Austin (LPD 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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Combat Cargo | „ . „icer, CW Dubie is on the left end of second row. Combat Cargo Assistant Staff Sergeant Craig P. Gamaclic is on the right end of second row. Combat Cargo is a special staff department that has two Marines permanently assigned to the USS AUSTIN: The Combat Cargo Officer, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Leigh A. Dubie and Combat Cargo Assistant Staff Sergeant Craig P. Gamache. Their mission is to coordinate and liaison with embarked units and department heads in preparation and execution of plans required to embark and debark of troops, loading and unloading of cargo, stowage of vehicles and cargo, billeting and messing of embarked troops. Additionally, Combat Cargo maintains during the deployment phase a 15-man Augmentation Platoon that provides support not only to flight deck and well deck operations but also to all troop spaces. Combat Cargo maintains the Quality of Life ' for Marines and Sailors of the landing force by providing them with maintenance teams that ensure all living spaces are kept comfortable by repairing and maintaining all necessary heads ar d showers to include plumbing and air conditioning is in working order on a daily basis. During the deployment. Combat Cargo works in tandem with Air and Deck departments. During this deployment. Combat Cargo coordinated and executed embarkation and debarkation of over 6,094 personnel, 187,155 pounds of cargo, 8,543 kilograms of mail and 410,000 rounds of ammunition. Members of Combat Cargo Augmentation Platoon are: SGT Cox, CPL Caro, CI L Trimmer, CPL Wolf, CPL Zabrosky, HM3 Arceneaux, HM3 Whitman, LCPL Becan, LCPL Becker, LCPL Belcher, LCPL Fischetti, LCPL Green, LCPL Hamburg, LCPL Jacobscn, LCPL Linger, LCPL Martinez, LCPL Pless, LCPL Snvder, LCPL Spencer, LCPL Sinche, PFC Dyskhoorn, PFC Harris, and PVT Ellis

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Department AA Jose Jimenez ABFAN Lenin Espinoza AR l iston Esse Ar Shaidi Mat.it.i THE Air Department operates and maintains a 6-spot flight deck capable of landing all U.S. Military helicopters, the V-22 Osprey; ' and the AV-8B Harrier . Additionally, members of the Air Department operate two fuel systems: a 216,000-gallon JP5 (jet fuel) system and 22,500-gallon MOGAS (automotive gasoline) fuel system. During Med Cruise 2000 the crew continually worked long hours in support of the 26 MEU Air Combat Element (ACE), which operated four H-46 Sea Knights and two UH-1 Hueys from the USS AUSTIN. With the ACE package continuously embarked for the first 4 months of cruise, Air Department performed over 5400 mishap-free aircraft evolutions and transferred 210,000 gallons of JP5 and 2000 gallons of MOGAS to aircraft, boats and vehicles. Air Department contributed to the many AUSTIN firsts by executing the first landing of a Russian-built, Croatian owned Mi-8 Hip helicopter aboard a U.S. Navy vessel. Additionally, Air Department provieled aviation-related support to all of USS AUSTIN ' S operational commitments, including Operation Atlas Hinge 00, Operation Destined Glory 00, and Croatian PHIBLEX 00. Finally, the Air Department said good-bye to LCDR Perry, ABF3 Baker, AN Giscombe, and AN Matatta during Med Cruise 2000 while welcoming LT Rapp, AN Waye, AA Hitchings and ABH3 Bridegam. ABHAN Christopher Taylor USS Austin - MARG 3-00

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Deck Department n ■ LT Patrick Christian 1st Lieutenant r ■«iiiih ENS Brian Vandiver 3rd Division Officer ENS Steven Argro e Division Officer Deck Department, manned by the Navy§ finest Boatswains Mates, is charged with conducting underway replenishments, anchoring and mooring of the ship, crane and small boat operations, running of the well deck, man overboard recoveries and, if the need should arise, rig for towing another ship, as well as maintaining the exterior of the AUSTIN. An additional part of deck department is the Navy§ top Gunners Mates, who maintain and operate all shipfe small arms. To sum up deck department, We Do It All! First division is responsible for the ships anchors, as well as the fonvard lines when the ship is entering port or getting underway. They man the well deck for all wet well operations, whether it be launch and recovery or a landing craft utility (LCU), landing craft air cushion (LCAC), combat raider raft craft (CRRC), amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) or light amphibious replenishment craft (LARC), first division handles them all, safely and professionally. Additionally, first division maintains upper vehicle stowage and the bos ' n locker. Second division is responsible for a fter lines of the ship, as well as the accommodation ladders for when the ship is entering port or getting underway. They man the boat aircraft crane for the launch and recovery of the ships small boats, in addition to any embarked small craft. They are also responsible for the boat davit and ridged hull inflatable boat (RHIB) which is used in man overboard rescues. Additionally, second division maintains and operates the ships two vehicle ramps, leading from the flight deck to upper vehicle deck and upper vehicle to lower vehicle deck. Third division is responsible for providing AUSTIN with both offensive and defensive capabilities. In accomplishing their mission, the Gunners Mates operate and maintain all ships small arms and ammunition onboard, maintain the ship ' s pyrotechnics lockers, magazines, and their sprinkler systems, store and transfer of all Marine ammunition onboard, and instruct small arms familiarization to the crew. Its a big job for a small group of dedicated men. USS Aushn - MAKG 3-00 11