USS Harpers Ferry Command Newsletter - March
9
volume: III March 2014 U S S H A R P E R S F E R R Y L S D 4 9 U S S H A R P E R S F E R R Y L S D 4 9 C o m m a n d N e w s le tt e r For Sailors and Marines aboard USS Harpers Ferry and the family members awaiting our return. The Musket
-
Upload
uss-harpers-ferry -
Category
Documents
-
view
219 -
download
1
description
Stories from USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) deployed in support of maritime security and peacetime efforts.
Transcript of USS Harpers Ferry Command Newsletter - March
volume: III March 2014
USS
HARP
ERS FERRY LSD 49US
S HA
RPERS FERRY LSD 49
Command Newsletter
For Sailors and Marines aboard USS Harpers Ferry and the family members awaiting our return.
TheMusket
2
USS Harpers Ferry Provides Valuable Training OpportunitiesU.S. Navy story by Lt. j.g. Andrew C. Legayada, Commander, Amphibious Squadron One Public Affairs
F ourjuniorofficersassignedtotheamphibioustransportdockshipUSSArlington(LPD24)embarkedaboardtheamphibiousdocklandingshipUSSHarpersFerry(LSD49)toreceive
training,experienceandexposuretoamphibiousoperations,Feb.23.
Theyparticipatedinshipboardevolutionsrangingfromunderwayreplenishments(UNREP)tolaunchingamphibiousassaultvehiclesfromtheship’swelldeck.
“IgottoseealotofevolutionsthatIhaven’tseenbeforeduetobeingintheshipyardsandbeingonapre-commissionedship,”saidLt.MiltonGray,fromDetroit,atacticalinformationwarfareofficerassignedtoArlington.
Theofficersareparticipatinginthesametrainingstructureassurfacewarfareofficers(SWO)assignedtoHarpersFerry,thataretryingtoearntheirSWOqualificationsbycompletingaseriesofpersonnelqualificationstandardsandweeklytrainingsessions.
“Ireallywantedtheunderwayexperience.YoucanreadalltheNavybooksandpublicationsyouwant,butit’snothinglikeactuallydoingitinreallife,”saidEnsignAmberMeer,fromEaston,Md.,anadministrationofficerassignedtoArlington.
HarpersFerrydeployedinAugust2013withtheBoxerAmphibiousReadyGroup.TheHarpersFerry’sofficersusedtheirpreviousexperiencesconductingUNREPs,flightquarters,andamphibiousoperationstomentortheArlingtonofficers.TwooftheArlingtonofficerswillremainaboarduntiltheendofdeployment.
“It’sabreathoffreshairtohaveofficersfromoursistershipgettoknowwhatdeploymentislikeandhowamphibiousshipsworkinreallifesituations,”saidLt.Cmdr.BradA.Fancher,chiefengineerassignedtoHarpersFerry.“I’msuretheexperiencestheygainherewillbenefittheirowncommandontheupcomingtrainingcycle.”
| USS Harpers Ferry Provides Valuable Training Opportunities
Sailors assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) make their approach alongside the dry cargo ship USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE-4) during a replenishment-at-sea
3Photos |
4 | Photos
From Top Left to Bottom Right from Previous page: Sailors pass supplies during a replenishment at sea // A Marine celebrates after returning back to the Harpers Ferry from a training mission // An amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) enters the well deck of Harpers Ferry // A Marine lifts a workout bar during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program workout // A Marine inventories supplies in the boat deck of Harpers Ferry // Lt. Cmdr. Stephen J. Ilteris, Commanding Officer, maintains a watch at night on the bridge wing of the Harpers Ferry // A Sailor clears a room during a Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure drill // An MH-60S Sea Hawk lands on the flight deck of the Harpers Ferry // Sailors move cargo during a replenishment at sea on the flight deck of the Harpers Ferry // Sailors give the flight deck a freshwater wash down on the Harpers Ferry // Marines stand in formation upon completion of the Marine Corps Corporals Course
CulinarySpecialist2ndClassKyleHill,fromSteeleville,Ill.,isanimposingman,stoneeyedandwalkswithastraightback.Heplayshisguitardressedinallblack;blackbeanie,blackshorts,andablackHarleyDavidsonsleevelessshirt.
“Playingguitarbringsbackmemoriesofmydad,myoldband-home.IwentofftobootcampandIhaven’tseenthemsince,”saidHill.
Whenheplayshisguitar,hefindshimselfbackathome,farawayfromthestressesoftheNavy,andabletounwindafteralongnightofwork.
Hesaidwritinglyricstoasongletshimleavehistroublesonthepaperandwalkaway.“It’snotterribleanymore.It’sagoodfeelingbecauseIwrotethemandit’saboutmylife.It’sthereasonwhyIplayguitar,”Hilladded.
Thecreationofasongisachallengeputtingemotionsonpaperandtyingitintotheguitarparts,saidHill.“You’reaninventororacreator,creatingsomethingthatnooneelsehasdone,”hesaid.“Tryingtomakemyowngenreormyownsongssoundlikemyselfandnooneelse.”
HeplayshissongsinfrontofSailorsandMarinesaboardtheamphibiousdocklandingshipUSSHarpersFerry(LSD49)duringcommandsponsoredeventslikeapicnicinJebelAli,UnitedArabEmirates.“ItwasthefirsttimeIgotupinfrontofacrowdin21/2years.Itwasarushtogetupandplayinfrontofmorethanjustfriends,”saidHill.
Thecommandhadaskedhimtoplaybuthedidn’tthinktheyreallymeantit.Hillsaidthenextthingheknew,hewassettingupandabouttoplay.
“Iseehimplayingsongsandsingingprettyoften.He’sverygood.I’llseehimplayingafterwork,”saidCulinarySpecialistCheemengHer,acoworker.“He’sagoodguytoo,ifyouneedhelpweallknowyoucanaskHill.”
BecauseHillworksnightsintheHarpersFerrygalley,theoddhoursallowhimtimeforsongwriting.
“I’vegottenbetterinthepastfouryearsintheNavybecauseIhavemoretimetoconcentrateonmyskillasawhole,”saidHill.“It’sabigdifferencehavingabandtocarryyoubecauseyoudon’thavetocarryyourself.”
HillsaidhestartedabandcalledRawhidewithhisdadandacoupleofhisfriends.“Wewouldgotolocalvenuesandplayclassiccountry.Weplayedsomenewcountryandtheywouldletmedosomecoversmyself,”saidHill.Ayearandahalflater,hestartedhisownbandandbecamethesinger.
“IplayedwithmybandallthewayupuntilIjoinedtheNavy.WhenIjoinedtheNavyIdidn’thavemyownequipment,soIboughtaguitar,”saidHill.HejoinedtheNavytogetmoneyforschoolandtousetheexperiencetobuildcharacter.
“It’sgotitsupanddowns.Idefinitelydon’tregretit,IhavelearnedalotfromtheNavy.It’sbeenaprettygoodexperiencesofar,”saidHill.
Sailor Strums Stress Away on DeploymentBy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark El-Rayes, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) Public Affairs
5Sailor Strums Stress Away on Deployment |
Hill during a Rope Yarn Picnic
66 | What is a PHIBRON & USO Thank You
PHIBRON 1
13th MEU
PHIBRON 1 / BOXER ARG
What is a PHIBRON?AnAmphibiousSquadron(PHIBRON)consistsofthreeormoreamphibiousships.Normallya
LandingHelicopterDock(LHD),DockLandingShip(LSD)andAmphibiousTransportDock(LPD)
WhentheshipsofaPHIBRONareloadedwithMarineExpeditionaryUnits(MEU)andadditionalunitssuchasAssaultCraftUnits(ACU)theybecomeanAmphibiousReadyGroup(ARG)
The13thMEUismadeupofGroundControlElement-1stBattalion4thMarines,AviationCombatElement-VMM-166,andLogisticsCombatElement-CombatLogisticsBattalion13
( )USSBoxer(LHD4),USSHarpersFerry
(LSD49),USSNewOrleans(LPD18)
( )1stBattalion4thMarines,VMM-166,
CombatLogisticsBattalion13
Harpers Ferry ThanksPierreGarconoftheWashingtonRedskins,JimmyGrahamoftheNewOrleansSaints,and
BrandonFieldsoftheMiamiDolphins,andtheUSOforvisitingusatKhalifaFort,AbuDhabi.
ItwasamoralboostingnightforHarpersFerryandonemanyonHarpersFerrywillnotforget.
USS H
ARPERS FERRY LSD 49
“First in Freedom"
7Happy Birthday Chiefs |
happy 121st birthday to the chiefsApril1st,1893theChiefPettyOfficerrankwascreatedandhasbeenleadershipfromthedeckplatessince
USS
HARP
ERS FERRY LSD 49US
S HA
RPERS FERRY LSD 49
“First in Freedom"
InformationShip’s Addresses:
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)FPO-AP 96665-1737
CLB-13 Unit 16045FPO-AP 96427-6045
BLT 1/4 Det 1 Unit 16056FPO AP 96427-6056
PAO Email:[email protected]
Independent Duty MC:[email protected]
Facebook:www.facebook.com/USS.Harpers.Ferry
www.facebook.com/HarpersFerryOmbudsman
Command Ombudsman Email:[email protected]
8 | Information
USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49
volume: IV | March 2014
