Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Santiago Navarro | 220805-N-NY362-2023 PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug 5, 2022) Gunner’s Mate Seaman Mark Almeida,...... read more read more
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Philippine Sea –
An Anchorage, Alaska native and 2019 West High School graduate is serving aboard the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54).
Mark Almeida is a Gunner’s Mate or GM who works for the weapons department on the Antietam, which is forward-deployed to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.
Gunner’s Mates operate and maintain various weapons aboard U.S. Navy vessels. They train ship personnel on various live-fire guns such as M9 pistols and M4 rifles. They also operate and maintain .50 caliber machine guns and Mark 45 5-inch guns.
Almeida works in the ship’s vertical launching system compartments, where missiles are stored. He provides maintenance of the spaces and carries out duties such as verifying proper deluge levels for missiles and providing function checks for the space’s hoses and fire alarms.
“Working with the ship’s missiles is a fascinating experience,” said Almeida. “I love hearing them launch knowing those are our missiles that are going to intercept an air contact trying to reach our ship.”
The Antietam primarily holds standard missiles. They are mainly used as counterattack agents against air contacts and other missiles. The missiles can also be used to counter surface contacts and submarines.
“The missiles are the most capable weapon on our ship,” said Almeida. “They are the first barrier against contacts and they have a larger range.”
Despite being a Seaman, Almeida hopes to move up the ranks to a petty officer 2nd class and become a work center supervisor.
“I want to be a good leader like my chief,” said Almeida. “I want to be the kind of work center supervisor that is there to help their Sailors and answer any questions they might have.”
Aside from his regular duties, Almeida enjoys photography and videography. He is part of the ship’s public affairs team, which documents shipboard operations and events through photography. Since being on deployment, he has captured events such as replenishment-at-seas and holiday celebrations in the mess decks.
“l like making video reels of my experiences,” said Almeida. “I like showing my family and friends the different places I go.”
The Antietam returned to sea on May 19th after a ten month in-port period. The ship returned to the Philippine Sea on July 30th from the South China Sea where it conducted a patrol for two weeks. It’s mission during this period was to support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, providing a presence as part of the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. Antietam was moored in Singapore from July 22nd to 26th during a scheduled port visit.
Antietam is attached to Commander, Task Force 70/ Carrier Strike Group 5 conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.17.2022 06:11 |
| Story ID: | 429551 |
| Location: | PHILIPPINE SEA |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Anchorage, Alaska Native Serves Aboard USS Antietam while conducting operations in the Philippine Sea, by PO3 Santiago Navarro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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