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Oak Hill Completes First Half of Scheduled Deployment

11 May 2018 | Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael H. Lehman, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

Sailors and Marines aboard the Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) reached the halfway point in their scheduled six-month deployment, May 9.

For the 800 Sailors and Marines aboard Oak Hill, deployment is not a matter of speed, but endurance as they support a wide range of maritime security operations with allies and partners in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. Now that the ship has reached its halfway point, Sailors are striving to maintain the course of excellence established in the first half of deployment.

"I believe that Sailors, especially during deployment, should stay busy and focus on their career goals," said Yeoman 3rd Class Stormy Evans, Oak Hill's Blue Jacket of the Year and president of its Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). "I have been trying to get as many shipboard qualifications as possible, complete college courses and exercise regularly to make sure I am coming home to Virginia better than when I left."

Many Sailors set deployment-long goals for themselves. By setting somewhat difficult, yet achievable goals, Sailors have a way of being productive and having something to show for their time spent on deployment.

"When we started deployment, our commanding officer advised we set goals for ourselves and write them down," said Evans. "I thought it was a great idea, and so far I have achieved the first half of my goals, which included getting more shipboard qualifications, finishing my college courses and losing at least 10 pounds. I look at it as a game as to what I can accomplish before returning home."

The halfway point of a deployment brings an uptick to most Sailors now that the countdown toward returning home has begun. Despite the excitement of the end in sight, focus on safety remains unwavering.

"Halfway through deployment is right about the time when Sailors start believing that because they have safely performed so many evolutions during the past few months, they can let up on their focus," said Ensign Ashley Luchtenberg, the ship's operations and electronics divisional officer. "In order to combat complacency, we work toward our command's goal of ensuring everyone comes home safely to their loved ones."

Whether the objective is returning home safely, fitness, education or qualifications, Luchtenberg said Sailors should continue to improve themselves to maintain sustained superior performance.

"Thus far, Oak Hill has excelled this deployment," said Luchtenberg. "We have safely and successfully completed three amphibious exercises with the Marines, hosted an amazing reception in Batumi, Georgia, and conducted the first U.S. Navy port visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in five years, which we hope paves the way for other ships to do the same."

Evans said in the downtime between milestones, Sailors and Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit take time to participate in various events hosted by shipboard organizations, such as MWR, the Junior Enlisted Association and the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions. He added the groups have done an excellent job hosting morale boosting events for the crew and embarked Marines and the events harbor a positive environment to recharge after a day's work.

For others, one of the best ways to rejuvenate is experiencing new countries during port visits.

"I love traveling and we are going to have some very cool opportunities in the upcoming months to see the world," said Luchtenberg. "Lithuania will be celebrating their 100-year anniversary and Kiel, Germany, is scheduled to host the largest sailing regatta in the world. These port visits are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I intend to make the most of them."

Luchtenberg is not the only one to share these sentiments

"I'm looking forward to more port visits, tours and saving money," said Evans. "If I can go home with enough money saved and have been able to see parts of the world that I never would have imagined I would, that is a win for me."

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group embarks the 26th MEU and includes the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), Oak Hill (LSD 51), Fleet Surgical Team 4 and 8, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Tactical Air Control Squadron 22, components of Naval Beach Group 2 and the embarked staff of commander, Amphibious Squadron 4.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd7/.
5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade