By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Janweb B. Lagazo, USS Mason (DDG 87) Public Affairs
GULF OF ADEN (Aug. 13, 2016) Junior Sailors in the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) hosted and participated in a command talent show, Aug. 12.
The talent show encouraged Sailors of all rates and ranks to participate and become more involved while having fun.
“The ship really needed a morale booster,” said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) India Shula, Mason’s CSADD president. “We felt the crew would love a chance to be themselves and show their talents. The goal was to show the amazing talent we have aboard Mason.”
CSADD is a Navy-wide organization that focuses on building unit cohesion among junior Sailors and seeks to reinforce a culture of shipmates helping shipmates through peer-to-peer interaction, while preventing destructive, addictive behaviors, and fortifying leadership skills.
“We try to give junior Sailors an opportunity to be involved within the command,” said Shula. “CSADD wants to get them out of their comfort zones so they can contribute throughout the command. A Sailor who feels a part of something and is motivated by peers is a concoction for a motivated and hardworking Sailor.”
The talent show was Mason’s first of deployment and was attended by both officers and enlisted Sailors on the mess decks. It featured twelve acts that were judged by a panel of three Sailors. The participants were graded on imagination, creativity, confidence, presentation, voice projection and crowd appeal.
“We enjoyed a harmonica player, original raps and poetry, singers and dancing,” said Yeoman 1st Class (SW) Rhonda Jackson, a member of the panel. “All of that made the judging extremely difficult because they all were great!”
The top three performances were presented with gift cards to the ship’s store by Cmdr. Christopher J. Gilbertson, Mason’s commanding officer.
“One of the greatest things about our Navy is its diversity,” Gilbertson said. “Providing an opportunity for Sailors to be themselves and share their unique talents in a relaxed atmosphere is important.”
Gilbertson explained the winning performances were “well deserved.”
“It’s great for people to notice all the talent,” said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Trayon Dupree, one of the winners. “It was fun, and it allowed others to be themselves. It just feels good.”
Jackson said that the crew is looking forward to the next event to showcase more of Mason's outstanding performers.
“It was beautiful,” said Hospital Corpsman Jordan Smith. “Everyone had a chance to relax and have fun because at the end of the day, we’re family.”
Mason, deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations
Ike CSG is comprised of the Carrier Strike Group 10 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 staff and embarked squadrons, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), the guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61) and the ships assigned to DESRON 26: the guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), Mason and USS Nitze (DDG 94).
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