Honduran Navy Commander Attends U.S. Navy Graduation

By Lt. Nicholas O'Neill, Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Honduran Navy Commander attended the Center for Combat Systems (CSCS) Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center's (FLEASWTRACEN) graduation at Naval Base Point Loma, May 22.

Rear Adm. Hector Orlando Caballero witnessed his son, Sonar Technician (Surface) 3rd Class Brandon Caballero, who is a U.S. Navy Sailor, graduate from the A(V)15 Operations course.

As the top officer in the Honduran Navy, Caballero is responsible for a fleet of more than 50 vessels focused on coastal and riverine security. The Honduran Navy is a vital partner in U.S. efforts to disrupt illegal drug trafficking. In 2010, and again in 2011, the U.S. partnered with Honduras to open naval facilities in country that house patrol boats and aircraft from both Honduras and the U.S. to patrol the Caribbean coast for drug traffickers.

FLEASWTRACEN Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Dugan greeted Caballero and spoke at the graduation.

"I am so proud of each Sailor," Dugan said. "Anti-submarine warfare is an extremely important part of the Navy's mission and you are on the front lines of that effort. The knowledge and skills you gained here have shaped you for future success. I know you all are going to do great things in your career and I thank you for your service."

During the course, students conducted training on an almost identical console they will utilize on a ship.

"All the system functionality they will have in the ship is replicated here and this allows us to produce a much more proficient and tactically savvy operator," explains Lt. Michelle Smith, FLEASWTRACEN's A(V)-15 division officer. "Following the operations course, students attend the maintenance course where they are taught how to properly care for and maintain equipment before heading to the fleet as fully qualified operators."

Following the ceremony, Caballero expressed how impressed he was with the graduates and thanked Dugan for his hospitality.

CSCS' mission is to develop and deliver surface ship combat systems training to achieve surface warfare superiority. CSCS headquarters' staff oversees 14 learning sites, including FLEASWTRACEN. With a military and civilian staff of 260, FLEASWTRACEN convenes approximately 500 classes a year, across 78 courses of instruction producing approximately 4,800 graduates annually in the many facets of maintaining and operating their ships in the areas of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

USS John S. McCain Changes Command

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christian Senyk, Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Japan

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) held a change of command ceremony May 28. Cmdr. Chad Graham relieved Cmdr. Chase Sargeant as McCain's commanding officer.

While Sargeant was in command, McCain steamed more than 53,000 nautical miles of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, making her one of the most actively deployed warships in today's U.S. Navy Fleet.

"The Asia-Pacific environment is constantly changing," said Capt. Shan Byrne, commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. "It is a theater full of friction and challenges, with the pace only quickening."

McCain's schedule is dense with training and inspections, all in part of making her operationally ready and prepared to be a forward presence in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

"I can never repay you for the energy, blood, sweat and tears you gave to this command and this navy," said Sargeant to his Sailors during the ceremony. "It has been my honor and my privilege to be your captain. Take care of each other; take care of our ship and thank you."

With those words, Sargeant saluted his relief, former executive officer, Graham, and transferred the absolute authority, responsibility and accountability of his command.

Graham has played a critical role in the past two years of McCain's operational success and says he is ready to face the challenges ahead and that he remains confident in the crew's ability to tackle the future.

"The challenges that lay before us are not small by any measure," said Graham. "We are charged with bringing 'Big Bad John' back together and taking her to sea, where a warship belongs."

McCain is forward-deployed to DESRON 15 in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility, and is currently dry docked in Yokosuka, Japan.

Security Department Honors the Thin Blue Line

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian Sloan, USS George Washington Public Affairs

WATERS NEAR GUAM (NNS) -- The Security Department aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) dedicated a master-at-arms wall of remembrance during a Memorial Day ceremony, May 25.

The ceremony honored master-at-arms (MA) who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.

"In a community of more than 9,000 MAs you would assume that most of these Sailors would just be names," said Lt. Michael Whitehead, George Washington's security officer. "But for us, it's personal since each Sailor represented in this memorial served with or worked for Sailors in this department."

The Memorial Day service commenced with the reciting of the MA creed, followed by a brief remembrance of each Sailor and concluded with the hanging of plaques for each fallen MA.

"For us these losses are real," said Whitehead. "From standing in Arlington as Sean's young widow [was] presented the national ensign to standing post with "Jet" Dougandara, these losses are personal and they shape us."

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Sean Brazas and Master-at-Arms 1st Class John Dougandara were killed-in-action during their tours in Afghanistan May 30, 2012 and Aug. 6, 2011.

Whitehead expressed the impact law enforcement has throughout the Navy and society as a whole.

"We take a moment to bond as brothers and sisters who choose to step into the fray and, if necessary, lay down our lives in defense of this ship and its crew," said Whitehead.

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class James Bailey, from Lagrange, Georgia, said he believes the memorial will leave a lasting impression on the command, because it shows honor for fallen individuals.

Bailey added that the memorial was a powerful way to remember what these particular MA's have been through, and understand some of the motives behind the actions of law enforcement.

"These loses remind us of the importance of training and the moments we have with family and loved ones because we never know when our next watch will be our last," said Whitehead.

George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, are on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. George Washington will conduct a hull swap with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) later this year after serving seven years as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan.