Photo By Chief Petty Officer Janweb Lagazo | ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 2, 2016) Boatswain Mate 3rd Class Joshua Armentrout, left, and...... read more read more
By Fire Controlman Third Class Cody J. Fischer, USS Mason (DDG 87) Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 9, 2016) The guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), assigned to the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), has been awarded the Bloodhound Award in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).
The Bloodhound Award is awarded to one ship in the Atlantic Fleet and one in the Pacific Fleet each year which displays unique proficiency and dedication towards the ASW mission that stands out in both the training and operational aspects of ASW.
“I am very humbled to have my sailors recognized for all their hard work,” said Lt. j.g. Nicholas A. Gutierrez, Mason’s anti-submarine warfare officer .“Our ASW team is the best because we have participation and support from the entire ship. We also have the best anti-submarine tactical air coordinators (ASTAC) in the strike group as well as a top notch air department. Our success wouldn't have been possible without them.”
Mason’s ASW team began the anti-submarine warfare qualification during the basic phase where they participated in the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) Advanced Warfare Trainer. The onboard training required Mason to track synthetic submarine contacts. CSCS detachment Norfolk praised Mason’s junior ASW team in their technical and tactical “know-how”.
During Submarine Commander’s Course 46, the ASW team was able to immediately identify and localize targets while successfully conducting over-the-side, vertically-launched anti-submarine rocket shots, and coordinated attacks with aircraft from the embarked Combat Element 3 Swamp Foxes of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74. Once again, Mason received high praise and was viewed as an exceptional ASW asset; effectively tracking three of the U.S. Navy’s most advanced submarines.
“All the time and effort our division has put in through all our events paid off,” said Chief Sonar Technician (SW) Justin L. Northup” “We couldn’t have received the Bloodhound Award without the help of our Operations Specialists, the Engineering department and the Air Department.”
When asked what separated his Sailors from the rest of the Atlantic Fleet, Northup said, “They care about the mission and better yet, each other. That is where it starts. They also used their ability to learn and use constructive criticism from the assessors in every event to become the best.”
Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SW) Cassandra Bachrach was asked what helped to contribute to her team’s success and said, “When I first checked in onboard, I had a great chain of command that taught us to excel. They set the example for us that had been expected to be followed, duplicated, and surpassed. They didn’t have to put pressure on us. We all wanted to prove ourselves.”
Mason is part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG) in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. The Ike CSG includes USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON 26) and ships USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Monterey (CG 61), USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Nitze (DDG 94) and Mason.
Join the conversation with Mason on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MASONDDG87/.
Find more news from USS Mason (DDG 87) at www.navy.mil/local/ddg87.
For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn69.
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2016 17:55 |
| Story ID: | 201259 |
| Location: | ATLANTIC OCEAN |
| Hometown: | NORFOLK, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 759 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, USS Mason Earns the Bloodhound Award, by CPO Janweb Lagazo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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