Bowen (FF 1079) - Naval Cruise Book

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The best program in the group ' It was confirmed by RADM Boorda during his Piovem- ber 14, 1987 visit to BOWEN. ' You ' ve got the best pro- gram of anyone in this battle group, he said. What he was referring to, of course, was BOWEM ' S Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pro- gram, which received constant attention throughout the de- ployment. By the time BOWEM re- turned to her Charleston berth, over 100 BOWEN sailors had completed the ESWS qualifica- tion process, including a de- manding oral board given by se- nior personnel. The CPO mess and A division scored 100 per- cent, with all eligible individuals completing final qualification. BMl John Harris, left, gives a lecture in the crew s lounge on anchoring proce- dures as part of BOWED ' S ESWS pro- gram. Above, CDR Robbins awards an ESWS pin and certificate to BT3 Da- vid Millsaps. Also receiving pins are BT3 Robby Fregia and BT3 Tommy Harris. CDR Robbins, left, congratulates SM3 Kevin Logan on his qualifica- tion as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. The ceremony was held on the port side of the antenna deck. Bowenlife 29

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TM3 Larry K. Scott. Jr., top right, about to receive his Enlisted Sur- face Warfare Specialist pin from CDR Robbins. BOWEM ' S Commanding Officer, right, pins an ESWS pin on HM3 Bruce Benton in the ship ' s office. A gang scores with perfect record o Auxiliaries Division, above, was the only divi sion to achieve 100 percent qualification of all eligible personnel. Kneeling: MR3 (SW) J nehls. MM3 (SWI M. lannelli. MM2 (SW) D. Da vis, En3 (SW) T. Beard. NM3 (SW) .1. WalK er. rirst row, standing: MMCM (SW) MM I (SW) D. Bain. MM2 (SW) .1 llii MM2(SW) r. I.ohncs. KHI (SW) N I ond row. standing: EnfTI .1 K.i.is.l Swarm. IM .J. I ' olcii, MMC (SW) (i ne division on the ship set a perfect record for ESWS qualifi- cation during the Mediterra- nean Cruise. That division was Auxilia- ries, or A gang . Led by MMCM (SW) Robert Melvin and MMC (SW) Gary Wolf, A gang fin- ished the cruise with all eligible petty of- liccrs wearing ESWS pins. A plaque testi- fying to that fact was quickly affl.xed to the door of the filter shop, which also serves as A gang s office. As mcnibcrs o( A division wcie quicK to point out. no othci division on the ship could match their ESWS qualifica tion record. w k 28 Bowenlite

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It was kind of neat. You were the center of attention for a while . . ' - EPiJ Tommy Beard Refueling detail Above top, members of BOWEM ' S flight deck crew prepare for the ar- rival of a CH-53 helicopter. Right, the CH-53 hovers over the flight deck while the crew clears a pallet dropped by the helicopter. 30 Bowenlife