Fitzgerald (DDG 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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--4--i-qi The Chief of Naval Gperations -takes pleasure in presenting the ' Surface Ship Safety Award tDestroyerJ e to i y Uss F1TzGERALnfDDG 623 'h for excellence in the 'pursuit of A a consistently aggressive safety program and , innovative methods in the critical area, ofmishap prevention - for the period of t ii ' pg A A 1 January to 31 Deceinber2000 y The outstanding seamanship and superiorperfornjance j of the extraordinary crew of Uss FITZGERALD reflected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest standards of the United States Navy in the areas of safety afloat and' mishap prevention. y V V. E. CLARK Admiral, United States Navy Chief of Naval Operations

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f . 4' w ,gf 2 MARIA CANTWELL . . l,, WAS H s N Gro N gif fa AA. ., lfnifeh Staten lfwuate WASHINGTON, D. C. 205IO June 28, 2001 Commander Collins, Officers, and Crew of the USS Fitzgerald CDDG-621: It is an honor to join the people of Spokane, the Spokane Council of the United States Navy League, the Chamber of Commerce, and the citizens of Washington state in commending you on being named the recipient of the 2000 Spokane Trophy Award. . This award comes with the respect and admiration of the citizens of Spokane, Washington who in 1908 decided to commemorate the loss of one of its native sons who served in the United States Navy. The award's significance was recognized by President Theodore Roosevelt who designated that the award would symbolize excellence in battleship and heavy cruiser marksmanship and in modem times overall battle readiness capabilities. Today, the Spokane Trophy is a symbol of dedication, leadership, and patriotism. It evokes a sense of pride among the citizens of Spokane, and a sense of accomplishment for the ship awarded and United States Navy. As this year's recipient, the USS Fitzgerald CDDG-623, is recognized as one of best ships in the Pacific Fleet, for this award honors the dedication, professionalism, and commitment the crew of the Fitzgerald has shown while carrying out its vital role in our nation's defense. We should not only recognize the hard work of the men and women in the United States Navy but we should also recognize and thank the families here today who make sacrifices which allow our service members to perform their duties in an exemplary manner. The important role our Navy plays in our national defense and global presence cannot be underestimated. It is because of the outstanding achievements and efforts made by our Naval servicemen and women that we can enjoy the freedom American's hold so dear. I applaud the outstanding efforts of the crew of the USS Fitzgerald and her commanding officer, Alfred Collins. You should take great pride in this accomplishment, and know we are all grateful for the outstanding duty your crew and the entire United States Navy performs on a daily basis. Bravo Zulu to you and congratulations on winning this prestigious award. Sincerely, Maria Cantwell United States Senator

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FITZGERALD year 2000 history The Officers and crew of USS FITZGERALD started the new millennium iCY-2000i with a vision to master every aspect of Surface Naval Operations at Sea. That vision led to record setting achievements throughout the year.A year that included: all phases of the Inter- Deployment Training Cycle CIDTCJ, participation in the largest and most complex naval exercise in the Pacific Fleet CRIMPAC 2000l, inservice Procurement Board iINSURVl material inspection, live torpedo, Harpoon, 5 ! 54 and SM-2 missile firings and culminated with a deployment to the troubled Middle East. All along the way, the Officers and Men of FITZGERALD persistent pursuit of excellence resultedin a spate of successes unprecedented in the ship's four-year history. In every aspect of Surface Warfare, USS FITZGERALD performed with the utmost poise, professionalism and style. Performances during the Inter-Deployment Training Cycle received noteworthy acclaim,The Final Evaluation Problem CFEPJ was completed in a single day with outstanding results. A Missile Firing exercise iFIREX Il and Torpedo Firing Exercise CTORPEXI were immensely successful. Moving on to advanced training, FITZGERALD sailed West for Exercise Rim of the Pacific CRIMPACJ 2000. Through the course of this challenging and highly successful exercise, FITZGERALD: performed duties as Surface Attack Unit CommanderforAnti-Submarine Warfare Exercise O0-2, engaged two high speed targets during a Stream Raid exercise and a low-flying i50ftl SupersonicTarget with spectacular results, provided emergent astern refueling relief for USS SALVOR as it towed two hulks to the Pacific Missile Range Facility, successfully engaged one ofthe hulks during a HARPOONEX, participated in the complex Theater Ballistic Missile Defense iTBMDl exercise, PACIFIC BLITZ,and performed OfHcer in Tactical Command duties during Exercise TEAMWORK NORTH 00.The crew's finely honed skills were manifested again during Mid-East Force Deployment Exercise iMEFEXl Phases I,II and III,which culminated in Texas Thunder,a 2-dayTomahawk exercise in which FITZGERALD performed duties asTSC and LAC simultaneously. FITZGERALD hosted numerous inspections and visits during the year and received superlative marks in the Medical and Dental Readiness Inspections, Explosive Safety Inspection, and COMNAVSAFECE Safety Survey. FITZGERALD'S excellent material condition was validated during a Board oflnspection and Survey CINSURVI visit in August. High marks were attained in cleanliness and preservation,whiIe FITZGERALD'S quality of shipboard life was evaluated as being above fleet average? All other evaluations and assessments remained current through the competitive cycle. In the way of innovation, FITZGERALD introduced many new procedures and Systems designed to improve overall quality of life. FITZGERALD was chosen to receive a Textile ducting system that decreases the amount of ambient noise in ventilation system flow. FITZGERALD greatly enhanced its operational capabilities, as well as crew morale, with the completion ofthe IT-21 Increment Five install. FITZGERALD'S inventive use ofthe Battle Force TeamTrainer KBFTTJ continued to pave the way for the fleet-wide implementation of this important training system. As the show ship on the San Diego waterfront, FITZGERALD continued to represent the Surface Warfare communityin the most positive light. The crew was very active in community service activities, including: a Maui beach clean up project,the Meade Elementary School mentoring program and a vigorous Personnel Exchange Program CPEPI with foreign sailors during RIMPAC 2000.FITZGERALD's Navy and Marine Corps Relief effort was first among all Commander,NavaI Surface Force,U.S.Pacific Fleet destroyers. In USS FITZGERALD, combat readiness and mission accomplishment created a cause and effect attitude that drove the crew to generate exemplary results in every endeavor, but not at all costs. Quality of life was preserved through careful planning and personnel management. The ship sustained a twelve- section duty rotation that provided every Sailor quality time off while retaining ample time for mission planning and execution. Our commitment to Safety, Mission Excellence and Warrior Spirit have manifested itself in a warship ready to execute any tasking, at any time, and in any place. As a result ofthe hard work and dedication of her crew, FITZGERALD was recognized as the most combat ready ship in the entire Pacific FIeet,and was awarded the coveted Spokane Trophyforthe 2000 calandar year. . . ...Aic- 1