THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Stennis Departs Pearl Bound for San Diego

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Aug. 22, 2007) - Sailors honor the USS Arizona Memorial as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departs for San Diego. Stennis is hosting a Tiger Cruise during the ship's transit across the Pacific. “Tigers’ are service member's family and friends who are invited to get underway with the ship. Stennis returned to the United States after a 7.5-month-long deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability while supporting the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul J. Perkins (RELEASED)

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Aug. 22, 2007) - Capt. Sterling Gilliam, commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, joins Sailors, family members and friends in honoring the USS Arizona Memorial as Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departs for San Diego. During the transit across the Pacific Ocean, Stennis is hosting a Tiger Cruise. Tigers are service member's family and friends who are invited to get underway with the ship. Stennis, as part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, returned to the United States after a 7.5-month long deployment promoting peace, regional cooperation and stability and supporting the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Hyde (RELEASED)

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Aug. 22, 2007) - Damage Controlman 3rd Class Felicity Prestianni, right, from engineering department's damage control division, helps a young “Tiger” try on a firefighting helmet that is part of a fire fighting ensemble worn by Sailors. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departed for San Diego and is hosting a Tiger Cruise during the transit across the Pacific Ocean. Tigers are service member's family and friends who are invited to get underway with the ship. Stennis returned to the United States after a 7.5-month-long deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability while supporting the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Wagner (RELEASED)

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Aug. 22, 2007) - Damage Controlman 3rd Class Felicity Prestianni, right, from engineering department's damage control division, shows "Tigers" the safety equipment used aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis departed for San Diego and is hosting a Tiger Cruise during the transit across the Pacific Ocean. Tigers are service member's family and friends who are invited to get underway with the ship. Stennis returned to the United States after a 7.5-month-long deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability while supporting the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Wagner (RELEASED)

Stennis Kicks Off First Leg of Tiger Cruise
22 Aug 2007
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Davis Anderson, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At sea -- USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Aug. 22 with over 1,000 family and friends for the ship’s Tiger Cruise and subsequent return to homeport.

Stennis and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 arrived to Pearl Harbor Jan. 20. The following day, 1,149 Tiger Cruise participants checked aboard Stennis for the carrier’s transit to San Diego and Bremerton, Wash.

While on board, Tigers will participate in activities that give family members and friends an up-close look at what Sailors do when underway and deployed.

Cmdr. Scott Robertson, Stennis’ Auxiliaries Officer and the schedule-of-events coordinator for Tiger Cruise, said Stennis and CVW-9 Sailors will offer an air show at sea, a close-in weapons system live fire exercise and a mock replenishment-at-sea alongside USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10).

In addition to these activities, Tigers will tour work centers aboard the ship, such as the jet shop, medical ward, dental clinic and combat direction center.
“We have a whole slew of static displays,” said Robertson. “These will showcase various types of equipment used for firefighting, crash and salvage and aviation electronics. There’s a lot to see.”

For Sailors and Marines bringing Tigers aboard Stennis, this will be an exciting trip.

“It’s a good feeling,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Johnathan Salazar from embarked CVW-9. “I haven’t seen my family in a long time; it’s almost been a year. It’s good to see them and show them what you do every day.”
The Tigers aboard Stennis are also excited about the cruise. Some of them have been planning for this since Stennis’ deployment began back in January.

“It’s just unbelievable how large it [Stennis] is,” said Richard Zuber, father of Electronics Technician 3rd Class (SW/AW) Libby Zuber, assigned to combat systems department. “It’s just really impressive to see it from above and then to come on board the ship, you can’t imagine what it’s like when it’s sitting on the water. You can’t imagine it being able to float the way it does.”

Zuber, a former member of the Air Force, noted some of the differences between shipboard life and his time in the military.

“We did our job and went home,” said Zuber. “I can’t imagine being out to sea for seven months,” said Zuber.

Zuber added he wished he joined the Navy because of the port visits the Navy offers.

“I just think that would be awesome to have those experiences,” said Zuber.