CNO visits JBB Sailors, acknowledges successes

BALAD, IRAQ

08.15.2008

Story by Senior Airman Thomas Trower 

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

By Senior Airman Thomas Trower
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – The Chief of Naval Operations and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy visited Sailors here Aug. 13, 2008 to witness their joint operations with Airmen and Soldiers here.

Adm. Gary Roughead and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa Jr. visited Navy Customs and counter-indirect fire operations centers and held an "All Hands" call at Town Hall during their three-hour visit here.

Admiral Roughead wanted Sailors to know they are helping reshape the way the Navy operates.

"The work you do here is at the front end of a new period of joint operations," the admiral said. "Approximately 15,000 Sailors are deployed ashore serving with sister services in various jobs."

About 500 activated-reservist Sailors are in Navy Expeditionary Logistics Command, from which the Navy Customs battalion operates, said Navy Lt. j.g. Greg Skyles, Navy Customs company commander, and a native of Buckley, Wash. All the Sailors volunteered for their deployment, and their tasks here focus on preventing unauthorized items from leaving Iraq.

Navy Customs inspects all equipment and passengers destined for the United States, said Lieutenant Skyles, who is activated out of Williamsburg, Va. Since the current rotation arrived in April, Navy Customs has inspected more than 121,000 items and 5,500 personnel returning from deployments. But despite their great successes, the Sailors want to do more to protect America.

A new program recently implemented in conjunction with Airmen enables customs to search all aircraft and aircrew returning from deployments to the United States as well, he said.

But the Navy's joint efforts don't stop with the Air Force.

Navy mechanics and Army operators adapted Navy anti-missile defense systems to protect Joint Base Balad from indirect fire attacks such as mortars. Maintenance Sailors keep the security equipment operational, consistently surpassing established requirements, while Soldiers operate the equipment and eliminate enemy threats.

During the All Hands call, an open forum for troops, Admiral Roughead highlighted Sailors' successes during and after duty hours and mentioned the praise he had heard about their work and professionalism.

"I am very pleased to hear that the president of the [Red Tail] 56 Air Force association is a Sailor – I think that is fantastic," Admiral Roughead said, referring to Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ivy Walker who is president of the organization of NCOs dedicated to improving morale at Balad.

"Commanders cannot say enough about the great work you provide," the admiral said to the congregation at Town Hall. "You come in, size up what has to be done, and throw yourselves into your work. You're constantly trying to find better ways to do that work."

Regardless of the evolving requirements of the Global War on Terrorism, the Navy is committed to maintaining its traditional training and mission focus.

"We will continue to use the great training we are receiving from the Army, but we will not change our current [standard] training structure," Admiral Roughead said.

"The Navy will refine how they prep Sailors for these individual missions," Master Chief Campa said. "We will continue this training as long as there is a requirement."

• Date Taken: 08.15.2008
• Date Posted: 08.21.2008 10:27
• Story ID: 22735
• Location: BALAD, IQ