Page 16 www.NORTHweSTNaVIgaTOR.cOm NORTHweST NaVIgaTOR> KITSAP/EVERETT EDITION • Friday, aUGUST 27, 2010

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Bill Bailey, USN Retired

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SUBGRU 9 Public Affairs Adm. Patrick Walsh, com-

mander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited USS Ohio (SSGN 726) during a recent visit to the Pacific Northwest Aug. 18.

Ohio recently returned from a challenging and highly productive 14-month Western Pacific deployment which included the first simultaneous worldwide deployment of all four of the Navy’s guided missile submarines (SSGN).

Walsh was presented with the full spectrum of Ohio’s war fighting capabilities as he toured the control room, battle management center, missile control center, and lock out chambers.

He recently lauded the ship’s contributions to national security in an Aug. 11 message to both crews calling their mission per-formance “highly profes-sional,” and “truly outstand-ing,” during their recent deployment which included significant contributions in the global war on terrorism,

joint special forces exercises with partner nations, and port visits supporting inter-national relations includ-ing the first ever visit to Australia by an Ohio-class submarine.

Lt.j.g. Jeremy Magrum thinks Walsh’s visit shows the crews how important their contributions to the

Navy and nation are. “The collective effort

involved with so many per-sonnel maintaining SSGNs in a forward deployed status for such a prolonged period is absolutely remarkable,” said Magrum. “Admiral Walsh’s visit informs both crews that our exhaustive efforts executing the mis-sion are not unnoticed.”

Ohio (Blue) Commanding Officer, Capt. Murray Gero, escorted Walsh throughout the boat.

“We were humbled by his presence and recognition,” said Gero. “Admiral Walsh’s sincere interest and support boosted our officer’s and Sailor’s conviction to redou-ble their effort in support of our nation’s security.”

Ohio now begins the next cycle with a short three-month dry docking main-tenance period that will upgrade, groom, and refur-bish systems in preparation for their next deployment.

PACFLT commander visits USS Ohio

By Lt.j.g. David GibsonUSS Louisiana

The Louisiana Gold Family Readiness Group (FRG) adopted and beautified a flower planter outside the Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor Trigger Gate, in August.

FRG volunteers and Sailors collected donations from the Poulsbo Lavender Farm and generous individuals in order to create a visually stimulating entrance.

The volunteers were concerned with water management, so they chose mainly drought tolerant flowers.

The planter was designed in a traditional English spoke pattern which starts in the center using tall plants and continues out-ward with the flora getting shorter in a wid-ening band. The plants used could be found in a cottage garden and include lavender, pansies, primrose, tulips, petunias, gerani-ums, and delphiniums.

“These flowers can actually be smelled as you wait in line to enter the base adding

a pleasurable experience while waiting in your vehicle,” stated Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Wonaszek, one of the crew members who volunteered his time in the effort.

In the fall, mums will stand guard to wel-come in winter with plans to plant around 300 tulip bulbs so that come next spring, the planter will be bursting with color before the perennials start blooming. During the winter months the lavender will continue to add color to the surrounding area, as it is a durable evergreen plant.

“I think its something the Louisiana Gold Crew can be proud of for years to come,” said Katie Faile, spouse of Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jon Faile. “We left our mark here and itís always grand when you can leave a little something beautiful wherever you go.”

The planter upkeep is performed by Katie Faile, Tamara Martinez, Lorie McGee, and Julie Turk.

Louisiana (Gold) adopts planter at Bangor

Courtesy photo

Members of the USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) (Gold) FRG and volunteer sailors stand in front of the Trigger Gate planter.

By MCC Sonya AnsarovOffice of the MCPON

Initial enlisted warfare qualifications are now mandatory for all Sailors per the recent release of NAVADMIN 268-10.

The NAVADMIN announces the release of OPNAVINST 1414.9, Navy Enlisted Warfare Qualification Programs Instruction, which issues the basic overarching require-ments for the qualification and designation of all enlist-

ed warfare programs.The arduous and often

unforgiving environment we operate in as a Navy and Sailor dictates the need for all personnel to have a basic understanding and operat-ing knowledge of the plat-form or command to which they are assigned.

Warfare programs are essential in ensuring our Sailors understand and are able to effectively engage a casualty, operate equipment or platforms safely and

ensure backup as needed. Warfare qualifications are about ship, shipmate and self, and ensure the safety and safe operation of each command and platform on a daily basis.

Qualification and/or re-qualification is manda-tory for all enlisted Sailors assigned to designated war-fare qualifying commands.

Warfare sponsors will establish specific qualifi-cation and re-qualifying timelines however, the maximum allowable time for initial qualification of all enlisted Sailors assigned to designated warfare quali-fying commands will not exceed 30 months.

Enlisted warfare qualifications a mandatory requirement

MC2 Gretchen Albrecht

Capt. Murray Gero, USS OHIO (SSGN 726) (Blue) commanding offi-cer, explains parts of the battle management center to Adm. Patrick Walsh, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, during his tour on USS OHIO (SSGN 726) Aug. 18.

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