Four quartermasters from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) joined USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) in early April as the ship sailed from Norfolk to participate in Neptune Warrior.
Neptune Warrior is a course designed and led by the Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff to improve interoperability between allied navies as well as to prepare the participants for a role in a coalition joint task force during upcoming deployments.
“My chief sent four of us here to get experience,” said Quartermaster Seaman Apprentice (SW) Colin Lalor. “We're in the yards right now and I thought that being out at sea with the Bainbridge would allow me to gain more experience as a quartermaster.”
Joining Lalor from the Roosevelt are Quartermaster 2nd Class Katheryn Herd, Quartermaster 3rd Class (SW) Yolanda Munoz, and Quartermaster Seaman Chris McGrew.
“In the first few days we've had a lot of outstanding training,” said McGrew. “I've gained a lot of useful knowledge to take back to the Roosevelt and I know I'm going to gain a whole lot more while underway during the next two months.”
The Roosevelt Sailors are not only benefiting themselves while underway, they also are supporting the Bainbridge as well.
“With extra people, you can actually get the job done a lot faster,” said Quartermaster 2nd Class (SW) Rodriques Spann, Bainbridge training petty officer. “Having experience from Sailors on a big boy is also good; you hear a lot about the way they do things. They are very willing to learn, and they're getting a lot of great training.”
The quartermasters will help to navigate the ship during the Neptune Warrior course, which will test U.S. and European ships. During the 10-day course, ships will face simulated small boat attacks, exercise air defense and anti-submarine warfare, and respond appropriately to simulated intelligence and media reports.
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Starkey, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Atlantic