Sexual Assault Rates Decrease at Military Service Academies

By Claudette Roulo

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2015 – Rates of unwanted sexual contact at the military service academies declined in 2014, according to a report released today by the Defense Department.

The annual report on sexual harassment and violence at the military service academies estimates that overall rates decreased for both men and women, indicating that nearly 200 fewer sexual assaults occurred at the academies in 2014 than in 2012.

“The academies have been working hard on prevention,” said Dr. Nate Galbreath, senior executive advisor for DoD's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program. “Indications are that academy leadership focus on this program is contributing to an overall safer climate.”

The report is a congressionally mandated annual assessment of the military’s service academies.

Methodology

In even-numbered years, cadets and midshipmen respond to a voluntary and anonymous survey, said Dr. Elizabeth Van Winkle. She is deputy branch chief in the survey division at the Defense Research, Surveys and Statistics Center and oversaw the service academy gender relations survey for 2014.

“We got about a 66 percent response rate for the three DoD academies, and that’s about 82 percent of women and 63 percent for men for the response rates,” she said.

In addition, the academies conduct self-assessments of their progress on eliminating sexual assault and sexual harassment, Galbreath said.

In odd-numbered years, the assessment involves visits to each of the academies by members of DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention Response Office and the service sexual assault prevention response programs, as well as focus groups conducted by the Defense Manpower Data Center, he said.

For the site visit, the Department interviews academy sexual assault response coordinators, victim advocates, criminal investigators, attorneys, and medical providers to assess how they've been performing their duties, what problems they might have encountered, and the things that they do to push the program forward and make progress.

“Then we make recommendations where we see that there's potential for improvement, or we identify things that we think are best practices and we try to share those with the other service academies,” he explained.

Because the survey is voluntary, there is potential for the pool of respondents to be fundamentally different from those who choose not to participate, Van Winkle said.

“For this particular survey, because we get such high response rates, we have very good confidence in our estimates based on the scientific weighting that we do and the adjustments that we do based on that scientific rating,” she said.

Increase in Unrestricted Reporting

While there was a decrease in the estimated prevalence of sexual assault, the academies received fewer formal reports of sexual assault during the same time period. However, this year, unrestricted reports outnumbered restricted reports. A victim who chooses to make an unrestricted report engages the military justice process and participates in an independent investigation.

“Victims who decide on an unrestricted report might be more confident that we'll be able to support and care for them as they go through the challenges of participating in the justice system,” he said. “However, we see any report as beneficial, as it allows us a greater opportunity to provide victims with the support and services they need to restore their lives.”

Galbreath said one element that may be driving the increase in unrestricted reports is the introduction last year of the special victims’ counsel program, also known as the victims’ legal counsel program in the Navy and Marine Corps.

“Academy cadets and midshipmen are eligible for this program, and can have an attorney represent them throughout the military justice process. Our surveys indicate this service is highly valued by survivors,” he said.

Continuum of Harm

This year’s report included an anonymous survey of cadets and midshipmen. “While survey estimates indicate there were fewer sexual assaults this past academic year, responses also suggest that sexual harassment remains a problem area for the academies,” said Van Winkle.

“All of these behaviors fit into a continuum of harm,” she added.

Sexual harassment operates in two different ways, Galbreath said.

Sexual harassment may act as a “green light” for potential offenders. They may get an impression they can behave anyway they’d like in a permissive environment.

Sexual harassment can also be used by the offender as both a way to groom potential victims or to keep a victim's behavior in check, he said.

“Sexist jokes and other unacceptable gender-based behavior can be used to test boundaries with a victim,” Galbreath said.

“When unit members refuse to tolerate this and shut down the offender or any person who’s behaving inappropriately -- it sends a strong message,” he said. “People that commit sexual assault aren't particularly brave folks -- they're looking for the path of least resistance -- and when they're called to task for sexual harassment and other grooming behaviors, it lets an offender know the military is the last place they want to be.”

Though the report contains signs of progress, the department will continue to combat these problems, Galbreath said.

“This is something that we're in for the long haul; we want this problem to go away,” he said. “We don't want people to believe that this is part of the military experience. When people volunteer to do the world's most dangerous work, they deserve the safest environment possible to do it in.”

Courage under fire: EOD tech diffuses a deadly encounter

by Airman 1st Class Patrick S. Ciccarone
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/11/2015 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Upon arriving at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, for his fourth deployment, the arid desert heat and blinding dunes of sand struck a nostalgic chord with Tech. Sgt. Kristopher Parker, as the golden wasteland in front of him reminded him of his own backyard.

"To me, it looked like home, because the terrain is the same as southeast New Mexico," mused Parker. "I always felt comfortable being there."

As a Carlsbad, N.M., native, he grew up in the southwestern corner of the United States. The son of a U.S. Marine, he came from a military background and spent his childhood filled with outdoor activities, namely shooting everything that moved with a pellet gun.

Parker eventually traded his pellet gun in for an M-4 when he joined the Air Force in 2003 as an explosive ordnance disposal technician.

Throughout his career, Parker deployed to locations such as Iraq and Afghanistan and diffused countless improvised explosive devices, but his most recent deployment to the Kandahar region would prove to be his most storied and dangerous.

"Our mission was expected to be pretty standard," Parker said. "Honestly, I was most excited to have my teammates receive real-world EOD experience, so I could send them home as well-rounded Airmen."

The opportunity presented itself with a mission to provide enemy suppression while descending into the Mazghary Mountain range and clear a factory that was believed to produce IEDs. He was partnered with members from different branches of service and fellow EOD Senior Airmen T.J. Brantley and Kyle Bushey, and Joint Terminal Attack Controller Staff Sgt. Nicolas Strickler.

"Before this deployment, I had never met my two teammates," Brantley said. "But, I knew no matter what we encountered, I had a team leader, Parker, who would do everything he could to keep me alive."

His gut instincts were right, and soon he'd rely on Parker more than he could have imagined.

Brantley and Bushey were both inexperienced when it came to being deployed and dealing with real-combat. Prior to the mission, the two jokingly told Parker they "hoped to see some action."

Parker was wiser and knew differently.

"I told them they didn't want the action," he said. "But, they certainly got their wishes and then some."

Rendezvousing with Afghanistan Border Police, Parker and his team mounted a chinook helicopter before dawn, enroute to the mountain they would unwillingly call home for the next 15 hours.

Located approximately 500 meters away on a ridge was Edward Newton, a Joint IED Defeat Organization team member. During this operation, he was to observe and report any potential IEDs to Parker and his team.

"There was high ground on both sides of the approaching team," Newton said. "The ridge had enemy fighters in advantageous positions -- Parker and his team were walking into a group of insurgents."

As they descended the mountain, Parker's ABP comrades unexpectedly encountered enemy combatants who were holed up within the entrance of a cave.

The shout of an interpreter from the platoon rang out and immediately the platoon came under heavy gun fire.

"Our entire team was getting shot at, with rounds falling within a foot of us," Bushey said. "We were able to return effective fire, using one magazine per person to suppress the remaining enemy combatants."

Fragments of rock splintered off the boulders they used for cover in front of them, creating a curtain of dust and obscuring the battlefield for both parties.

With Brantley and Bushey pinned down taking fire by the combatants, Strickler was ordered to call in an aerial weapons team to help neutralize the threat.

Directed verbally or electronically, an aerial weapons team operates within a helicopter armed with munitions like rockets, missiles and automatic machine guns. They respond to JTAC coordinates in order to quickly find and eliminate their target.

Within minutes, the AWT descended upon the cave and unleashed their arsenal of rockets and hellfire missiles, suppressing the enemy and giving Parker's team a chance to recover from the engagement.

After the two-hour-long skirmish, the platoon and Afghan allies returned to the cave to assess the damage. Along with enemy casualties, the team uncovered an extremely large cache of IEDs and homemade explosives within the cave's vicinity.

The work wasn't done yet, and the ABP requested Parker's support in disarming the IEDs and clearing the area for the platoon. No rookie to the art of IED destruction, Parker masterfully identified and cleared the surrounding area with haste.

"The IEDs I encountered in Afghanistan were more complex and built differently than in previous deployments," Parker said. "Past experiences and a lot of training played a large role in our survival and my ability to clear the IEDs."

With more than 200 pounds of homemade explosives and IEDs to destroy, Parker evacuated his team to a safe distance and prepared his charges for detonation. The resulting explosion shook the earth and signaled the successful clearing of their manmade enemy.

The smell of explosives filled the air and surrounded the area with a plume of wispy, black smoke. A crater scarred the earth where the munitions had been just seconds prior.

As the smoke cleared and Parker's team was able to survey the area, U.S. Army platoon leader 1st Lt. Mathew Long arrived at the crater to warn them of a group of enemies nearby who were waiting for the group at the base of the mountain.

"We didn't make it far before our guys began taking fire," Brantley said.

It was not feasible for the team to continue on the route without running into an awaiting group of enemy combatants, along with a littered trail of IEDs.

Parker offered an alternative solution to their potential problem -- utilizing various Joint Direct Attack Munitions to vaporize the awaiting assailants who were waiting at the bottom.

JDAMs are bombs outfitted with a GPS-assisted guidance system and range from 500 pounds to 2,000 pounds in weight. Coupled with its ability to alter trajectory, these munitions will track their target with laser precision.

Bushey, who was suffering from heat exhaustion, made his way back up the mountain and postured himself in a sniping position.

"We had an abundance of JDAMs, but they were ineffective at damaging the cave structure," said Parker. "I recommended to Strickler to have the pilots drop JDAMs and to put a delay on the fuse to ensure it would penetrate before detonating."

The tactic worked, and after the last JDAM was dropped, the men headed back down the mountain - sure of their clearing.

"I suggested we head to the cave opening using a different route," Parker said. "We approached from the east side of the overhang and used the available boulders as cover until we arrived at the mouth of the cave."

It wasn't more than 20 minutes after their bombardment of the cliff that Parker's team came under fire once again. This time, it was more furious and focused than before.

With an unknown amount of enemy combatants barraging the team with a combination of small-arms fire and AK-47 rifle rounds, Long, attempting to find cover, received a gunshot wound to the leg, instantly breaking his bone.

"We saw him drop to the ground and pull himself up prior to the enemies firing two rocket-propelled grenades," Brantley said. "They detonated when they hit the edge of our cover boulder, six feet from us. Long's face received flak from the RPG's, but he managed to get back behind cover."

Parker established a firing position and engaged in direct enemy fire, allowing Brantley time to come to Long's aid.

White-hot bullet casings littered the floor around him as he defended the men's position.

Parker yelled for Long to start wrapping a tourniquet around his leg to stem the bleeding, and Brantley started performing combat life-saving maneuvers on him in addition to getting him out of harm's way.

Insurgents began unloading a focused strike of RPG fire and were close enough to throw 20-pound IEDs at the U.S. Force's location, resulting in Parker and Brantley being blown back and receiving concussions.

Parker made a plan to take U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Grover and perform cover fire, directing enemy fire toward them, so Brantley and Long could egress to safety.

"Parker and I knew we had to get out of there, so we told Long to roll as fast as he could down the hill away from the cliff," Grover said. "We laid suppressive fire until he and Brantley made it down the mountain."

With Parker's radio communications lost, another member of his platoon called in an AWT to neutralize the onslaught of the insurgents.

He was told they were too close to the enemy to begin suppression tactics, and by now, Long had been wounded for more than an hour -- Parker needed to get his men out of there quickly.

"The safety of my team, along with making sure I deactivated any IEDs standing in our way, was my priority during that time," Parker said. "I was not willing to accept we might not make it out of this."

Continuing to provide cover fire, Parker also engaged in clearing the route of IEDs for his team, as the sounds of an approaching helicopter echoed into range.

"Parker fought the enemy with tenacity and controlled demeanor," Newton said. "He was in the beaten zone, bullets flying around him and missing him by inches, RPGs exploding next to him and IEDs being thrown at him."

Without the suppression from Parker and Grover, they likely would have been killed.

"I have never seen such a close fight with so many weapon systems oriented on one element at such a range with no one getting killed," Newton said.

Still suppressing the enemy, Parker heard the familiar "pop" of a bomb being ejected out of a bomb rack and a whistling sound as it plummeted to the ground near the platoon's vicinity.

"Unknown to us, close air support had come on station and dropped a 500-pound JDAM onto the cave," Parker said. "I yelled to the guys to take cover and pulled a Soldier out of the open just before fragments and shrapnel flew past where he had been laying on the ground."

Long's tourniquet had failed; he had been wounded and bleeding for three hours and was fading in and out of consciousness. His brothers-in-arms quickly redressed his wounds and applied another tourniquet to arrest the bleeding.

A small unit had arrived at their location and turned the tide of battle between Parker's platoon and the insurgents by providing suppressive fire, more JDAMs and a salvo of hellfire missiles.

The sounds of rotors chopping the parched desert air broke the tension of the firefight and also heralded their rescue.

Parker and Brantley loaded Long onto the awaiting helicopter to be transferred to a medical facility.

After the landing zone had been cleared of any surrounding insurgents, Parker and the rest of his team rendezvoused with Bushey, who had been embroiled in a sniping engagement for the last five hours.

After nearly 20 hours spent in the mountain range, the operation ended with 18 dead insurgents and over 200 pounds of homemade explosives destroyed and cleared.

As Parker and his team boarded the helicopter and ascended into the night sky, the familiar dunes of his backyard appeared on the horizon. Exhausted, the landscape didn't really feel like home anymore, but he took pride in knowing his team made it home alive.

PACAF selected for 11 individual, 5 team AFMS 2014 annual awards

by Staff Sgt. Amanda Dick
Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

2/11/2015 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- The Air Force Surgeon General announced the recipients of the Air Force Medical Service 2014 annual awards Feb. 10.

Among the winners, 11 individuals and five teams were selected from Pacific Air Forces.

Individual Awards

USAF Young Health Care Administrator of the Year Award
Capt. Gaylan Gray
374th Medical Support Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan

USAF MSC Commitment to Service Award
Lt. Col. Christopher Estridge
374th MDSS, Yokota AB

USAF Biomedical Specialist Category II Officer of the Year - Field Grade Category
Maj. Jennifer Bradley
673rd Medical Support Squadron, Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson, Alaska

Outstanding Enlisted Health Services Management Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Bret Halgren
35th Medical Support Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan

Outstanding Biomedical Equipment Repair NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Jason Johnson
374th MDSS, Yokota AB

Outstanding Base Bioenvironmental Engineering NCO of the Year Award
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hardy
354th Medical Operations Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska

Outstanding Diet Therapy NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Duk Kim
51st Aeromedical Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea

USAF Public Health NCO of the Year Award
Tech. Sgt. Carlos Salilican
374th Aeromedical Squadron, Yokota AB

Outstanding Aerospace Medicine NCO of the Year Award
Tech. Sgt. Mark Baldwin
36th Medical Group, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

USAF Ophthalmic NCO of the Year Award
Tech. Sgt. Cristian Martinez
374th AMDS, Yokota AB

Air Force Medical Service SNCO Leadership Award
Master Sgt. Christopher Espinosa
374th MDSS, Yokota AB

Team Awards

Outstanding Resource Management Team Award
Yokota Medical Resource Management Flight
374th MDSS, Yokota AB

Surgeon General's Medical Information Services Award Team Award
Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson Medical Information Systems Flight
673rd MDSS, JBER

Outstanding Health Plan Management Team Award
Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration Flight
673rd MDSS, JBER

Outstanding Medical Readiness Team Award
Osan AB Medical Readiness Flight
51st Medical Support Squadron, Osan AB

Best Ambulatory Clinic Patient Safety Program
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Patient Safety Program
15th Medical Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

The categories were based on criteria outlined in AFI 36-2856, Medical Service Awards.

The recipients' accomplishments included patient care in forward-deployed locations, world-class research and teaching, improvement of home station medical care, outstanding oversight of the medical Personnel Reliability Program and innovation.

For more Air Force Medical Service 2014 annual award recipients, visit http://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123438382.

(Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs contributed to the article.)

Mobile fire team trains firefighters at JBLE

by Staff Sgt. Natasha Stannard
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

2/10/2015 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- The Department of Defense Fire Academy mobile training team hosted a Fire Officer III course for Air Combat Command civil engineer squadrons' firefighters at Joint Base Langley Eustis.

The mobile training team, based out of the 312th Training Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, travels to various bases throughout the year to teach each command levels of fire officer training. Military and civilian firefighters from various ACC bases travelled to JBLE to attend the training.

"As fire officers, they need to understand how to protect their bases through their resources, "said Michael Dejacomo, 312th TRS fire officer course trainer. "After this course, they'll know what equipment they need, response times, building requirements and other things to effectively serve the base and provide fire protection."

Upon course completion, the students earn certifications to manage and assist managing fire stations.

"To be an assistant captain or assistant chief you have to hold a certain level of certifications," said Michael Dejacomo, 312th TRS fire officer course trainer. "For the military, this is a part of your career progression, so as you move up in your career you can fill positions."

This level of training involves the administrative side of managing a fire department including human resources, tracking equipment and understanding capabilities and requirements to better serve their communities, said Dejacomo.

"This class gives me the skills to fill the assistant chief roles when the chief is gone," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kurt Trausch, 366th CES station captain at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. "This is another stepping stone to ensure I can fill a spot in upper management. I'm going to make rank and run a shift of my own one of these days, and without the certification I can't do that."

If the instructors didn't come here, the students would have to complete the course online and miss out on interaction or information presented in a classroom setting with people from various bases, said Fort Eustis Assistant Fire Chief Jim Langley.

Now that students have the skills and certifications, they can fill new positions in upper management and share what they learned with their home station fire shops.

"I'm very grateful to have been selected for this course, "said Trausch. "This is a class that would be extremely difficult to do via career development courses and tests. The material presented over the two-week course is so in-depth that it would probably take six months to figure out on your own."

Active duty Airmen call Truax Field home

by Senior Airman Andrea F. Rhode
115th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/11/2015 - MADISON, Wis. -- Active duty Airmen officially became a part of Truax Field following an assumption of command ceremony in Hangar 406 here Feb. 7.

Lt. Col. J. Scott Gibson, commander of the 495th Fighter Group's Detachment 176, stationed at Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field, was sworn in by Col. James D. McCune, 495th Fighter Group commander.

"It is truly an honor and a privilege to stand up here and be a part of both the 495th Fighter Group and the 115th Fighter Wing," Gibson said. "It's not us, the active duty, and you, the guard. It's just we, the Airmen of this wing."

Gibson will ultimately be responsible for 40 active duty personnel and four pilots as part of the Air Force's total force integration. The TFI is designed to meet the needs of today's Air Force while keeping within current budget realities. It has been utilized in the fight and will now be integrated at home.

"We're going to get young aviators, young maintainers, young support personnel, and they are going to work right alongside those of you in the guard who have been doing this for a lot longer than they have," Gibson said.

This will be the first time active duty and guardsmen were both stationed at Truax Field in more than 40 years. Gibson shared his excitement about combining both components, organizing the mix, and giving back to the Combat Air Force.

"We're going to give back to the CAF," he said. "We're going to give them more experience, better aviators, better maintainers and better support personnel."

McCune wrapped up his speech by directing advice to the new commander.

"You were picked specifically for the talents you have, so don't ever change who you are," McCune said. "I charge you to lead with empathy - to look into and understand each one of these Airmen. Everyone brings something to the table and it's your job to figure out how they fit into that team and how to get the most out of them so this team can operate at high levels. All of these wonderful Airmen here are a great privilege and responsibility. It is your job to serve them, not the other way around."

1st FW, alumni bring F-15 back to Langley

by Staff Sgt. Stephanie R. Plichta
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

2/10/2015 - LANGEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The 1st Fighter Wing welcomed the F-15 Eagle back to Langley Air Force Base, Va., during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 6.

After several months of planning with the assistance of the 1st Fighter Association, a private alumni consisting of past and present members whose objective is to preserve the wing's heritage, a static display of the F-15 Eagle, tail number 0055, was revealed to honored guests and U.S. Air Force Airmen in attendance.

The 1st Fighter Association began pursuit of the display several months ago, and secured nearly $50,000 in donations to the project which commemorates 34 years of Eagle history at Langley.

"I have had the good fortune to be a part of this Eagle history as a young Lieutenant in the 1st Fighter Wing," said Col. Kevin Huyck, 1st FW commander. "Men and women proudly flew, maintained and supported the mighty Eagle and those years were filled with remarkable accomplishment, lightning response to aggression in the Middle East and milestones that reflect our great Air Force heritage."

The 1st FW and 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron assisted in the placement of the Eagle display, adjacent to the West Gate entrance. Airmen from the 633rd CES poured concrete, wired display lighting and fabricated the steel aircraft anchors, while members of the 1st Maintenance Group crash recovery team placed the F-15 onto the new display pad. In addition, 1st FW members worked closely with engineers to plan the final details of the display layout.

"I'm proud to be able to highlight the significance of dedicating this [display,] the excellence it represents and the humbling legacy it memorializes," said Huyck. "Thanks [to] the expertise of the 1st MXG and the 633rd CES dirt boys, welders and electricians for their professional work."

The first F-15 Eagle models arrived at Langley AFB in January 1976. Through three decades the F-15A and F-15C cycled through Langley to meet the needs of the mission. The 1st Tactical Fighter Wing used the F-15 during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The Eagle from Langley AFB were also among the first launched in response to attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and continued to defend air space during Operations Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom.

With over 450,000 sorties and nearly 700,000 flying hours, the F-15 continued its mission through the arrival of the F-22 Raptor in 2005. Over the next five years, the Raptor took over and continued the 1st FW mission. The last operational F-15 departed Langley AFB in September 2010.

"We've come a long way since the aviation pioneers and legends of our past," said Huyck. ""We honor those from this F-15 era as we cut the ribbon to dedicate this site, reminding us all what the high bar of air superiority excellence looks like."

Harry S. Truman Changes Command, Remains Focused on Maintenance Availability

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ethan Miller, USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- While in the midst of its incremental availability, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) held its change of command ceremony in Portsmouth, Va., Feb. 5.

Capt. Ryan Scholl took the helm from Capt. Bob Roth in the ceremony presided by Rear Adm. Victorino G. "Vic" Mercado, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8.

During the ceremony, Mercado presented Roth with the Legion of Merit for his superior performance as commanding officer, a position he held since August 2012.

"For the past two and a half years, I have observed with great pride the accomplishments of this amazing crew and struggle to find words to describe how impressed I am by all that has been accomplished. I am, without question, turning over a warship in superior material condition and a crew of passionate warriors with unmatched skill and dedication," said Roth. "It has been my greatest pleasure and honor to serve with each and every one of you."

Scholl, who assumed command after serving as assistant chief of staff for force readiness at Naval Air Forces Pacific, commended Roth's leadership and the crew's dedication to keeping Truman operationally ready to meet the challenges that may lay ahead.

"It is an honor and privilege to take command of this mighty warship. Captain Roth has done a phenomenal job. The reputation this ship has across the fleet is second to none, and I am eager to lead this crew and continue that fine tradition of excellence," said Scholl.

Under Roth's leadership, the crew remained focused and resilient throughout Truman's unexpectedly delayed 2013 deployment, compressed work-up cycle and follow-on nine-month deployment.

As evidence of the crew's sustained achievement, Truman earned 2013 Commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic CVN Battle Efficiency award, a testament to the dedication of Truman's crew.

As commanding officer, Roth oversaw several critical transitions throughout his tour, culminating in two successful shipyard availability periods and a combat deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the deployment, Truman participated in several exercises with navies from multiple nations, including NATO partners, France and the United Kingdom, in order to foster increased international cooperation while working closely with its allies to provide security and stability in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

Within seven weeks of returning home from a nine-month deployment, Roth led Truman's crew through the challenge of completing a Board of Inspection and Survey Material Inspection, an assessment most carriers execute following a maintenance availability and not soon after an extended deployment. The ship scored above the fleet carrier average.

Roth, who will report to Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, said he is confident the crew will continue its superior performance under Scholl's leadership.

"I will observe from a distance as Captain Scholl boldly leads this ship in the years ahead, and I know Truman's proud reputation will be sustained and enhanced," said Roth.

This changing of the guard comes during Truman's carrier incremental availability.

The carrier fleet undergoes periodic maintenance availabilities throughout their service life in order to extend longevity and expand capabilities for an estimated 50 years. The ship's compressed maintenance availability allows the necessary preparation to return to sea and then deploy later this year.