Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Koons | Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Armstrong waits for his wife Aida to arrive for their...... read more read more
Subscribe
USS WASP, Caribbean Sea — One of the difficulties of military life is spending time away from families, but thanks to video teleconferencing technology, Sailors aboard USS Wasp have been able to communicate with their loved ones face-to-face.
Wasp's "Holiday VTC" program features Sailors spending 15 minutes holding a private VTC session with their family back home in Norfolk, Va. Sixty-four Sailors have participated the past two days and 16 more are scheduled for the remaining session on Nov. 23.
"It gave members of the crew and their families something to look forward to during this [deployment]," said Chief Petty Officer Kristina Montgomery, Wasp VTC program coordinator. "Talking to their family helps to remind Sailors of why they are out here in the first place."
The program is a collaborative effort between Wasp, the ship's Ombudsman Mandi Cornstuble, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, and Naval Computer Telecommunications Area Master Station Detachment Hampton Roads.
"Mandi gets in touch with the families, who go to SURFLANT for the VTC, and NCTAMS connects them to their loved ones on the ship," said Montgomery. "The Joint Message Center controls things on our end. It has a lot of moving parts, but it all works out."
Sailors have complete privacy during the time they speak to their loved ones. They are, however, briefed prior to their appointment about Operational Security concerns and matters they are not allowed to discuss with their families.
"We trust that when they go in and talk to their loved ones, they will honor their word about not discussing confidential matters," said Montgomery.
Some who have participated in the program said they agree with Montgomery that being able to talk face-to-face with their families is a definite morale booster.
"It made my day to see that my wife and two kids are doing well," said Airman Matthew Thomas. "It was good to see my four-month-old son, Caiden, being as big and healthy as he is."
Cornstuble, whose husband, Chief Petty Officer Andrew Cornstuble, serves aboard Wasp, was also able to talk to him via the VTC program.
"I gave birth to a baby boy about a week before my husband left, so it was great for him to be able to see his son's face again," she said. "That's something that can't be done talking on the phone or through e-mail. Everyone else who signed up also appreciated the opportunity to see their loved ones face-to-face."
Wasp is currently deployed on Southern Partnership Station-Amphib with Destroyer Squadron 40 and embarked Security Cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force. Southern Partnership Station is part of the Partnership of the Americas Maritime Strategy that focuses on building interoperability and cooperation in the region to meet common challenges.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2009 13:42 |
| Story ID: | 41868 |
| Location: | ABOARD USS WASP, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 219 |
This work, VTC Allows Wasp sailors time with families, by PO2 Christopher Koons, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT