Previously Held NEC PH-8133-EH-38 Photographic Quality Control Technician
PH-8143-Motion Media Cameraman
PH-8144-Motion Media Director/Crew Chief
PH-0000-Photographer's Mate
Best Moment Selection as SSOY 2006, earning my 3rd warfare pin (ESWS) FY-08 Chief Select
USS Boxer Announces Sailors of the Year By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman (SW) Joshua Valcarcel, USS Boxer Public Affairs
USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Boxer?s (LHD 4) Commanding Officer, Capt. Bruce W. Nichols, honored the ship?s Junior Sailor, Sailor and Senior Sailor of the Year (SOY) for 2006 during an all hands call Jan. 22.
Personnelman 3rd Class (SW/AW) Maria Arteaga; Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW/SS) Michael H. Kelley; and Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW/SS) Steven H. Vanderwerff were recognized for outstanding performance and demonstrated leadership while serving in the command the past year.
?The Navy core values mean a lot to me. They are the foundation of my work ethic personally and professionally,? said Vanderwerff, the Senior SOY. ?It?s nice to be recognized, because being a Boxer Sailor means a lot to me.?
During the all hands call, Nichols awarded each a Navy Achievement Medal and presented them with a ?Sailor of the Year? plaque.
?I want to make a difference in the command by setting a good example,? said Kelly, the command?s SOY. ?It?s great to be recognized in front of all my shipmates.?
The three Sailors demonstrated exceptional qualities among their peers and performed above and beyond what is expected of them.
?I share my success with my leadership for trusting me to get the job done even when it exceeded my pay grade,? said Vanderwerff. ?And at the same time I could not have accomplished this without the support of my shipmates.?
Throughout the year, Boxer?s leadership provided guidance and mentorship, helping pave the way for them to accomplish their level of success, said Arteaga.
?I received nothing but encouragement and support from my leadership,? said Arteaga, the Junior SOY. ?By challenging myself I was able to attain and exceed my goals.?
Boxer?s 2006 Sailors of the Year plan on continuing to motivate and set an example for their shipmates.
?I?m going to make sure I uphold the honor of being Boxer?s Sailor of the Year by continuing to set the example,? added Kelley. ?I?m a reflection of what it means to be a Boxer Sailor.?
Boxer is the flagship for Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG) which is currently conducting maritime security operations in support of U.S. 5th Fleet. MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander U.S. 5th Fleet?s area of responsibility encompasses about 7.5 million square miles and includes the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 27 countries, includes three critical chokepoints at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
Other Memories Boxer ESG Sailors Build Homes, International Release Date: 11/13/2006 By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class S. H. Vanderwerff, USS Boxer Public Affairs MUMBAI, India (NNS) -- More than 100 Sailors from USS Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG) traveled to Patan village in Lonavala, India, to lend a hand with Habitat for Humanity?s Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) India 2006 during their port visit here Nov. 1-2.
When the Sailors arrived, they joined more than 2,000 volunteers from around the world to take part in the annual event led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. The goal was to build 100 homes in one week with low-income families from the area.
?I didn?t expect such a large project when I signed up,? said Boxer Interior Communications 1st Class (SW/AW) Dwayne Solomon. ?I thought we?d be working on a house. Instead we?re building a community.?
When he spoke to the press earlier that week, Carter spoke about the need for affordable housing.
?We?ve realized that people across the globe have the same basic needs, dreams and aspirations,? he said. ?Habitat?s program depends on finding families who cannot otherwise afford housing.?
The Sailors were divided among the 100 homes, working side-by-side with people from around the globe and the soon-to-be homeowners, painting, laying bricks and mixing cement.
?This is by far the largest community service project I?ve ever been involved with. It?s amazing,? said Cryptologic Technician Seaman Vanessa Malgra, of USS Benfold (DDG 65). ?I?ve helped out in Mexico, Australia and Singapore and always try to give back to the countries I visit.?
Sailors who volunteered also met with more than 40 members of the local media to answer questions and tell them why they were lending a hand.
?At first I was a little overwhelmed,? said Boxer?s Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Raul Huerta. ?I wasn?t sure what to say, but their interest to know why we were in India helped make it easy to answer their questions. I told them that during our visit to Mumbai, we wanted to do more than sightsee and shop; we also wanted to help out in the community.?
Throughout the day, the public announcing system played a variety of music, a bazaar sold Indian souvenirs, local performers filled the air with the beat of their drums, and a dining facility the size of a small aircraft hangar bay served Indian food.
The event was particularly special for the Sailors when they met and had their photo taken with the 39th president, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who served as a naval officer for seven years.
?It was great. We got to meet Jimmy Carter and had a group photo taken with him,? said Boxer?s Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class (AW) Steve Johnson.
During their visit, Sailors said they were aware that they were doing more than building homes and helping those in need; they were building relations with the people of India.
During previous visits to India, the U.S. Navy has donated medical supplies, sewing machines and books to The Trust of Nanu Nagle School for the Poor and has helped refurbish Bal Bhavan Children's Center's auditorium in Goa.
?I?m helping build a house with several women from Cambodia, Korea, India and Hong Kong,? said Boxer?s Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Maribel Challburg. ?It makes me very proud to work side-by-side with these women.?
The U.S. Navy has a longstanding commitment to assisting friends and allies with community service projects. During its port visit to Singapore, Oct. 12-16,, BOXESG helped a career skills training center with gardening, yard work, and supported a beach clean-up. The Navy?s participation continues the U.S.?s involvement in Habitat for Humanity?s work in the region.
?Habitat for Humanity volunteers are following the Carters? example of neighbors helping neighbors,? said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. ?Every person who is part of this project will be enriched this week by working with Habitat partner families who are helping to improve their lives and the lives of others in the community.?
The BOXESG is currently conducting routine operations in the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of responsibility.
Boxer is the flagship for the BOXESG, which is further comprised of Amphibious Squadron 5, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, USS Dubuque (LPD 8), USS Comstock (LSD 45), USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), Benfold, USS Howard (DDG 83), USCG Midgett (WHEC 726), and the Canadian frigate HMCS Ottawa. The BOXESG operates out of San Diego and reports operationally to Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/ Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious task force
Boxer Returns from Surge Deployment Release Date: 9/16/2005 11:46:00 AM By Photographer?s Mate 1st Class Steven Vanderwerff, USS Boxer Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) (the "Golden Gator") returned from its third deployment in three years Sept. 14 to the sound of cheers from family and friends.
The four-and-one-half-month deployment demonstrated the feasibility of the Navy?s Fleet Response Plan (FRP), which ensures ships are able to respond to real-world situations by maintaining high states of readiness during their surge windows.
While Boxer?s two previous deployments were in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the role of Sailors aboard the Golden Gator during this deployment was to build interoperability between the United States and key allies in the global war on terrorism.
?This deployment was a clear demonstration of the multimission capabilities that the L-Class big-brings to fleet commanders,? said Capt. T.J. Culora, Boxer?s commanding officer. ?We were able to safely complete diverse tasks, including a joint amphibious landing, cooperation and formation tactics with several foreign navies and a rewarding humanitarian engagement mission in the Marshall Islands. All in all, I would say that this is a pretty good four-and-one-half-months' work. I am proud of the service and skill of the crew ? they have performed magnificently.?
Boxer?s first mission, participation in exercise Talisman Saber ?05, took place June 11-27 on Australia?s famed Shoalwater Bay. Talisman Saber, a combination of what was once exercises Tandem Thrust, Kingfisher and Crocodile, was jointly sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force Joint Operations Command.
The exercise served as a key training venue for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, as a scenario involving assembling a combined task force with short notice, power projection and forcible entry.
?Talisman Saber was a key exercise in the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility and a demonstration of support and solidarity between two nations committed to democracy, liberty and human rights,? said Culora. ?It is a tangible expression of mutual respect and pledge of assistance.?
The exercise involved more than 17,000 U.S. and Australian service members. Working hand-in-hand, they performed more than 25 landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) trips and more than 1,300 Australian S-70A Blackhawk and U.S. MH-60S Nighthawk landings and takeoffs.
After completing exercises with Australia, Boxer journeyed to Kemaman, Malaysia, where the ship participated in the third phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT).
Boxer served as the flagship for CARAT, Phase III operations, during which Malaysian and U.S. forces built cooperative military proficiencies July 12-18 with more than 150 Malaysian service members embarked.
The focus of the exercise was operational planning, command and control, tactics, logistics support and maritime law.
?CARAT is not only important to the Navy, but to the nation,? said Boxer?s Executive Officer Cmdr. Adrian J. Jansen. ?Whether training to combat terrorism, provide mutual defense or humanitarian assistance relief, building a working relationship with the CARAT nations is important. CARAT helps to build a solid working relationship for any situation.?
The exercise was deemed a testament to the strength of the ties and teamwork that the U.S. and Malaysia have shared for decades. The ease with which the two nations came together directly reflected the spirit of their longstanding cooperative relationship. The exercise also strengthened professional skills of those involved at every level, from the flight deck to the engineering spaces.
Performing at peak performance with two successful exercises under its belt, the Golden Gator prepared for the third annual Joint Air and Sea Exercise (JASEX), where forces of nature also provided real-world challenges as Typhoon Matsa moved through the operating area.
Units moved more than 600 miles to stay one step ahead of the storm before returning to the operation area. Despite Matsa, Joint Air and Sea Exercise commenced aboard Boxer Aug. 7 in the vicinity of Okinawa with an armed flight deck of AV-8B Harrier IIs and a team of 87 Marines from the 1st Marine Air Wing.
?JASEX is one of those great opportunities where we can work with our nation?s other forces,? said Cmdr. Mark F. Volpe, Boxer?s operations officer. ?Working as a joint task force is a great venue for learning from each other and integrating.?
During the seven?day exercise, Boxer, along with the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Strike Group, the U.S. Air Force?s 18th Wing, 5th Air Force and 1st Marine Air Wing, conducted joint training combining carrier and amphibious operations. After more than 60 mishap-free flight hours, Boxer wrapped up JASEX Aug. 13.
Boxer capped off its deployment as the summer quickly came to an end by conducting a community outreach program on the island of Majuro, the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Volunteers from among the more than 1,200 Sailors and Marines embarked aboard the ship provided critical assistance to the island nation.
Boxer?s medical staff, with the help of Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 5, sponsored a community health fair and provided medical treatment to Majuro?s young and elderly. They also held cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, basic first aid and first-responder training for police, firefighters, emergency medical service workers, U.S. Embassy personnel and teachers from the World Peace Organization.
Teams of Boxer Sailors also went to local schools to read to the students and brighten their day with treats, coloring books and games. Other Sailors volunteered to help the community by restoring electricity and refurbishing a few public areas.
?This experience provided a unique opportunity for all involved,? said Lt. Johan Baik, one of Boxer?s two chaplains. ?Our Sailors and Marines made a huge impact on the island and the community. This is one of the events that stay in a person?s heart forever.?
To cap off its deployment, Boxer held a "Tiger Cruise" for more than 150 family members and friends Sept. 7-14 while making its return transit from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, back to the ship?s homeport of San Diego.
The Tiger Cruise gave family and friends the opportunity to experience life as a Sailor at sea.
?I love the fact that my family finally gets to experience my life firsthand and learn what my job is all about,? said Boatswain?s Mate 2nd Class Karina E. Perez-Prado, of Las Vegas. ?It helps give my daughter a better understanding of what I do while I?m away from home.?
Throughout the cruise, "Tigers" were treated to views of Navy life during daily operations such as a landing craft air cushion (LCAC) launches from Boxer?s well deck and flight operations from the Golden Gator?s 844-foot-long flight deck. One of the favorite exercises was the "Killer Tomato" launching, where a large red balloon was deployed into the ocean as a target for gunner?s mates firing .50-caliber machine guns.
?There was so much to see and do. I learned a lot of interesting facts and was amazed by Boxer?s capabilities,? said the father of Quartermaster 3rd Class Michael B. Russell, San Diego. ?My favorite places on Boxer were the bridge and the well deck, but the best part was being able to spend time with my son.?
In addition to observing operations, Tigers also had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Throughout the week, they were able to enjoy a ?steel barn? picnic and ?cinema at sea? in the hangar bay, and an ice cream social on the ship?s mess deck.