USS Essex Hosts Tiger Cruise on Return to San Diego

Aug. 18, 2026 | By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Aaron Rolle |

The amphibious assault ship USS Essex hosted a historic Tiger Cruise for friends, family and community members before returning to its home port, Aug. 14.

The Essex deployed two air-cushioned landing craft, assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5, to Red Beach at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, where 122 family and friends, known as Tigers, were eagerly awaiting to embark on the ship and be reunited with their loved ones.

"I'm happy we were able to bring sailors together with their families and show them what we do on a daily basis for this country," said Navy Capt. Russell Everitt, the USS Essex commanding officer. "I definitely hope we can do this type of thing again [in] the future."

A Tiger Cruise allows friends and family of sailors and Marines to board a naval ship and experience the daily life of a service member stationed aboard the USS Essex. More importantly, it provides a warm welcome home reception for service members and their families after long periods away at sea.

"I've done a lot of operations, but I haven't done anything like this," said Navy Chief Petty Officer Christopher Wyatt, assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5. "It was a truly rewarding feeling knowing I was bringing people's families to them."

This marks the first time the ship has embarked Tiger Cruise guests via air-cushioned landing craft, making it not only a heartwarming reception but also a historic endeavor for the Essex.

"Being back on a ship was a very surreal experience for me," said Michael Sweeney, a Marine Corps veteran and father of Marine Corps 1st Lt. John Sweeney, assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. "I definitely remember transiting the ship being a lot easier when I was younger."

Once aboard, guests went through a ship safety briefing to ensure everyone had a fulfilling experience while staying safe on the active warship. Afterward, they followed their service members for personalized tours of the USS Essex.

"The excitement I have cannot be put into words," said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Megan Smith. "My father was a former service member; I like that we were able to compare and contrast our experiences in the Navy while we were both on board."

The evening culminated in a steel beach picnic, a time-honored Navy tradition for ships at sea, hosted by the Essex Supply Department. Sailors, Marines and Tigers joined together on the flight deck and shared food, drinks, games and memories as the sun slowly set over the Pacific Ocean.

"Coordinating this event took a lot of time, but it was very satisfying," said Navy Chief Petty Officer Maria Estrada. "We were able to showcase different aspects of the ship's operations as well as some of its capabilities."

The USS Essex returned to Naval Base San Diego the following day. Service members and guests stood on the flight deck and took in the downtown skyline, marking the end of two and a half months at sea in support of Exercise Rim of the Pacific and reuniting the ship with its Southern California home.

"I was just happy to be on board," said Hollis Cantrellmusson, mother of Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Bailey Cantrellmusson. "The sailors on board were very courteous, nice and gracious."

From Combat Veteran to TV Star

Sept. 23, 2025 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Actor Larry Wilcox, best known for his leading role as a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer and later as a captain in the TV series CHiPs, which aired from 1977 to 1983, was also a Marine Corps combat veteran.

In May 1967, Wilcox went to boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. 

He served as a field artilleryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, from 1967 to 1970. 

Those years included a 13-month deployment to South Vietnam, where he served in the northernmost region of the country, in places such as Dong Ha, Con Thien and the demilitarized zone bordering North Vietnam.  

Also, he fought in the Tet Offensive, which started Jan. 30, 1968, and lasted until September 1968.

Like many Vietnam War veterans, Wilcox's homecoming was not joyous. 

"My memories of my returning home to San Francisco were ugly, and I did not understand why people spat on you for risking your life," he said, referring to people at the airport. 

 During his final year of military service, he was stationed at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, where he was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1973. 

Wilcox, born Aug. 8, 1947, in San Diego, still lives there. 

His older brother, Randy, also served in the Marine Corps, including during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

34th Surface Line Week Kicks Off in San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Zachary Bell, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The 34th annual Surface Line Week (SLW) kicked-off in San Diego, Aug. 14, with a golf tournament at Admiral Baker Golf Course.

SLW is a week-long competition sponsored by the staff of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and features a series of activities dedicated to friendly competition in a variety of professional and athletic events.

"Surface Line Week 2015 consists of 17 athletic events and 15 professional events culminating in an awards ceremony on August 21," said Lt. Jochelle Schatz, this year's event coordinator. "The overall winner will also be recognized at the Surface Warrior Ball held the evening of August 22."

SLW athletic events include: a 5K run, basketball, billiards, bowling, dodge ball, flag football, golf, tennis, volleyball, soccer, racquetball, swimming, push-up and pull-up endurance, and CrossFit. There will also be a chili and salsa cook-off.

SLW professional events include: photography, cake decorating, a damage control marathon, lathe work, marksmanship, medical diagnosis and stretcher bearer race, rescue swimmer, a Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) race, sailing, ship handling, valve packing, visual communications, and welding and cutting.

"Competition participants must be active duty, regularly assigned Navy Reserve, or other military personnel and government civilians formally attached to a Navy command," said Schatz.

Last year, USS Boxer (LHD 4) took first place in the overall large command category, USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) took first for medium commands, and Beach Master Unit (BMU) 1 received the small command trophy.

"It's going be a fun, rewarding event for all 32 commands participating," said Schatz. "All of these events promote camaraderie, team building and boost moral, while having some friendly competition along the water front for shore based commands and ships as well."

Hull Swap Begins: George Washington Arrives in San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paolo Bayas,

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) arrived in San Diego to conduct a 10-day hull swap with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as part of a force structure change, Aug. 10.

Ronald Reagan (RR) will relieve George Washington (GW) as the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan, and GW will return to Newport News, Virginia, for a mid-life refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) following a deployment around South America.

"I would like to thank our Sailors and their families," said Capt. Timothy Kuehhas, GW's commanding officer. "To ensure the success of this historic hull swap, the Sailors aboard the three ships and their families have had to remain flexible to ensure the Navy's carrier fleet is manned effectively. Key personnel, especially those related to unique systems, will remain with their ships. For training of new crews, each ship will go through a tailored syllabus following the crew swap."

RR was one of the first responders during Operation Tomodachi in 2011 after the earthquake and tsunami, establishing a strong tie between the ship and the community of Japan. In addition, RR recently completed a maintenance period where it had many of its systems upgraded.

"Our relationship with Japan is vital to U.S. national security interests abroad," said Kuehhas. "Providing USS Ronald Reagan forward in Japan ensures the United States is best positioned to honor our security commitment to Japan. Our forward-deployed naval forces in U.S. 7th Fleet, along with their counterparts in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, comprise the core capabilities needed by the alliance to meet our common strategic objectives."

Following the turnover and personnel swap between RR and GW, RR will conduct a flight deck certification and tailor the ship's training availability before departing the Southern California operating area to proceed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

USS George Washington has been forward deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility since August 2008, and is returning to Newport News to undergo its RCOH. Maintenance efforts will include: refueling the ship's two nuclear reactors, modernization and repairs to the propulsion plant, restoring ship service life margins, and system/equipment repair and/or replacement, as well as war-fighting modernization.

'No Zebras, No Excuses' Bring Sexual Assault Awareness to Naval Base San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eddie Harrison, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- More than 500 Sailors at Naval Base San Diego attended a live performance, Aug. 14, in the base theater, to raise awareness about sexual assault and how to prevent it.

Performing on stage were students from the Central Michigan University (CMU) 'No Zebras, No Excuses' performance group, which acted out a variety of vignettes to address and recognize forms of assault and ask the audience questions such as: What will you do when it occurs? How would you make a difference?

"Our acts portray different areas of sexual aggression," said cast member Paul Carbini. "In between the vignettes, there is an explanation on what the audience saw and how to interpret and intervene on that situation. The training is not sugar-coated; we put it right in the audience's face."

The acts featured scenarios ranging from situations at parties to predators using alcohol and drugs to target individuals.

According to Stephen Thompson, CMU faculty member and sexual aggression services director, these situations are taken from hundreds of real life experiences.

"What if you or someone you loved were in a situation dealing with sexual assault?" Thompson asked. "What would you want done? These situations point out behaviors that cause a reasonable person to be uncomfortable, threatened, offended, intimidated and afraid."

"These incidents do not happen in a vacuum," said Thompson. "Other people know, but they just don't know what to do about it and that's why we are here. The first thing you have to do is notice behavior."

"Doing nothing is the zebra," said Thompson, referring to an earlier analogy of bystanders being similar to a herd of zebras. "You can't change what you were before you walked in those doors. You can change what you are now and what you are going to be after today. Choose not to be a zebra."

Some of the acts incorporated comedy and emotion to keep the audience members engaged.

"A lot of times I do training that sounds very scripted and people fade out," said Ensign Kelli Gardner, attendee and sexual assault prevention and response representative for USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). "This seems like a way to engage people more, a better way to present situations."

As the performance came to a close the 12-member cast encompassed the entire theater and expressed messages ranging from sexual assault statistics to living up to the Navy's Core Values. But the final message asked the audience: Now that you know, what are you going to do?

Other stops along the Zebras' tour include USS Boxer (LHD 4), Aug. 15; and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 16-17.

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response is an element of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative which consolidates a set of objectives and policies, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Navy and Marine Corps. The Department of the Navy is working aggressively to prevent sexual assaults, support sexual assault victims, and hold offenders accountable.

Help raise awareness by joining the conversation on social media using #SAAM.

Naval Base San Diego Completes Citadel Rumble 2012

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Justin L. Webb, Naval Base San Diego Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) completed three days of annual disaster preparedness drills during Citadel Rumble 2012 (CR-12) from Aug. 7-9.

CR-12 is a fully integrated response and recovery exercise designed to evaluate Navy shore-based commands and installation emergency preparedness in response to an all hazards scenario.

This year's training evolution was a collaboration across all NBSD departments. Department heads and other essential team members held planning meetings to ensure successful execution of the drills.

"The events were modeled after real world casualties," said NBSD training officer Dave Kenneweg. "In the event of a real-life scenario the base would get overwhelmed by not just displaced military, but also civilians. Our goal was to set up scenarios that would train our personnel how to effectively respond to casualties and to provide mass shelter for displaced individuals."

 Over the course of CR-12 there was a simulated 6.9 magnitude earthquake, a building collapse and riot which ultimately lead to six hypothetical human casualties including one fatality.

"The Emergency Management Team coordinated the initial response and recovery of multiple disasters and reported incidents across the base," said NBSD Emergency Operations Center (EOC) manager Manny Magos. "We coordinated relief, supplies, assistance and the flow of information from the incident through the EOC up to higher headquarters."

During the exercise, the AtHoc-Reverse 911 system was one of the primary means the EOC used to mass notify the population within the NBSD area of jurisdiction.

"Let's face it...if a real earthquake were to happen most folks would get that we just had an earthquake. Be that as it may, they may not know where to go for help, they may not know what to do in the event of an emergency, but if we were able to get an AtHoc alert to somebody who perhaps had a PDA or a phone that was able to receive an alert or a text message it would steer them in the direction of how to get help. Specifically, it would tell them where to reach out or who to call in the event they have some kind of damage to report, in need of medical attention or some kind of supplies or services," added Magos.

NBSD leadership feels the base personnel's performance during this exercise shows their commitment to help in times of need.

"I am so pleased by the combined effort of the NBSD staff. I am totally confident that if a natural disaster was to occur in the area, our personnel would be ready to meet the challenge head on," said NBSD Commanding Officer Capt. Winton Smith. "I also want to ensure that our Sailors, civilian employees, retirees and family members understand in the event of a tragedy we will open our gates to help in any way possible."

CR-12 was preceded by an Earthquake Preparedness Resource Fair Aug. 6, which was aimed to

help prepare military members and their families in the event of an earthquake. The fair, sponsored by Navy Region Southwest's Sustainable Solid Waste Program, featured 16 organizations with disaster preparedness experts.

Association of Naval Services Officers' Convention Welcomes CNO

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Byron C. Linder, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West San Diego

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert addressed attendees of the Association of Naval Services Officers' (ANSO) 32nd annual convention at a luncheon, Aug. 9.

ANSO fosters the growth, advancement and recognition of Hispanic officer and enlisted personnel in the uniformed naval services, encompassing the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Their annual convention focuses on leadership, professional development and training through a series of workshops.

Greenert took the stage and reflected on the history of Hispanic contributions to the naval services, noting former Secretary of the Navy and ANSO founder Edward Hidalgo and Adm. David Farragut, the first Hispanic admiral in the U.S. Navy.

"I need some ideas to be better in our ability to recruit and retain Hispanic officers and enlisted leaders," he said. "We need to continue to nurture and bring this along, and ANSO is a very good source for that. It's a very good institution."

Greenert emphasized the importance of diversity in the naval services, citing teamwork between the services as a key element to successfully accomplishing the nation's tasking.

"When all of us are out there as a team, that's when we're most effective. We need the imagination of a diverse force. It's a military necessity and a business necessity," he said. "The best are out there. It's about mining that wide range of people. It's not about quotas. A diverse team will always perform better than a group of similar thinkers from the same background."

Greenert proceeded to take questions on a variety of topics, ranging from perform to serve (PTS) to educational opportunities. ANSO president, retired Rear Adm. Will Rodriguez, presented Greenert with a package of ANSO coasters to bring the luncheon to conclusion.

Rodriguez noted the ANSO convention provided many unique opportunities for the attendees.

"The CNO understands what we need to do. He's dedicated to what we do and to the Sailors. We can't fight without the people, and that's his number one focus," said Rodriguez. "If you come to ANSO, you're going to get access to these key leaders and commercial leaders that can help you transition. You're going to get things like one-on-one flag mentoring that you wouldn't be able to otherwise."

The ANSO convention will conclude Aug. 10.