DESRON-1 Plays Major Role in Rim of the Pacific 2010

Walking into a wardroom with three Navy Captains can lead to some confusion when young officers ask to join the mess. This is a challenge that the junior officers of the USS Lake Erie (CG-70) had to overcome during the multinational exercise known as Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010.

The trio of senior leadership included the ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain William C. Johnson, Commodore Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1, Captain Eric C. Young, and the DESRON’s Deputy Commodore Captain Donald Hornbeck.

Commodore Young and Capt. Hornbeck found themselves aboard the USS Lake Erie as the Sea Combat Commanders overseeing all of the evolutions of RIMPAC 2010. Even his boss, Vice Admiral Richard Hunt, Commander Third Fleet, made clear that leading such a large group wasn’t very easy, “This is the biggest exercise the Navy has done all year. There are 14 nations, 20,000 sailors and service members involved. It’s a big deal.”

Playing war games as the Sea Combatant Commander, Captain Young is focused on the safety of the sailors more than anything, “I just want to see proficiency in everything we do; I want these to be safe, mishap free exercises.” Boarding ships, calling flight quarters and training Sailors about the art of submarine, air, and surface warfare is an inherently risky task.

Despite the stress of his increasingly demanding job, it was a rare sight to see the Commodore without a smile. “I really enjoy interacting with the Sailors and junior officers. My day-to-day drive is fueled by watching the Sailors do what they do at sea and watching our next generation of Naval Officers and senior enlisted learn to run the Navy for the future.”

Having charge of thousands of Sailors and over a dozen warships has its downside too. “See that,” asked the Commodore while pointing to his phone, “Rings all night long.” It is a hard job, but fortunately, he is not alone. Commodore Young brought a support staff of fourteen Officers and Chiefs to help him with his duties during RIMPAC, and with a schedule full of events they stay busy. Captain Young left nearly half of his staff to continue to support and run Destroyer Squadron 1, back in San Diego.

Not only was he working out of his normal base of operations but he also had to find a balance with the crew and wardroom of the USS Lake Erie. He remarked how working in conjunction with Captain Johnson was easy for him, explaining how they prefer to work as a team and share ideas constantly.

Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) wasn’t all smooth sailing however, different nations meant different languages. “There was a language barrier, however it didn’t take long for that setback to dissipate with the help of Liaison Officers aboard foreign ships and the diligence of participating nations to overcome the challenge.”

With such a busy schedule it was surprising to see how much effort Captain Young made to be present on the ship. His interactions with members of the USS Lake Erie’s crew did not stop with the wardroom either; it was not unusual to see him receiving feedback from the most experienced enlisted men aboard as well as the newest members to the ship.

Captain Young attended all major evolutions without fail to participate and supervise. “The quality of Sailors, ships, submarines, aircraft and members of our multinational team are second-to-none,” the Commodore confidently noted. His joint efforts with the USS Lake Erie and the entire cadre of participating nations is what made RIMPAC 2010 such a success for not only the United States Navy but every single sailor, Marine, solider and airman involved.

USS Lake Erie Midshipmen Participate in MEDEX

Six Midshipmen aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) took advantage of an exciting opportunity to be part of a comprehensive Medical Evacuation Exercise (MEDEX), playing the part of wounded Sailors after a deadly explosion.

The Midshipmen acted their roles seamlessly, giving realism to the exercise which was essential for the proper training of the Sailors, Soldiers and Marines involved. Simulated injuries among the wounded ranged from slight bruising and superficial wounds, to severe life-threatening amputations. Each Midshipman involved in the exercise agreed on the quality of the experience as well as how grateful they were to be part of such a complicated evolution.

“I thoroughly enjoyed being involved in this training exercise (by) helping prepare Soldiers and Sailors to react to combat disasters. Also, being painted up like a zombie wasn’t bad, either,” remarked Midshipman 1/C Kevin Lewis from Virginia Tech who suffered from mock burns of the face and arms. The six Midshipmen mustered early in the flight hangar aboard the USS LAKE ERIE along with several dozen sailors to begin the first phase of the evolution which consisted of getting into costumes and makeup. Experienced Corpsmen painted on all of the “wounds” with surprising realism, simulating severe burns, amputations, bruises and shrapnel wounds.

Donned in fake lacerations and blood, the Midshipmen headed to the mess decks where the “explosion” occurred. Strewn across the floors, tables and benches, moaning “victims” begged for help from the incoming firefighting teams and medical personnel. To an uninformed passerby, the scene would have looked authentic enough to cause alarm. Luckily, everyone involved knew their part and played it well. The expert medical team found the most severe cases and tended to them first, eventually helping the rest before escorting them to the ship’s hangar. Once secured in the hangar, they awaited their CH-47 Chinook helicopter rides to a proper medical facility.

After a short wait, the Midshipmen were the first six to board the Chinook and leave Lake Erie; however, the trip to safety and treatment in Hawaii had only just begun. First, the chopper made a landing on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). The Midshipmen were transferred to a new helicopter with more fuel and departed for their final destination at Tripler Army Medical Facility.

Landing at Tripler around midday, the Midshipmen exited the still roaring chopper and sprawled themselves on the lawn while an Army medical team rushed to help. The medical staff quickly diagnosed and separated the victims into “Immediate Care” and “Delayed Care” categories. “I was impressed with how prepared and professional all of the Army medics proved to be,” commented Midshipman 3/C Robert Bruss, a sophomore at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Only minutes after touching down, the casualties were rushed into the hospital Emergency Room and treated for their various injuries. After a thorough and comprehensive exam, the Midshipmen were released from the ER, sent into the Operating Room, or proclaimed “dead.” Hours of mock surgeries were performed on the mock victims. “I died twice,” Midshipman 3/C Brendan Hanlon of the U.S. Naval Academy joked. “Technically, I wouldn’t have even made it to the hospital.”

Overall, the experience proved both educational and engaging for all of those involved. Out of the six participating Midshipmen, only three were able to survive, as the other three were proclaimed “dead.”

Dead or not, the Midshipmen weren’t complaining. Midshipman 3/C Sean Parmigiane of Annapolis remarked, “Four helicopter flights in one day? It was worth dying for!”

MIDN 1/C Alexander Petit Battalion Operations Officer Southern University NROT

Pretty fancy huh? I mean look at it... There is nearly a dozen words in that title... Don't tell me you're not impressed. All those abbreviations and acronyms, not to mention all of the words are capitalized. It's a lot to take in I know but the funny thing is... It don't mean diddly freaking squat.

Yeah I said it... It means nothing. Well not nothing, it just means I have a lot of work to do this summer and upcoming semester. Like a lot of work... No I don't think you are hearing me... A LOT of work. To get an idea take the number 4 and multiply it times the number of times you blinked this year... That is how much work I have to do.

So you may be asking yourself... Why are you writing this incredibly meaningless blog if you have so much work to do?

I don't know.

You know, it kind of scares me too, failure that is. I've done a lot of work in the past which has been recognized and all but seemingly just as often I do something stupid to offset my accomplishments, but that is another story. I am afraid of walking into the office of a certain Marine Corps Captain, and admitting defeat to a completely overcome-able obstacle. The funny thing is that I am able to do everything to prevent these mishaps, speed bumps, and set backs... I just don't sometimes for reasons I am slowly starting to see.

And the more I see the more I like. I'm going to be an officer in the United States Navy in less that 365 days.

It's time to nut up or shut up.

And I'm not shutting up.

Long Night

Emily Goorsky had me testing my absolute limits of pain endurance last night. She was New Orleans bound on a flight scheduled to arrive at 2300 (that's 11 PM for you non-military folks). A flight which would ultimately touch down in the Big Easy at just half past 2 (again folks that's 2 AM). I had awoken that morning to a warm cup of joe and a nice talk with my father on the deck we built with our bare hands. It was a crisp and chilly morning made for relaxation. That was at 7 AM - a full 15 hours before I realized I officially hated the aerospace industry and the word "delay." So fast-forwarding through my busy day we stop and find myself at 1 AM, slightly amused at Jimmy Fallon's attempts to make me laugh. Taking in the NBC line up that night waiting for more and more word on Emily's flight, I watched the amazing Jay Leno, the unstoppable Conan O' Brien, the previously mentioned Jimmy Fallon, and a whole 19 seconds of Carson Daly. Yes, I made it 19 seconds into Last Call with Carson Daly and to the extent of my knowledge those are the only 19 seconds of that show which exist. My logic being that NBC, the prime time leader with such amazing shows like Seinfeld, Parks and Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock, and The Tonight Show, could never endorse such a painfully disastrous attempt at comedy. The worst part of the program is that Carson acts as if he has fans. He boldly looks into the camera and pretends that his audience consists of actual followers rather than a horde of insomniacs who are tired of infomercials. He tells the same jokes made earlier by Leno, O' Brien, Letterman, Ferguson, and Fallon. He covers the same things you have heard three times already that night, and he does it poorly.

For those 19 seconds I blamed Emily. Not only did the third of a minute I spent tuned into that terrible show down right suck, but it sucked all the happiness out of my sleep deprived body.

Then I went to the IHOP, ate pancakes and got all that happy back. And most importantly, I forgave Emily.

And had pancakes. I did mention that right?

They were awesome.

The Audition

This is a short essay I wrote two years ago. I really liked it so I thought I'd share...

I sighed heavily as I wiped my sweaty palms against my starch clad khakis and my half-tucked in dress shirt wondering where Lindsay was. We had planned and agreed to meet together at three o'clock, yet my watch's hands read a dreadful four fifteen. I had complied every single excuse I could in my head to help explain her absence. Shifting my weight on the tattered theatre's chair, staring at the musty, stained, and yet strangely eloquent carpet I let my mind continue to race and search for answers concerning Lindsay's location while I should have been concentrating on my audition. Finally, I heard my name called out in an echoing screech as the director turned to see me there shuffling as I admired the fresh coat of polish on my shoes...

I looked up in a swift moment to be sure it was actually my turn, when I realized it was I swallowed hard and stood tall. All eyes were on me as I smiled warily forgetting about Lindsay and her lack of punctuality. It was my time; I had to impress them with my wit – for it was the only weapon I had in my arsenal of talent. As my heart began to pound in my chest, I made my way to the stage filled with anxious fear, a reputation of comedic genius knotted around my neck weighing me down causing timid inhibitions. I passed the director's table and gave her a faint smile as she peered at me through the spectacles perched ever so carefully on the tip of her stout nose. The steps of the stairs met my feet one by one until I reached the peak and proceeded to take my rightful spot on center stage. The blanket of light illuminating the black painted stage warmed my entire body in an instant reminding me of where I was, causing my adrenaline levels to rise, and making me utter my first word.

"Hi," was all I could get out at first. Then, realizing they wanted more, I opened my mouth again totally unprepared. I was stuck at a point most people fear their entire lives. I was at the pinnacle of terror, the height of fear, the absolute chief point of chaos. I was frozen on stage. For those few seconds I was standing looking of toward the now visible and vacant balcony totally forgetting about my situation. My mind began to race. Thoughts were streaming in and out of my mind's headquarters searching desperately for an answer, a solution, perhaps even a vague topic. I didn't think of my lack of preparation, I didn't think of where in the world Lindsay could be, I didn't think of the jokes pooling in my drifting conscience earlier… I thought of my shirt.

"You see, I have never really been to an audition before and I really wasn't sure if it were more formal, casual, corporate Fridays or what. So I went wit the 50/50 tuck. It's always really worked for in those sticky situations where you're not sure what is exactly appropriate. It's not to up and it's not to down – I call it the perfect look suitable for all of those pesky 'unsure occasions.'" The following laughter was all I needed to complete the short witty monologue I had begun. Before I even realized it I had the entire audience feeding hungrily off of my every whim.

When my brief speech was finished I beamed a smile out to my spectators heading down the stairs and listening to the applause fade. After reaching the floor again, I slid my hands into my pocket ever so smoothly and gave a wink to my future director. Finding a seat near the front I once again sat down acknowledging all of the "thumbs ups" directed in my direction. Leaning back with the utmost confidence, I grinned mystically not wondering about how I did, what I would tell Lindsay, or what they thought. Instead, all I could think of is how I got the part.

Blogo Numbero Uno

BLOG (n.) - a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer; also : the contents of such a ...

This is what a blog is according to Webster. Note the ellipses. This is where I got bored of reading the definition. I like what Shakespeare said about blogging, "Blogs are cool."

No kidding he said that. Or maybe he didn't but who cares? You aren't reading his blog are you? You're reading mine - at least I hope you still are.

Wait? You are? Well then I guess I should get to the point then shouldn't I? As my first post I think this is a great time to let you - the reader - and hopefully soon to be my faithful reader - let you in on my intentions. I plan to write here at least three times a week, maybe more, maybe just three, but we'll see. I will write about this and that - occasionally post old works of mine - and always maintain the highest sense of responsibility to my reader. And that is to be funny, or entertaining, or at least amusing... Yes, I would settle for amusing. Anyways - without further ado - Welcome to my blog. The pumpernickel pickle.

PS I just totally made that up.