USS Freedom Readies for Maiden Deployment

Navy.mil ^ | 2/6/2010 | Lt. Ed Early, USS Freedom Public Affairs

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

USS Freedom (LCS 1), the Navy's first littoral combat ship, is underway off the coast of Florida for final training and certification prior to its maiden deployment to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) region.

Counter-illicit trafficking (CIT), damage control, and systems training began soon after Freedom's arrival at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on Jan. 25.

"This training is extremely important for Freedom and will help us prepare for the CIT mission we expect to perform while in the 4th Fleet area of operations," said Lt. Cmdr. Mark West of Imperial Beach, Calif., operations officer for the Gold Crew, one of Freedom's two rotational crews. "Freedom can be an extremely formidable weapon in the war on drugs."

Freedom's crew is part of an innovative manning construct that reduces crew size, demanding each Sailor maintain high levels of proficiency in multiple fields, and optimizes ship operability with multiple crews. The ship is manned by two rotational crews, "Blue" and "Gold", of 40 Sailors each. Prior to deployment, each crew member must prove his or her competency across a wide range of skills.

Sailors attended counter-illicit trafficking/airborne use of force (CIT/AUF) instruction ashore, led by Afloat Training Group (ATG) Mayport, Destroyer Squadron 14 and Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 407. LEDET 407 will embark the ship during deployment.

Freedom welcomed the Coast Guard detachment aboard for nearly three days of CIT/AUF exercises at sea. LEDET 407 worked with Freedom's core crew and its aviation detachment to certify the ship for CIT operations.

"The Coast Guard was extremely professional and knowledgeable, and I look forward to working with them in the future," West said.

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[ArmstedFragg]

Only the military would have training ashore lead by the afloat training group.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

[Tainan]

Ya know, my Daddy was an old Navy man. He did 26 yrs and saluted his mail box every month after that. Of course he got out and then went to work in the 'civilian' sector as he referred to it. But deep in his heart and in the tattoos on his skin, he remained an Old Navy Man.

I want the US Navy to have the most modern, fastest, baddest, meanest mofo ships/boats/rafts/floating devices humanly possible. I want their weaponry to include gunpowder, micro-wave and radiation. I want to blow them up, vaporize them and remove the oily marks left on the surface they may have occupied.
I want the mere appearance of these boats on the horizon to cause spontaneous bowel/bladder release on the bad guys.
I want top not only kill the sons-a-b's, I want to remove future generations of them and their pets from the equation.

Is that too much to ask?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I agree with you. I truly think that we are heading for high energy lasers in all of the services but we need to continue to invest in think tanks such as DARPA.

[shibumi]

No need for the combat ship, the maidens brought their own canoe .....

[Quix]

Works for me.

I’ve forgotten—you’re still in Tainan, aren’t you?

[Tainan]

Yes, still in Tainan.

[Quix]

Good for you.

I hope you can enjoy some . . .

pow mi hua —puffed rice cubes/cakes.

and

Mongu kao ro

I miss them.

Guess I could have some Rice Krispies! LOL.

When my mouth has functioning teeth again . . . Sigh.

Xin Nian Quai Le!

[Oztrich Boy]

Great. They've invented the APD/LPR. Again.