Photo By Chief Petty Officer Joseph Buliavac | Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, addresses the crew of the aircraft...... read more read more
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USS RONALD REAGAN, At Sea - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen embarked USS Ronald Reagan, July 13, while the ship operated in the Gulf of Oman in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
During the one-day visit, Mullen met with Sailors in Ronald Reagan's hangar bay to express how proud he was of every Sailor's performance and said it was a privilege to be aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier today.
"You're out here on point, putting your lives on the line, and you make a job that's inherently dangerous look easy," said Mullen. "Thank you for what you do."
The chairman also reenlisted 11 Sailors during his visit.
"This is about starting a new chapter in my life, and to have the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reenlist me is just the icing on the cake," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Heather Milligan. "It's something I'll be able to look back on and think what an amazing moment it was."
This is Milligan's fourth deployment aboard Ronald Reagan, and she added that she's interested in becoming an officer.
"I feel like there's still so much I can accomplish in the Navy," said Milligan. "I love my job, and I know what I'm doing while I'm at sea is making a difference."
Additionally, several celebrities sponsored by the United Service Organizations travelled with Mullen to visit the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier including: actors Bradley Cooper and D.B. Sweeney, NFL Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, NFL running back Warrick Dunn, and model and media correspondent Leeann Tweeden.
"I think it's great anytime celebrities visit the ship," said Petty Officer 1st Class Noel Barker. "Its not that often people get the opportunity to meet celebrities; that lifts the morale of the crew."
Along with meeting them, Sailors also took pictures with the celebrities and received their autographs.
"I just saw 'Wedding Crashers' with Bradley Cooper, so I wanted to meet him the most. To top it off, he was great and very genuine," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Mercedes Ortega. "I just feel
privileged, because they have a busy, so for them to come out shows they really care about what we're doing here."
The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a routine deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet. Operations in the 5th Fleet area of operations are focused on reassuring regional partners of the United States' commitment to security, which promotes stability and global prosperity.
| Date Taken: | 07.13.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2009 11:13 |
| Story ID: | 36304 |
| Location: | ABOARD USS RONALD REAGAN, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 272 |
| Downloads: | 241 |
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