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USS MAKIN ISLAND, At Sea
– First class petty officers serving
aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) learned
about naval history and heritage from the ship’s chief petty
officers (CPO) mess May 10, during Phase II training of the Navy’s
CPO 365 program.
In fact, naval history and heritage are
part of each weekly CPO 365 session held aboard Makin Island and are
specifically included in the training curriculum as a way to help
first class petty officers develop a sense of heritage, one of the
seven guiding principles of a CPO.
For the May 10 training session, first class petty officers learned
about the history of USS Makin Island (CVE 93), the first ship named
after the historic raid on Makin Atoll in 1942. While only in active
service for two years, the Casablanca-class escort carrier won five
battle stars during World War II and served as the flagship during
the historic Battle of Iwo Jima.
“I feel it’s important to understand the history of the Sailors that
came before us on the first USS Makin Island,” said Chief Mass
Communication Specialist John Lill, who presented the history lesson
to the first class petty officers during the CPO 365 program. “Like
the crew of the first USS Makin Island during their maiden
deployment, the Sailors and Marines embarked on this maiden
deployment volunteered to potentially put themselves in harm’s way
during an important time in our nation’s history.”
Lill said he felt the CPO 365 program was a great opportunity to
help spread the history of the ship’s namesake.
“The current ship USS Makin Island is named in honor of the Marines
of Col. [Evans] Carlson’s Raiders, but we have to note the
achievement of the Sailors of CVE 93 Makin Island during one of the
most trying times of our nations’ history,” said Lill. “Their ‘Gung
Ho’ spirit and can-do attitude are keys to our current and future
success.”
First class petty officers who attended the training said they
enjoyed learning about the first ship to bear the name Makin Island.
“I believe that if everybody understood the history of the ship they
are on it would instill deeper shipboard pride, and it might even
encourage them to look deeper into military history,” said
Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Alan Higgins, an active participant in
the CPO 365 program.”
Higgins said he feels the training offered during CPO 365 will help
encourage Sailors to learn more about the history of the Navy.
“Sitting on ESWS [Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist] boards, I
watch people miss questions about the meaning of things on the ships
crest and that really disappointed me,” said Higgins.
Higgins said he thinks a Sailor’s knowledge on naval history and
heritage needs to start with their current ship.
“For the junior Sailors, it gives them a sense of pride to be a part
of the Navy and truly understand what is means to ‘Represent the
fighting spirit of the Navy and those that have gone before me to
defend freedom and democracy around the world’,” said Higgins.
Information Systems Technician 1st Anthony Campo, who describes
himself as a history buff, said he is also enjoying the naval
history and heritage lessons offered during the CPO 365 program and
knows its importance.
“It’s important because the Navy is founded off of traditions,” said
Campo. “It is our duty to have knowledge of the attributes and
accomplishments of our forefathers so we can carry on those
traditions. We make history every day.”
Campo said he realizes the importance of knowing naval history and
said if he is selected for chief petty officer, he will include
naval history and heritage training alongside muster, instruction
and inspection as part of morning quarters for his division.
The CPO 365 program, established by Master Chief Petty Officer of
the Navy Rick West, is a three-phase training process designed to
help instill leadership skills to first class petty officers
throughout the year.
Like the rest of the Navy, Makin Island’s CPO 365 program is
currently in Phase II, which began in March after the list of FY-13
CPO selection board eligible personnel was announced. Phase II is
scheduled to continue throughout the current deployment and well
after the ship’s return to homeport.
Phase III of CPO 365, also known as the CPO induction process, is
reserved for first class petty officers who have been selected to
become chiefs and begins with the release of the selection message.
This phase is expected to start in August and run through
mid-September.
Makin Island is the first U.S. Navy ship to deploy using a
hybrid-electric propulsion system. By using this unique propulsion
system, the Navy expects over the course of the ship's lifecycle, to
see fuel savings of more than $250 million, proving the Navy's
commitment to energy awareness and conservation.
This initiative is one of many throughout the Navy and Marine Corps
that will enable the Department of the Navy to achieve the Secretary
of the Navy's energy goals to improve our energy security and
efficiency afloat and ashore, increase our energy independence and
help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.
Makin Island is the flagship of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready
Group that is currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of
operations. |
