Culinary Specialists Go to Battlestations in Fleet Week Galley Wars

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Greg Johnson, Commander, Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (NNS) -- More than 30 culinary specialists assigned to ships participating in Fleet Week Port Everglades 2012 competed in Galley Wars April 28 at Hugh's Culinary in Oakland Park, Fla.

The event was designed to test the kitchen skills of participants and recognize their superior talents in the field of culinary arts through a fast-paced cooking competition, an event Hugh's Culinary owner and event organizer Hugh McCauley said is intended to bring the military and civilian communities closer together.

"Our main goal is to promote some camaraderie between the military and the community," he said. "We all enjoy the opportunity to interact with each other and mingle and this event is a great way to do that."

The competition featured one team from each ship, including the multi-purpose amphibious assault Ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile destroyers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64), the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS DeWert (FFG 45), the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bernard C. Webber and the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700). Each team had one hour to prepare two identical platters composed of several courses with at least one of those dishes including the secret ingredient - swordfish.

"It's one of those things you can't really prepare for," said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Curtis Pacheco of Wasp. "You don't really know what you'll be working with until you get there. It was the first time I had done something like this and it was really fun," said Pacheco. "There was definitely a lot of competitiveness in the kitchen between the ships."

"Every participant from the ship has to bring their A-game to succeed here," McCauley said. "It's always a challenge, but they always bring their individual expertise and pull together a team effort to overcome a difficult environment."

Once the dishes were plated, they were judged by five celebrity judges. This year's Judges Choice Award winner was Dallas and the Audience Favorite Award winner was Bernard C. Webber.

However, winning and losing were not the most important aspect of the event, said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SS) Josue Ramirez, a culinary specialist assigned to Dallas.

"They all had great attitudes and teamwork," he said. "They were really some of the best cooks in the Navy and it was a great experience to compete against them and learn from each other."

According to McCauley, the competition was fierce and it was extremely difficult to choose a winner.

"All the teams were really close and they all did a great job at using their experience. Every one of them did a superb job with the secret ingredient and every team put forth a tremendous effort. All of them should be proud," he said.

The Navy's more than 7,000 culinary specialists (CS), deployed around the globe, feed on average more than 92 million wholesome and nutritious meals per year, ensuring the Navy's fighting forces operate at peak performance and are ready to respond to threats worldwide. Navy commanding officers agree that nothing impacts Sailors on a day-to-day basis more than the food CSs prepare for them; they believe these top quality meals contribute directly to Sailor quality of life and morale. Today's CSs have greater culinary instruction than ever before. With even more advanced training on the way. Sailors, both afloat and ashore, can look forward to even healthier and better-tasting meals in the near future.

Four U.S. Navy ships, a submarine and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are participating in Fleet Week Port Everglades 2012, an event designed to showcase the investment Americans have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

USS Dallas Sailors Visit Local Students During Fleet Week

By By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gregory Johnson, Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (NNS) -- Fourteen Sailors assigned to the Los Angeles Class-attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) visited Harbordale Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 27 as part of Fleet Week Port Everglades 2012.

The visit served as a chance for students to learn about the Navy and its Sailors. The event also provided an opportunity for the submariners to emphasize the importance of education.

"This kind of event is a huge opportunity for us to reach out to these kids and show them that we do more than just fight," said Commander, Navy Region Southeast Community Relations Coordinator Chief Religious Program Specialist (SW/AW) Mike Music. "Many of these children may not be familiar with the Navy and what our Sailors do, so for them to have a chance to interact with the Sailors can be a real learning experience."

The Sailors spent the morning speaking to kindergarten through fifth-grade students about their Navy careers and how math and science are essential to their ability to successfully perform their jobs.

According to Theresa Bucolo, Harbordale Elementary School principal, Sailors can have a tremendous impact on educators' efforts to encourage children to learn.

"The kids love these visits because the uniforms are so impressive and the Sailors really are like celebrities to them," she said. "The kids look up to them and will really listen to what they have to say. I can say it over and over again, but to hear a successful Sailor up there talking about the importance of education puts it on a different level."

While many of the students walked away from the event with new perspective on the Navy, many of the Sailors left with a sense of true satisfaction from the opportunity to have a positive impact on children who may someday be Navy leaders themselves, said Electrician's Mate 1st Class (SS/DV) Chris Duman, who participated in the visit.

"Being able to come out here and spend the time with the children of the community has been absolutely great," he said. "It's a day for us and the kids to get together and learn more about each other. Who knows, maybe today will have such an impact on one of these kids, they will go on to be a great leader in the Navy."

In addition to speaking to more than 300 students, Sailors also had lunch in the school cafeteria where they signed hundreds of autographs for hundreds of enthusiastic kids.

"It was a lot of fun," said fifth-grade student Jasmine Johnson. "My favorite part of this visit was learning about the meaning of the pins and patches."

Harbordale Elementary School was established in 1959 and currently enrolls 350 students. The school has had a long-standing relationship with the Navy, coordinating annual visits during Fleet Week Port Everglades for nearly a decade.

Four U.S. Navy ships, a submarine, and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are participating in Fleet Week Port Everglades 2012, an event designed to showcase the investment Americans have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

Fleet Week Port Everglades Starts with 'Roll Call' at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Preston Paglinawan, Navy Region Southeast Pulic Affairs

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (NNS) -- More than 800 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen participated in the official beginning of the U.S. Navy's largest community outreach effort in south Florida April 25 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

The All Hands on Deck Welcoming Party and "roll call," a Fleet Week Port Everglades mainstay hosted by Broward Navy Days, local Navy leagues, city and county officials, served as a platform for the city of Hollywood, Fla. - bordered by Port Everglades, Fla., and 25 miles from Miami - to welcome Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen to a city with no significant U.S. Navy presence.

Broward Navy Days Treasurer Colleen Lockwood said Hollywood, Fla., and the surrounding municipalities anticipate the week-long Fleet Week Port Everglades event each year, now in its 22nd iteration.

"We love the fact that we have our active duty military in town," she said. "It's exciting and [Sailors] go out and do projects for churches, hospitals, schools and charities."

Fleet Week Port Everglades is a weeklong event hosted by Broward Navy Days and local Navy Leagues, and is designed to showcase the sea services, honor the men and women of the sea services through public events and recognition, and provide the sea services an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of surface platforms, equipment and the skills of the men and women serving aboard these vessels.

Service members from multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64), Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS DeWert (FFG 45), U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bernard C. Webber, the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700), as well as U.S. Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are scheduled to participate in a number of community outreach activities as well as enjoy the hospitality and tourism of South Florida during Fleet Week Port Everglades.

Service members from the five visiting ships and submarine along with thousands of residents from the south Florida community attended the four-hour function, which included a free buffet dinner, a traditional exchange of plaques between visiting ship's commanding officers and city and county officials and an opportunity for community members to interact with service members.

"I'm certainly glad that the Navy and Marine Corps came together today to have a good time because they all do a great job for our country and they deserve to have some good r&r," said Nashville, Tenn., resident and Fleet Week Port Everglades visitor Mary Rollins.

The welcoming party also included a "roll call" from each of the visiting ships. After the introduction of each vessel's commanding officer, service members in ranks provided a "call," representing their ship.

USS Dallas Recognizes Sailors' Children during Month of the Military Child

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- More than 100 children of active duty Sailors assigned to USS Dallas (SSN 700) were recognized during a "Month of the Military Child" event held aboard the Los Angeles-Class attack submarine in Groton April 15.

The event hosted aboard Dallas, which included D.C. Olympics and an ice cream social was in support of the Month of the Military Child. Children of U.S. service members stationed around the world will be honored throughout April for their contributions and sacrifice.

Cmdr. Jack Houdeshell, Dallas' commanding officer and his crew organized a series of events to show their appreciation.

"A month set aside by the Navy to recognize our military children is significant and so critically important in the overall personnel readiness of our Dallas Sailors," said Houdeshell. "In April, we can show how much we do care and value their support."

Jill Henry, Dallas' ombudsman, received the certificates through the Blue Star Families' Outstanding Military Child Certificate Program.

"April is the month of the military child and this is the perfect time to recognize these young heroes and let them know they are not forgotten," said Henry.

Master Chief Electronics Technician (SS) Tomas Garcia, Dallas' chief of the boat discussed the command's philosophy toward recognizing the support provided by their families including the youngest members.

"In keeping with our command philosophy we have fostered a command culture of taking care of our children and recognizing the sacrifices they endure to allow us to defend our nation," said Garcia.

"The children endure just as much as the adults too and many times more, with having to change schools, make new friends and deal with the stresses of having only one parent at home most of the time," said Henry.

USS Dallas Welcomes New Commander

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) held a change of command ceremony at the Naval Submarine Base New London's chapel in Groton Feb. 23.

Cmdr. Jack Houdeshell relieved Cmdr. Rich Arnold during the time-honored ceremony.

"It's been a real honor to serve on Dallas for these last two and a half years," said Arnold. "It's a great ship with a talented and dedicated crew. This is the best crew I have ever worked with. Their dedication to the nation, the ship and each other is inspiring. They have far exceeded all of my expectations."

During Arnold's tour as commanding officer aboard Dallas from August 2009 to February 2012, he improved every aspect of his ship, instilled a warrior's mentality and improved the esprit de corps throughout his crew. During this time, Dallas conducted a six-month deployment to the Central Command area of responsibility returning to Groton in December 2011.

Arnold was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his leadership and achievements while in command.

"Commanding his ship with clear vision and enthusiastic leadership, Cmdr. Arnold completely transformed his officers and crew into a highly functional, mission-oriented team of warfighters whose performance culminated in a highly successful six-month deployment to the Central Command area of responsibility," said Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, commander, Submarine Group 2.

Arnold also received praise for the submarine's involvement with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group during Exercise Bold Alligator 2012.

"Your support of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group during Bold Alligator 2012 was exceptional," said Vice Adm. John Richardson, commander, Submarine Forces Atlantic in a naval message praising Arnold for his achievements. "A major step forward for SSN participation in strike group certifications."

Prior to reporting as commanding officer of Dallas, Houdeshell, a native of Iowa, served on the headquarters staff of U.S. Joint Forces Command in the Intelligence Directorate from June 2009 until May 2011.

Houdeshell discussed his excitement for the way ahead for the Los Angeles-attack submarine and its crew.

"Dallas is a great ship with a great crew. I look forward to continuing where Cmdr. Arnold has left off and taking her to sea in defense of our great country," said Houdeshell.

Houdeshell reflected on his opportunity to command USS Dallas and what it takes to reach this pinnacle in someone's naval career.

"It takes a long time to get to command. Getting the opportunity to lead a great ship like Dallas just makes the time well worth the effort," said Houdeshell. "Dallas is a great ship with a great crew."

Houdeshell also thanked the submarine's namesake city for their continued support of the submarine.

"I look forward to continuing the good relations that the Dallas has maintained with its namesake, city of Dallas, Texas," said Houdeshell.

Dallas is the first United States naval ship to bear the name of the city of Dallas, Texas. Dallas is a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine of the Los Angeles-class built by Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation.