USS Wayne E. Meyer Departs Hawaii for Tiger Cruise

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Kelsey Adams | 170617-N-RM689-091 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 17, 2017) Cmdr. Vincent A. Fortson, commanding officer of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), welcomes friends and family members of the crew as the ship departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during a tiger cruise. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelsey L. Adams/Released)  

PACIFIC OCEAN

06.17.2017

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kelsey Adams 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

PACIFIC OCEAN-- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) embarked family members and friends of the crew at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman for a tiger cruise, June 17 as the ship makes her way towards its homeport.
More than 30 family members and friends of the crew, tigers, have embarked the ship for a 6 day cruise to San Diego, where they will get the opportunity to see what Sailors do while underway and to experience a week at sea on a warship.
“A ‘Tiger Cruise’ is an awesome opportunity that we have to invite family and friends onboard to truly see what we do on a daily basis,” said Lt. j.g. Michael Murphy, navigation officer aboard Wayne E. Meyer and the tiger cruise coordinator. “Not only will they get to see and experience the day-to-day activities and on goings of a warship at sea, but getting to see a lot of fun and exciting evolutions such as gun shoots, aircraft fly bys, engineering drills and evolutions, and tours of the ship. Additionally, many fun events are planned to include ice cream socials, movie nights, bingo nights, trivia nights, and nacho nights.”
In addition to all the events planned, the tigers will receive a personnel qualification standard (PQS) to be filled out and signed by members of the crew.
“We plan on issuing a mini enlisted surface warfare specialist (ESWS) PQS to all the tigers that come on board,” said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jake J. Phillips, assistant tiger cruise coordinator. “They will have the opportunity to get their books signed off during tours and certain events. I think it will be a fun way for tigers to learn about our ship while getting a small glimpse of what a Sailor goes through to get their ESWS pin on a destroyer.”
According to Murphy, Sailors aboard Wayne E. Meyer are happy to have the tigers come onboard.
“The crew has been very excited about having family and friends onboard,” said Murphy. “Not only does it feel like we are getting closer to home because family and friends here, but it’s a chance for the sailors to showcase their skills, jobs, and how they contribute to make this warship such an effective and powerful asset.”
Wayne E. Meyer is on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group.

The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. Carl Vinson has deployed to the region several times, starting with a deployment to the Western Pacific in 1983, a year after commissioning.

This deployment is Wayne E. Meyer’s third deployment to the Western Pacific since being commissioned Oct. 10, 2009 in Philadelphia.

The ship received its name from the late Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer, who is regarded as the “Father of Aegis” for his service as the AEGIS weapons system manager and later for his development of the AEGIS shipbuilding project office.

For more information, please visit the ship’s website at:
http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg108/Pages/default.aspx
Or visit Wayne E. Meyer’s Facebook Page at:
https://www.facebook.com/FatherofAegis/

-USN-

• Date Taken: 06.17.2017
• Date Posted: 06.18.2017 00:55
• Story ID: 238348
• Location: PACIFIC OCEAN