Gunner's Blog

1/18/2007 2:40:00 PM
By Ensign Josh Estevan
USS Ramage Public Affairs

ABOARD USS RAMAGE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Ramage (DDG 61) got underway from a recent port visit with an all enlisted bridge watch team as the guided-missile destroyer continues to support Maritime Security Operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of responsibility.

Bridge watches usually are served by junior officers, but an increasing number of enlisted Sailors aboard Ramage are broadening their professional qualifications to serve in these roles. Two Sailors have qualified as Officer of the Deck (OOD) and several more are working toward that significant accomplishment.

"This sea detail was a very unique and enjoyable experience for me,” said Chief Fire Controlman (SW) William Miller, who served as OOD for the all-enlisted sea detail. “I'm very proud of our enlisted watch team’s ability to safely navigate Ramage, and I hope that other commands will follow in the example we've set."

Miller was joined by Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Michael Sweitzer as the Conning Officer, Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/FMF) Joseph Burmeister as the Tactical Communicator/Radar Operator, Senior Chief Quartermaster (SW) Dennis Amador as the Navigator and Yeoman 2nd Class (SW) Jacob Beckelhymer as Helm Safety Officer.

“Our Sailors are extremely capable, and we have to take advantage of that talent. For me, it’s about someone demonstrating the maturity, capability and understanding to handle the watch regardless of pay grade or rating,” said USS Ramage Commanding Officer Cmdr. James Dick. “That’s especially important as we rotate junior officers under the current division officer sequencing plan. Our enlisted Sailors, with their three to five year tours, become a great source of continuity for the ship.”

In addition to the typical tasks a bridge watch team may encounter during a regular sea detail, this team also managed requirements such as seamanship training team (STT) drills. These drills help to test the ability of watch standers in handling challenging situations.

Their skills also were tested by a low visibility drill and a simulated loss of the ship’s gyro compass.

In support of Combined Task Force 150 during its deployment, Ramage has helped set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. The focus of these operations is to prevent international terrorist organizations from using the maritime environment as a venue from which to launch attacks, move people, weapons or other material.

Ramage is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer assigned to the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group homeported in Norfolk, Va. Ramage departed Oct. 3 for a regularly scheduled deployment.

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This is fantastic. I am afraid that it will only last until the first collision and the first board of inquiry into something that happened on/during an all enlisted watch team. I certainly do wish that it lasts forever. I certainly would have slept better during my "arduous sea duty" tours with an all enlisted team as opposed to having some of the JO's that I knew having the "Deck and the Con".

It reminds me of the reasoning behind the Navy's restoration of Warrant Officers in 1965. Originally, the Senior Chief and Master Chief ranks were to have taken the place of the WO's, when they were first created in the 1958-1959 time frame. However, the Dept of theNavy would not change the regulations that required a Commissioned Officers signature for accountability. Hence, they brought back the WO ranks. I was in the first year group - 1966 with a DOR of 1 March 1966. There were a few that made pin stripe (WO-1) in late 1965. That was in the days when the fiscal year was 1 Oct-30 Sept.

WO-1 is a strange rank - Midshipmen out rank them, but they subsist in the wardroom mess. And the strangest is that if they are struck by an enlisted man, the EM is charged with a violation of the same article as if he had struck a non-commissioned officer. While a CWO-2 outranks midshipmen, and if struck by an enlisted man, the EM is charged with striking a Commissioned Officer.

~g