GULF OF OMAN – The USS Harry S. Truman was announced as the East Coast aircraft carrier battle efficiency winner by Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic on Friday, according to a release from the Navy.
The Battle ‘E’ is awarded annually to the ships that display the maximum condition of readiness in their group and for their capability to perform their wartime responsibilities.
“We qualified for Battle ‘E’ by excelling throughout the ship,” said Truman’s Command Master Chief (CMDCM) Raymond Kemp Sr. “Through our various departments and the hard work of the crew, we have revealed our ability to maintain battle and mission readiness.”
Kemp added that it was an especially notable accomplishment given Truman’s relatively short time in service.
Photos: The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group on deployment
“Being commissioned for only 15 years and earning our eighth Battle ‘E’ shows that we have been doing really well,” he said. “For the ship and its Sailors, this means that we have proven measures of our battle excellence to be the best on the East Coast.”
Sailors assigned to the Truman not only earn another ribbon on deployment but also earn the pride of being on a battle efficient aircraft carrier.
“I would say this is a pat on the back for us,” said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Orazali Aydogdiyev. “It shows that our teamwork and hard work really matters. You see the product that you’ve created and now we’ve reached the finish line and received the reward.”
Within the framework of the Battle ‘E’ award are departmental awards, given to mark excellence in individual ship departments throughout the TYCOM. Truman departments were recognized with the following awards:
• Air – yellow ‘E’
• Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance – black ‘E’
• Combat Systems – green ‘CS’
• Deck – black ‘D’
• Medical/Dental – blue ‘M’
• Navigation – a white ship’s wheel
• Operations – green ‘E’
• Reactor/Engineering – red ‘E’
• Security – black ‘S’
• Supply – blue ‘E’
• Weapons – black ‘W’
Truman also received a red ‘DC’ for its damage control readiness as well as the Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation award.
Those letters and symbols, along with a white battle ‘E’ signifying the overall ship efficiency award, will be painted on Truman’s superstructure, joining past awards.
“This crew exhibits tremendous energy, professionalism, and dedication every day, and they have done so since the day we left last July,” said Capt. Bob Roth, Truman’s commanding officer. “The teamwork within the ship and our enduring partnership with the warfighters of Carrier Air Wing 3 made this award possible. I am incredibly proud to be associated with this superior crew. Their work ethic and unselfishness are truly inspiring.”
Rear Adm. Kevin Sweeney, commander, Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG), extended his congratulations to the ship and its crew.
“Winning the Battle ‘E’ is a tremendous accomplishment,” he said. “The Sailors of USS Harry S. Truman have demonstrated their commitment to teamwork and excellence on a daily basis throughout an incredibly demanding year that started with certification for deployment in January 2013, five months of sustainment training when the deployment was delayed due to sequestration and finally six months of flawless operations while deployed to both the 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. I could not be more proud of these young men and women.”
The USS George Washington (CVN 73), forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, won Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific’s Battle ‘E’ on the West Coast.
The Truman, flagship for the HST CSG, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, supporting theater security cooperation efforts and supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
