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As you transit the ship, doing day-to-day tasks, you may see some Sailors, usually in red float coats and large kevlar helmets, carrying USS Gerald R Ford’s (CVN 78) wide range of small arms and crew-served weapons.
Gunner’s Mates (GM) — one of the Navy’s original ratings — are experts in not only guns, but also rockets, torpedoes, and missiles. From the late 1700’s use of cannons and shot, to todays advanced weapon systems, GM’s make the difference between a ‘ship’ and ‘warship’.
After 14 years of service as a fire control technician (FT) on submarines, Chief Gunner’s Mate Nicholas Sutherland, from Viburnum, Missouri, assigned to Ford’s weapons department, had to cross rate to another rating. He explained that in 2015, he chose gunner’s mate because of influences throughout his life and naval career.
“One of the things that drew me into the Navy over the other branches is the heritage, history and traditions. My great uncle was a Chief Gunner’s Mate in Saipan during the end of World War II. He always talked about how he enjoyed the Navy and more specifically about his time as a gunner’s mate,” said Sutherland.
“I also had a GM1 during boot camp that was one of those recruit division commanders (RDC) that leave an impression on you,” said Sutherland. “Even as a sub FT, I once served on a surface ship with a division full of gunner’s mates and was amazed at the wide range of things they did and worked with.”
One story that displays the courage of gunner’s mates in their long history, is that of Chief Gunner’s Mate Paul Saunders. Chief Saunders served aboard USS Barb (SS 220) in the Pacific during World War II and led a party of Sailors off the submarine and into enemy territory in Japan. They secretly destroyed a 16-car train, which was the only time that U.S. forces landed on the island during the war.
Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Brandon Anderson, from Alexandria, Virginia, also assigned to Ford’s weapons department, said that there is more to his rating than meets the eye.
“A lot of people see us conducting gun shoots, but they don’t ever see the maintenance and all of the things that happen in the background to make those shoots possible,” said Anderson.
“I love being in this rating because you get to shoot guns and have that ‘wow’ factor to everyone on the ship and on other ships, being able to give that ‘boom’,” said Anderson. “I also really enjoy the fact that we can be stationed and deployed anywhere in the world on any platform or shore command.”
Sutherland is excited about the future of his rating and hopes that the traditions and history will continue after his naval service is complete.
“When I retire from the Navy, I expect the future generations of GM’s to be subject matter experts and take pride in the heritage that come with this rate. I want them to earn, and wear with pride, the cross cannons that are on our rating badge.”
Gerald R. Ford is a first-in-class aircraft carrier and the first new aircraft carrier designed in more than 40 years. Ford is currently underway conducting testing in the Atlantic Ocean.
For more news from USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), visit www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN78 or www.facebook.com/USSGeraldRFord
| Date Taken: | 11.22.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2019 08:55 |
| Story ID: | 357705 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 1,217 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Know your ratings: Gunner’s Mate, by PO1 Ryan Seelbach, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
