ARABIAN GULF (NNS) -- The officers and crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) were awarded with the Battle Effectiveness (Battle "E") award, March 3.
The Naval Surface Forces Command (COMSURFOR) Battle "E" award is given annually to the best ships in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, and recognizes a command's sustained superior performance.
"I am honored and proud to be a part of this crew," said Capt. Larry Getz, Kearsarge's commanding officer. "Being selected as the Battle "E" winner is a testament to the crew's hard work, desire to make it better and pride."
Earning the Battle "E" is no easy task. Kearsarge was evaluated throughout the past year and was recognized for its outstanding performance. Kearsarge earned four command excellence awards in maritime warfare; engineering/survivability; command, control, communication, and information warfare; and logistics management.
"These pillars show how well we can fight, how well we can maintain and how well we can move," said Cmdr. Gregory Chapman, Kearsarge's operations officer. "We had to overcome some obstacles in order to win such as coming out of the yards and starting the maintenance cycle. For an amphibious assault ship, it really relies on our ability to integrate with embarked units while maintaining focus on the mission at hand."
Recognizing that winning the award is an all-hands effort that requires teamwork and cohesiveness, Getz expressed his gratitude for the embarked staff and Marines.
"I would like to thank Amphibious Squadron FOUR (CPR 4), for their support and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) for being the best teammate we could ask for," said Getz.
This is the seventh Battle "E" since her commissioning Oct.16, 1993.
The Kearsarge may now display the large painted white letter "E" on her super structure.
Kearsarge is the flagship for the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (KSGARG) and, with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
For more news from USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd3/.