Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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mimi siaqa-gSsSAniMer0QehOfQQeeLii115?1i . k. 'Vg 1 ',' 'if ' in L gl' 'ii ni i i Ili! 'l got cr? il ix A X f 4. K ' . . -A .1 ,in A v- 'lr ' : With 72 hours notice, The crew did whoi They neede-d'io do... is ci tru iesiomeni To the commitment ond dedicoiion of This crew. YOMPRIL Copioin Terry McKnight rv'

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rlwcydp i A , awe' Jlenwmall I 515 ' lf' A WI V 'A I . ' 5- i - wtf' I I, pg f . 1 ' 571, X . ..f: -'-' '- iv - 5. . r LI Meeting with the Chief Petty Officers, the MC PON explained his reasoning for some new and future policies. He covered everything fmm high year tenure to advancement, from PTS to mentorship. The interactive meeting provided KEARSARGE 's most senior enlisted a rare opportunity to ask direct questions to the man that advises the CNO on all Navy policy. Taking on the toughest questions, the MC PON provided insight into his thinking on the possibility of allowing qualyied Senior Chiefs to appear before CMDCM selection boards rather than in-rate Master Chief selection boards, GENDET manning throughout the Navy, Project Excel successes and future goals, and advancement to Chief Senior Chief and Master Chief Shortly after corjerring with the ship 's Chieh, the MCPON was escorted to a packed Hangar Bay for an All Hands Call. He began by pinning l 2 warfare qualyications on newly qualyied Enlisted Surface and Aviation Warfare Specialists. Following the presentations, the M C PON addressed the crem emphasizing the importance of the Navy 's mission in Operation Iraqi Freedom and what it means fir both the American and Iraqi people. First, thank you j?rr what you 've done here! he said. The MC PON recanted to the crew a visit he had to the port if Um Qasr earlier in the week. He said he had the opportunity to see first hand what the war against the regime of Saddam Hussein has accomplished. April

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uf? ' '-Film and Jlowuenl snX Wx. li C ,fl T 1 a I A . 0 l H 3 2 L... l sf I Driving through town, you can see it in the eyes rn' the 8-10- year-old kids on the side if the stteet. F or the first time in their lives they have hope and feedom. They have abhtture, when they didn 't have much of one befzre. That 's what you 've accomplished here in the last couple ofmonths. That's your contribution to history, he said. September 20. 2001 . the President said to 'he ready' and you were. Hnfve made good on the promise thatjbllowed. The American public is very. vetjv proud of you. But there 's still a lot ofwork let? to he done, he continued. We need to make sutz' we stay focused ami get evetjv single one of you back home safely. Following his address. the MC PON took questionsfrom the crew. Among the topics discussed were the new Perform to Serve pmgram. tl1e Thrih Savings Plan and Task Force Unihrrm. the new CNO-ditected effort to possibly stteaml ine the sea bag. lt 's time to put some uniformity hack into our uniforms. MC PON said, noting ll1e Navy hasfive working uniforms, while all the other armed services only have one. The M C' PON also took evety opportunity to speak to individual Sailors. understatulingjidl well that it 's a rare opportunityjor many Sailors to have contact with the CNO 's numher one advisor on their welfare. More than 150 Sailors had their photos taken with the most senior enlisted ntan in the Navy. a great addition to most Sailors' deployment scrapbook. A ral p fXPRlLf 7l 1