Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

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HOMECOMING 133

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ffiontecoming 132 HOMECOMING

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VADM Robert F. Schoultz, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare), sent a message praising tfie Big E CVW-II team as Enterprise was returning from tfie cruise As you complete tfie final leg of your lourney fiome please accept my admiration and appreciation for your superb performance wtiile deployed USS ENTERPRISE and AIR WING ELEVEN lived up to a well-deserved reputation for meeting cfiallenges witfi professional excellence and winning esprit. During extended operations tfiroughout tfie Western Pacific and Nortfi Arabian Sea you displayed tireless dedication, flexibility and exceptionally tiigh readiness m meeting every commitment Through nearly seven months of deployment. 85 percent of which was spent at sea. you exemplified a hard-charging, prepared and credible deterrent in areas of international turbulence You have fulfilled a vital role in supporting national obiectives with an impressive record of accomplishment Moveover. your standout perfor- mance in FLEETEX 85 and ORSE typifies the consummate professionalism of the Big E CVM-11 team Well Done! ■ VADM Crawford A. Easterling, Commander Naval Air Force. Pacific Fleet, added his congratulations The Enterprise CVW- 11 team is commended for outstanding perfor- mance during a most successful deployment The manner in which you tackled the many challenges of this cruise was superb From RIMPAC to FLEETEX. your professionalism and superior performance were most evident and noted with pleasure. Welcome back and very Well Done RADM John R. Batzler, Commander Carrier Group Three, reflected about the achieve- ments during the deployment: The return of Enterprise to Alameda marks the completion of a magnificent deployment For more than a year. Enterprise has been the nucleus of Battle Group Foxtrot Throughout this period, dedication, flexibility and outstanding professional- ism were the trademarks of the Enterprise CVW-11 team Your ability to maintain an uncommonly high state of readiness in the harsh environment of the North Arabian Sea while meeting all framing and national tasking requirements was most impressive In FLEETEX 85 Battle Flex Deck came of age This innovative concept which you pioneered, refined and demonstrated will influence the way the Navy does business for years to come Moreover, your standout performance in the ORSE inpsection typifies Enterprises well deserved reputation as being the best As host and flagship for COI CARGRU THREE, your standout performance has been unmatched by any I have witnessed. The numerous accolades given me as Battle Group Commander were a direct result of your ability to execute endless responsibilities. You have earned my admiration and respect The world s most famous warship is without question also the worlds finest I commend each and every man on Enterprise and in Air Wing Eleven for a |ob well done. May you enioy the peace you have worked so hard to protect CAPT H.R. Jones, Commander Destroyer Squadron Seven, extended his thanks to the Big E CVW-11 team saying: I want to express my appreciation to the officers and men of HS-6. VS-21 and USS Enterprise for the superb support provided me in my |0b as Battle Group Foxtrot ASWC and to my staff. The infectious enthusiasm, can do ' spirit and strongly ingrained- professionalism of the Indians and the exceptional expertise and professignal knowledge of the Viking aircrews were invaluable contributions to the unparalleled success Battle Group Foxtrot achieved in ASW. During the deployment, you met every task with alacrity and dispatch. One could not ask for a better group of professionals to conduct Battle Group ASW operations witti Enterpnse accommodated our requests for hardware changes in the organization of watch spaces, provided admin spaces and excellent accommodations The superb professional assistance of your Communications Department . ASW module. CDC personnel and Air Ops were invaluable in contributing to Battle Group Foxtrot s unparalleled success m ASW during the deployment, I could not have asked for better support as an embarked warfare commander The spirit of cooperation from the entire crew made us feel at home and was much appreciated On behalf of my ships, I offer a most grateful thank you for the numerous services provided in the area of material repair, supply support, technical assistance and last, but not least, mail service Enterprise directly contributed to DESRON SEVEN ' S high material readiness and upbeat morale Enterprise is truly in a class by herself Thanks and Bravo Zulu for a |ob most professionally and extremely well done From the commanding officer of the combat stores ship USS White Flams came an impression of the deployment expressed m a slightly different way: These months we had were truly grand A finer group there s not With every type of ship at hand In Battle Group Foxtrot Although our mission s not warfare We think it s |ust as tough With you to ward off subs and Bears We passed all sorts of stuff There were some rough times, this is true Some unreps a bit stressful But. when Hotel ' and Prep came down Every mission was successful ' Your AAW IS tops in town Hope Santa squawks mode two But if he can ' t, don t shoot him down Or there II be no goodies for you ' Now ASW was truly fine The sensors showed they could. Let Ivan show his ugly hind I m sure you d plug it good ' So as we go our separate ways We ' re headed south (oh please) The crew of White Plains loins to wish Fair winds and following seas, ADMS.R. Foley Jr., Commander in Chief. Pacific Fleet, sent this Bravo Zulu: ' Your very successful performance on the ORSE is noted with pleasure. Your engineers operate one of our oldest and most complex nuclear power plants in a very professional fashion. My congratulations to a first-rate engineering crew. Well Done From the Naval Communications Station. Diego Garcia, came this Bravo Zulu: As you depart the Indian Ocean, the men and women of NAVCOMSTA Diego Garcia salute the SQUADRON AWARD NOMINATIONS For the Battle Efficiency Award VA-94 — VA-94 is without doubt the top A-7 squadron in the Navy. Leaders in both the community and the air wing, they have been the pacesetter through turnaround, work-ups and an arduous WestPac lndian Ocean cruise. Operating aboard USS Enterprise in the Battle Flex Deck mode, VA-94 flew more tiours and sorties than any other air wing squadron. The ' Shrikes ' grade of outstanding {the top attack squadron in the air wing) was only a prelude to their superb performance during the deployment. They took the lead in development of air wing battle group tactics, agressive airmanship, mainte- nance that produced FMC aircraft and sound safety and FOD programs. ' i A-94 has my strongest endorsement for the Battle Efficiency Award. Commander, Carrier Air Wing Eleven Tactical excellence; The number one attack squadron during the ORE. Leading squadron in contingency brief preparation and practice execution. Turnaround and cruise satistics: Every measurable area — Flight hours, traps, bombing scores, liberty elite readiness, landing grades — clearly standout performers. Material readiness: Best grades on pre mld post-cruise corro- sion control inspections. Outstanding tanker availability throughout the cruise. The air wing ' s best. Highest sustained FMC MCin CVW-11. 134 VA-94 is unquestionably my choice for the Battle ' E. ' Commanding Officer, USS Enterprise VA-95 — ATKRON NINE FIVE continues to improve as one of the leading squadrons in the air wing. Embarked for 75 per- cent of all flight hours, VA-95 amassed over 3,000 traps with 36 percent at night. Outstanding mining, superior landing grades and a 1 00 percent sortie completion rate earned VA-95 an ' outstanding ' ciuring ORE. Their development of new proc- edures in all areas of air wing attack and tanking operations has earned VA-95 the hightes respect from the CVW-11 Enterprise team. Highly spirited and innovative, the Green Lizards led the air wing in all contengency planning, ensuring feasibility and thoroughness for each mission. The expertise of each crew reflected their comprehensive and extremely successful train- ing program. ' Safety awareness ' is evident throughout VA-95: 35 NATOPS change submissions and over 6 years accident free are high- lights of a most active safety program. ' On-the-ball ' VA-95 was most impressive, never finishing lower than second throughout the entire grading period. Based on demonstrated outstanding performance, an aggres- sive innovative approach to tactics and an unparalleled safety record, VA-95 has my endorsement for the Battle Efficiency Award. Commander, Carrier Air Wing Eleven For the RADM Clarence Wade McCluslcy Award VA-94 — ' ' VA-94 Shrikes are the community-wide front run- ner and have my strongest possible recommendation for the Rear Admiral Clarence Wade McClusky Award. ' Highest grades, ' zero discrepancies, ' best I ' ve ever seen ' are the normal phrases associated with all inspections examinations VA-94 has participated in. The top TACIAR squadron during the ORE With a grade of outstanding, the Shirkes set the LATWING standard during the CV TPI, NTPI and NATOPS evaluations. The ' squadron of choice ' when a brief was re- quired on tactics, strike planning or daily operations. The Shrikes are leaders in the air wing, battle group, community and, above all, they are operators getting the job done right the first time. VA-94 ' s success has been through sound leadership and total dedication. Selection of this quaoron is in the highest tradition of the McClusky Award as they are without exception the top attack squadron in the fleet. Commander, Carrier Air Wing Eleven By every measurable warfare area, VA-94 excells; they are the front runners in CVW-11. Sound leadership, properly prepared for combat in any scenario and unsurpassed quality maintenance are the hallmarks of this command. VA-94 is my finest attack squadron and has my strongest possible endorsement. Commanding Officer, USS Enterprise