Hello NIMITZ Family and Friends,
Good morning everyone from the Arabian Gulf. As I type this email, NIMITZ is proceeding through the Strait of Hormuz. As you know, for the first two months of our deployment we have been employed in the Western Pacific conducting training, and operating with our friends and allies in the region. During that time, we were fortunate to make port calls in Hawaii, Hong Kong, Guam, and most recently Port Klang, Malaysia. Your NIMITZ Sailors were great ambassadors of our ship, navy, and nation during these visits and everyone we encountered has been thoroughly impressed by their talent, dedication, professionalism, and can-do attitude. Our most recent stop in Malaysia afforded us the opportunity to visit Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, and enjoy a port call that was a “first” for many in the crew. While there, as with every place we visit, we entertained numerous distinguished guests aboard NIMITZ in official functions and tours, and the ship and crew performed superbly. Our Sailors really are the U.S. Navy’s “secret weapon” - one that is unmatched by any other navy. Though not our primary mission, this representation of the United States by our crewmembers is very important as it strengthens bonds between our armed forces and those of our allies, highlights our capabilities to those who may not be our friends, and allows our citizens to interact with the citizens of the countries we visit.
As we enter the Gulf, we feel in some respects that the real work of this deployment is just beginning. Our aircraft will support U.S. Marines and Army forces in Iraq with on-call close air support as well as dedicated mission tasking. We will also perform Maritime Security Operations in the Gulf with our strike group assets and coalition partners. This work will help ensure the safety of shipping, the oil infrastructure, and legitimate commerce in the gulf. Also, as on the ground in Iraq, we will be involved in assisting units of the Iraqi Armed Forces in assuming responsibility for their own security. It promises to be a long, hot summer as temperatures are high, the work is hard, and opportunities for breaks are few and far between. As with any other tasking, however, I am fully confident of this great crew’s ability to accomplish our mission. Our training has been superb, we are well equipped, and morale is high. There are also benefits of being here in the gulf. This is a very mature theater of operations and the support system is well established. Supplies and mail will be much more regular than during our transit and there is a good chance that we will benefit from some USO shows and other morale-boosting events while we are here.
A few days ago, I was able to use the Command Advancement Program (CAP) to promote several Sailors to the next higher paygrade. The list includes YN1 (SW) Sonya Freeman, CS2 Wenonah Ebreo, FC2 (SW) Stacia Clutts, ABF2 (AW) Miguel LozanoHenry, BM3 Ryan Lewis, CS3 Rauphel Travis, PN3 Sydney Arroyo Hernandez, ABF3 Oneka Stegall, YN3 Ari-Ane Washington, AO3 Iric McClurkin, HM3 Jose Moranalcantar and CTT3 Kelly Jackson. I’m also happy to announce the results of the Sailor of the Quarter (SOQ), Junior Sailor of the Quarter (JSOQ) and Blue Jacket of the Quarter (BJOQ) Board. The board selected MM1 (SW/AW) Zebulun Shaw, AZ3 (AW) Shea Vaughn and CTTSN Kelly Jackson. Congratulations to all the CAP recipients and Sailors of the Quarter.
The crew also got a visit on 12 July from the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Leadership in the form of The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Terry Scott, and SECOND, THIRD, and FIFTH FLEET CNO- Directed Master Chiefs. NIMITZ is the first carrier to host such an event. All the Master Chiefs were very impressed with your Sailor’s professionalism, dedication and drive. No surprise to me - they impress me every day.
Finally, your contributions remain critical to our success as we continue this deployment. Every report I get from Team NIMITZ and our Ombudsmen indicate our families are doing great and have adjusted well. We all know that is not a trivial task, and your part in many respects is more difficult than ours. Homecoming planning has begun in San Diego and the halfway point of cruise will be here before you know it. The schedule for our return is still holding firm and I don’t have any indications of it changing. Bottom line is you guys are doing a super job taking care of business at home and supporting your Sailors out here. Keep those cards, letters, and emails coming. I can’t overstate their importance.
Well everyone, that’s a wrap for this update. Your Sailors are in top form and ready to execute our mission. Keep up the great work at home.
Warm regards and very respectfully,
CAPT Ted Branch
Commanding Officer
USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)
Date Posted/Last Updated:7/13/2005 7:30:26 PM