USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
The Shuttle Newsletter Edition
“We are Legend”
April 19, 2012 Issue
Enterprise Replenishes at Sea Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gregory White
USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – Sailors assigned to aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) completed a replenishment at sea (RAS) with Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) April 18. The purpose of the RAS was to replenish Enterprise with goods and materials essential to both the ship’s mission and the crew’s morale. During the RAS, Enterprise took on supplies such as food, mail and fuel, among other necessities. “We received everything from milk to chips,” said Master Chief Culinary Specialist Thaddeus T. Wright. “We had both dry and frozen provisions come in.” The replenishment of food supplies is necessary in order to continue feeding such a large Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Christopher Gray, left, and Seaman Norman Stoll direct incoming crew while underway. Some foods supply pallets in the hangar bay of aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) during a have also become a comfort to replenishment at sea with Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Supply many Sailors and Marines aboard (T-AOE 6). (Photo by MC3 Scott Pittman) Enterprise. during regular flight operations,” said Glass. The most anticipated supply brought on during each RAS, Of course, an aircraft carrier cannot serve its mission if there however, is mail. Receiving mail during deployment is one is no fuel aboard to refill its aircraft, so replenishing fuel is an of the most powerful morale boosters for the crew. essential part of Enterprise’s mission. Yeoman 3rd Class Michael A. Nye said Enterprise took “Now that we’re in 5th Fleet we are going to see this more on more than 1,500 pounds of mail during the carrier’s most often,” said Wright. “We will start taking on mail and fuel a recent RAS. lot more as well as food, soda, and things for the ship’s store. Fifteen hundred pounds of mail might seem like a lot, but Everyone wins during these evolutions.” it’s a relatively small weight when compared to the amount of The RAS is a critical evolution and requires the efforts of fuel Big E brought aboard. many crew members to complete it swiftly and efficiently. “We brought on 1.2 million gallons of fuel today,” said “Replenishment at sea is a very organized process,” said Nye. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 2nd Class Tanisha F. Glass. “It takes a lot of players to make sure everything goes smoothly “We try to replenish fuel before we get below 60 percent and according to plan.” capacity.” The team effort put forth by the 250-man working party, Glass said the fuel was much needed because it had been a as they work together to ensure that each RAS is carried out while since the last RAS. successfully, is valued by everyone involved. “You never know what can happen to prevent us from “I truly appreciate everyone that comes out to help,” said being able to replenish, so we try to stay on top of our fuel Wright. “Each person makes a difference.” especially since we are using nearly 100,000 gallons per day