Through the go to, CDR Brett Seeley, LT Jeremy Brooks, LT Brad Nye, CWO4 Benjamin Wolff, CMDCS Adam Barman, BMC Hector Najera, QMC Isac Awini, BM1 Courtney Austin, CS1 Gregory Simmons, GM1 Brad Westcott, HT1 Aundrea Clark, MN1 Ashlee Hutt, EM2 Eddie Brannum, MN2 Kevin Carpenter, MN2 Justin Hovarter, MN2 Randy Parsons, and CS3 Daniela Salamanca from the Gold Crew represented USS Billings (LCS 15) by attending and taking part in native occasions, assembly the Mayor of Billings together with the senior Senator to Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), and visiting with native residents, and touring points of interest within the Billings space.
Highlighting the journey, the seventeen Sailors participated in two Veterans Day Ceremonies honoring the native veterans for his or her service to our nation.
“It’s been an incredible expertise to be in Billings for the primary time as a Gold Crew and to honor all of the native Veterans throughout this 12 months’s Veterans Day celebrations,” stated CDR Brett Seeley, the commanding officer of USS Billings. “The town has proven us all an unimaginable quantity of hospitality, and I couldn’t be extra proud to symbolize our ship in its namesake metropolis.”
Through the journey, the Sailors participated in a number of native space college visits, visited quite a few outreach organizations supporting Veterans, and took within the sights and sounds of the great thing about the Magic Metropolis and Massive Sky nation.
“It is vitally vital for the Navy to have relationships with the folks and locations our warships are named after,” stated Chief Boatswain Mate Hector Najera. “As a service, we’re at all times very busy working, however you will need to join with our namesake metropolis and present them that we’re common, every single day residents, similar to them.”
Between Veterans Day occasions, the Sailors toured the Yellowstone Kelly Museum and attended meet-n-greets on the West Rotary Crimson Door and the Heights Veterans of International Warfare (VFW) amenities to honor the state’s Veterans.
“It was fairly wonderful and inspirational having the ability to see the historical past and great thing about the town of Billings,” stated Mineman 1st Class Ashlee Knight. “Being a USS Billings Sailor and getting the prospect to go to the Magic Metropolis makes me keep in mind that I’m part of one thing larger than myself.”
Along with visiting native colleges and points of interest, the Sailors received the prospect to go to a neighborhood Boys and Women Clubhouse to work together with the native kids.
“Partaking with the workers and children on the Boys and Women Membership was a particular expertise,” stated Culinary Specialist third Class Daniela Salamanca. “Attending to know the local people and kids and share with them our Navy expertise and make connections with our service is one thing I’ll at all times keep in mind.”
USS Billings (LCS 15) commissioned on Aug third, 2019, and that is the primary time the Gold Crew has been in a position to go to the ship’s namesake metropolis attributable to operational commitments. Future plans are to conduct visits yearly to maintain the connection between the ship and namesake metropolis robust.
LCS class ships enable the Navy to strengthen its partnership with different international locations’ navies and coast guards. A quick, agile and high-technology floor combatant, Billings, like the opposite ships in her class, function a platform for launch and restoration of manned and unmanned automobiles. LCSs carry out maritime safety operations, theater safety cooperation engagements, and freedom of navigation patrols; holding open important maritime commerce routes. Littoral fight ships are in a position to patrol the littorals and entry ports the place different ships could also be unable.
USS Billings (LCS 15) is homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., and is assigned to Commander, Mine Division Two Two.
