USS Vicksburg Deploys to Support NATO

By Lt. j.g. Timothy Dover, USS Vicksburg Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69) departed Naval Station Mayport Dec. 4 to relieve USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) later this month as the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 flagship and to support theater security cooperation efforts in Europe.

 The crew recently participated in Joint Warrior 14-2, a United Kingdom (UK)-led multinational exercise in UK coastal waters. The training is designed to provide allied forces a multiwarfare environment to prepare for global operations.

 "The crew has worked extremely hard to prepare this ship for deployment," said Capt. Lyle Hall, Vicksburg commanding officer. "I am very proud of their commitment to this ship and to the mission ahead. They have always gone above and beyond at each and every turn."

 Before deploying, Vicksburg also participated in the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)/24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's (MEU) Composite Training Unit Exercise, a highly successful missile exercise.
 During this exercise, the crew earned their Independent Deployer Certification, which assesses a ship's capabilities to function at tactical and operational levels.

 Commissioned Nov. 12, 1992, the ship was named for both the Battle of Vicksburg, fought during the American Civil War, and the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

 Commander, Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 Rear Adm. Brad Williamson and staff will embark their new flagship, Vicksburg, to continue support of NATO counter-terrorism Operation Active Endeavour and additional NATO tasking.

Vicksburg Departs for Final Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nick C. Scott, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS VICKSBURG, At Sea (NNS) -- Guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69) departed its homeport of Mayport, Fla., March 9 to make its final deployment, this time as part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group.

Family members, friends and well-wishers gathered on the pier in the early morning hours to bid farewell to loved ones and wish them good luck.

"This is the first time I've deployed," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 3rd Class Ronnie Mathis temporarily assigned to Vicksburg from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

"It was difficult to leave my six-week old daughter and wife behind, but the crew is really nice and is helping me get through it," said Mathis.

Deploying can be challenging for a lot of Sailors, even seasoned veterans who still must make sure all affairs ashore are in order.

"It doesn't really get any easier," said Navy Counselor 1st Class Brian S. Olinger, the career counselor aboard Vicksburg. "I've been in the Navy for 19 years and this is my fifth and final sea deployment. No one wants to leave their loved ones behind, but we have a mission."

This deployment marks the end of Vicksburg's 20 years of service since its commissioning in 1992.

"The mission must come first, the mission is why we are here in the first place," said Ensign Michael E. Fitzpatrick, first lieutenant for Vicksburg. "The crew understands that and they are very professional."

Although this is the last deployment for Vicksburg, mission readiness is still the key to success.

"We must not view this deployment in terms of being the last deployment," said Capt. Logan Jones, commanding officer of Vicksburg. "We are not looking for any final glory."

Jones also said that "at the end of the day we know that we will have served with honor, but we must not react differently than we normally would in any given situation."

Vicksburg's commanding officer is just one of the ship's crew looking forward to completing a successful deployment as part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group team.

"I look forward to a deployment of working with maritime partners, flying missions and providing security," said Jones. "My job is to leave with 370 Sailors and return with 370 Sailors and that is what I intend to do."

Vicksburg is scheduled to decommission in 2013.

The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group is comprised of Enterprise, Carrier Air Wing 1, Destroyer Squadron 2, Vicksburg (CG 69), and guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Nitze (DDG 94), and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95).

Sailors Cross-Train aboard Vicksburg during COMPTUEX

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Scott, Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs

USS VICKSBURG, At Sea (NNS) -- The Operations department aboard Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69) took on some additional crew members while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, Jan. 19.

Sailors from other platforms including aircraft carriers and shore commands, are underway with Vicksburg during its composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX) to learn how the many moving parts of a carrier strike group come together to accomplish a larger mission.

"It is important to cross-train on various platforms," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class (SW) Andrew M. Jowder, USS Vicksburg Operations department.

"A lot of the junior Sailors may not see the big picture, especially if they have only been on the carrier or on shore," said Jowder.

Performing on a variety of platforms is meant to not only help Sailors perform their in-rate skills better, but also give them experience in other areas as well.

Junior Sailors are taught, through real-world experience, what the role of the guided-missile cruiser is within the strike group and how it can be accomplished most effectively.

"I've learned things more completely than I had before," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman Apprentice Brennen O'Brien-Cahill, who is temporarily assigned to the Vicksburg from aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

"I'm learning more about maintenance and getting a lot of good mentorship from the operations community here," said O'Brien-Cahill.

"On a larger platform it's difficult for someone as junior as I am to get real hands on experience at the strike group level," said O'Brien-Cahill.

Sailors from larger platforms have the potential to learn what it is like to be a Sailor on a smaller ship where the mission is to protect the carrier, and to understand what that really means.

"I feel more involved in every aspect and I get to know more people," said O'Brien-Cahill.

The mentorship and experience Sailors get from this exchange is also meant to prepare them for real combat scenarios.

"COMPTUEX is as close to major combat operations as we get for training purposes," said Lt. Cmdr. Noble Hetherington III, USS Vicksburg operations officer.

"This is where the rubber meets the road. We need this type of tailored training or we could potentially lose the valuable lessons we learned on our last deployment," said Hetherington.

First-time Sailors can see tactical training in the most basic phases of a ship's certification."

Mentorship is another aspect of this exchange and provides senior Sailors an opportunity to pass down their years of experience to junior Sailors.

"It is imperative that we have this training on ships at the deckplate level," said Hetherington.

Vicksburg and the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group are underway conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is designed to bring every part of a strike group together to work effectively and efficiently as one cohesive unit, ensuring overall readiness prior to a regular deployment.

Eisenhower CSG Underway in Atlantic

The guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69) takes on fuel during an underway replenishment on Jan 10 with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 196). (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Marc D. Schron/Released)

As my friends down south already know and have been reporting for several days now, the USS Eisenhower CSG is conducting ops off the Florida coastline and in the inland opareas such as Pinecastle.

The Vicksburg above is probably part of that operation.

USS Vicksburg Returns from Gulf

By Ensign Drew Perciballi, USS Vicksburg Public Affairs



MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Vicksburg (CG 69) and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light (HSL) 42 Detachment 5 returned from a six-month Persian Gulf deployment, Jan. 25.

Over the course of her deployment, Vicksburg served as air defense commander for the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group, area commander for Commander Task Force (CTF) 158 in the Northern Persian Gulf, supported the coalition presence and security operations in the Central Persian Gulf, hosted both the secretary of the Navy and secretary of defense, and conducted Maritime Security Operations in the region. Also, Capt. John C. Nygaard relieved Capt. Charles C. Swicker as Vicksburg's commanding officer.

Vicksburg enjoyed several port visits throughout the deployment, including being the first U.S. Navy ship to visit La Spezia, Italy in over three years. During the six-day port visit, Sailors enjoyed trips to Florence, Genova, Pisa, and Cinque Terre. In addition to Italy, Vicksburg visited Souda Bay, Crete, where the crew enjoyed tours of ancient ruins and crystal clear beaches.

While operating in the Persian Gulf, Vicksburg visited Manama, Bahrain on four separate occasions and also benefited from a liberty visit to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

Upon completion of her duties in the Persian Gulf, Vicksburg made a quick stop in Salalah, Oman prior to transiting the Suez Canal.

Limassol, Cyprus and Valletta, Malta were the next stops for Vicksburg, as she voyaged across the Mediterranean Sea and the 6th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).

Vicksburg traveled over 31,500 miles and passed through several major choke points, including eight Strait of Hormuz transits.

While deployed to the 5th fleet AOR, Vicksburg was called on to perform a variety of missions. In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Vicksburg served as the area commander for CTF 158 at the Al Basrah Oil Terminal, a vital structure in Iraq's improving economy. On station, Vicksburg conducted 26 visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) evolutions, numerous security patrols, and conducted 76 small boat transfers, during a combined six-week period.

Showing versatility, Vicksburg seamlessly integrated into the Enterprise Strike Group, relieving USS Gettysburg (CG 64) as air defense commander and "shotgun" escort ship, allowing the Mayport-based Gettysburg made a port visit.

The crew worked successfully towards personal accomplishments, with over 50 Sailors attaining their enlisted surface warfare specialist pins.

Vicksburg also successfully completed two unit level training assessment - sustainment evolutions while transiting to and from homeport.

Vicksburg was tasked to assume duties as a surface action group commander for the returning ships in the Kearsarge Strike Group.