital role in the strike group and do a lot of behind the scenes grunt work.  I like to think of us as a lineman on a Super Bowl winning team,” said Hayes.

In the aftermath of Japan’s massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked in the nation in March, HS-14 was among the first U.S. Navy assets on the frontlines, delivering life-saving supplies to thousands of homeless people in need. 

 

“Being able to assist our Japanese neighbors during Operation Tomodachi was incredibly rewarding.  It was an All Hands effort to respond as quickly as we did.  We flew in tremendously challenging environments: winter storms in the mountains, coupled with the potential for radiation contamination from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant,” said Hayes.

But the squadron was ready to meet those challenges when called upon.  Throughout Operation Tomodachi, HS-14 flew more than 500 hours and delivered over 62,000 pounds of life-saving relief supplies directly to those hit the hardest. 

 

George Washington returned to patrolling the waters of the Western Pacific ocean on June 12, 2011, departing her forward operating base of Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka.  Onboard are more than 5,500 Sailors from George Washington and Carrier Air Wing Five. George Washington’s mission is to ensure security and stability in the Western Pacific and to be in position to work with our allies and regional partners to respond to any crisis across the operational spectrum as directed.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on July 6, 2011 at 10:18pm

INDIAN OCEAN (July 6, 2011) USS George Washington (CVN 73)steams in the Indian Ocean after transiting from the Java Sea through the Sunda Strait with ships from the Indonesian and Royal Australian navies. The aircraft carrier will be taking part in combined exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 with Australia, which begins next week. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2rd Class Adam K. Thomas)

Comment by Jim G. on June 26, 2011 at 6:59pm

I spent 8 years in the Navy and always found it extremely difficult to plan ahead for leave.  This was partly due to my rate, and also due to the unpredictable nature of the deployment schedule for fast atack submarines.

 

Your son's experience may be different, but since they are currently underway it will be some time before he can even begin the process of requesting leave for Christmas.  I can tell you that I would wait before investing any money in plane tickets (especially if they are not able to be changed or refunded.

 

As for staying in the Navy Lodge (either in Japan or Hawaii), I have stayed in the Navy Lodge with my family in the past and I always found the accomodations to be clean and comfortable.  No frills, and no luxuries but very affordable.

 

The two areas you mention, however, Hawaii and Japan, are both in great demand and can be difficult to book.  There are waiting lists and I am not clear on how far in advance you would need to reserve your rooms.

 

Your best bet would be to phone the actual Navy Lodge you would like to reserve and get more information directly from the folks who work there.  They usually know the best times to book your rooms and how far in advance you need to make your reservations.

 

Good luck, and I hope this information helps!

 

Jim

Comment by Jmespo on June 21, 2011 at 10:55am

Hi, This is my son's first deployment on the GW and I have a question for those who have been through this before.  His twin sister had a crazy idea this weekend that we plan on meeting up with her brother right after Christmas in Hawaii.  I know that nothing is certain as to when he could get leave, but is there any way you can plan these things in advance and not commit a lot of money.  I check some flights and for us to fly from NYC to Hawaii is around $1200, but my son's flight from Tokyo is $2200.  I also heard that if we visited him in Tokyo, we could stay at a military hotel, can the same thing happen in Hawaii, even though he is not stations there. Is there anybody I could contact that could give me some advice on how to do this?

 

Thanks in advance and sorry for the cross posting with other groups here.

 

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on May 12, 2011 at 3:04pm

George Washington Sailors ship donated blankets to disaster victims
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam K. Thomas

YOKOSUKA, Japan (May 10, 2011) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) place more than a dozen boxes of donated blankets onto a flatbed truck outside one of the ship's warehouses. The blankets, donated by George Washington Sailors and their families, were to be delivered to the areas of Japan hit hardest by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the island nation March 11. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam K. Thomas)

YOKOSUKA, Japan — Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) joined forces with members of the Free Masons of Japan to box up and ship out donated blankets to those in need May 10.

Sixteen pallets containing more than 1,500 blankets donated by George Washington Sailors, their families and various communities from across the United States were bound for Sendai, Japan to provide relief to victims of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the island nation March 11.

The delivery to Sendai was spearheaded by Phil Ambrose, Grand Secretary of the Free Masons of Japan.

“The damage to the Sendai area is much worse than people have seen on television; the area has been totally devastated by the tsunami,” said Ambrose. “We’re taking several truckloads of supplies and these blankets to try and help people recover from the devastation.”

George Washington’s crew, wanting to do whatever they could to help the people of Japan, initiated a blanked drive in the ship’s hangar bay less than 48 hours after the earthquake and tsunami. The crew also reached out to their friends and family at home by posting a message on the ship’s Facebook page asking them to donate.

“I think it’s so important for human beings to help other human beings whenever there’s a need,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jose Pimentel, George Washington Catholic Chaplain. “The earthquake happened so unexpectedly. Life was just going along and suddenly there was this tremendous tragedy, so we all feel the need to help. It’s just human nature to want to help out and assist.”

As crates were quickly filling with blankets, George Washington and her crew were ordered to pull out to sea putting their efforts on hold. Two weeks into this unexpected deployment during a brief port visit to Sasebo, Japan, the ship received her first shipment of mail which included more than 1,000 blankets. One shipment alone, from the Lake Orion Police Department in Lake Orion, Mich., contained 425 blankets collected by school children from a nearby elementary school.

The response to the request for donations was so overwhelming that George Washington’s Sailors had a difficult time finding space to store all of the blankets while underway.

“This blanket drive started out as a really good idea that got a little complicated when the ship had to leave Japan for a then-undetermined period of time,” said Pimentel. “It was fortunate that we were able to contact [Ambrose] and work with him from all ends. It’s been a great effort from everybody involved, not just our Sailors and our families, but from people from two nations coming together to assist those devastated by this catastrophe, and it’s a great thing that we were able to complete this project under the circumstances.”

George Washington is the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, ensuring security and stability across the western Pacific Ocean.

Comment by Jim G. on April 28, 2011 at 1:38pm

i was awarded a Navy Achievement Medal as an E-6 due to providing outstanding support of repairs for submarines while stationed on a submarine tender in Guam.  Some (recruiters in particular) are awarded the NAM for meeting performance targets.  Others (officers and many chiefs) are given a NAM as an end of tour award.  The point is that there is no set criteria and it is awarded at the discretion of the Commanding officer.  The best any sailor can do is to do their job to the best of their ability and keep themselves squared away.

Comment by MikeU on April 21, 2011 at 6:41pm

What do you have to do to get the NAM ?

Comment by MikeU on April 21, 2011 at 5:42pm

One good thing about floating around for 30 days going nowhere ... he was able to get his AW pin.

Comment by Jim Clemente on April 21, 2011 at 5:34pm

I found it odd also. But not knowing the circumstances I didn't say anything. I am glad I am not alone in my beliefs

Comment by MikeU on April 21, 2011 at 5:29pm

My son is glad to be back in Yokosuka. Apparently 30 days on the ship going nowhere was not too exciting.  Seems rather odd that the Fukushima nuclear disaster was a level "4" when they left, and they have now returned to it being a level "7".

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