Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Sawyer Connally | 230531-N-NQ285-1903 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 31, 2023) Logistics Specialists assigned to...... read more read more
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ATLANTIC OCEAN – The crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) held an observation for Mental Health Awareness Month while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, May 31, 2023.
The events opened in the morning with transparent discussions in each of Porter’s divisions with divisional officers and chief petty officers.
“In general, we are trying to create a culture where addressing mental health is viewed positively,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Christopher Duke. “We want to make it known that Sailors are able to have normal adverse reactions to everyday life and expected distress from an operational environment without having to pathologize those real life experiences. We can address these experiences through the resources located on the Mental Health Roadmap, as needed.”
The observation focused on reinforcing a command culture that trains, discusses, and actively engages with the topic of Mental Health. The crew covered the different ways they can steel their minds, resolve their hearts, and leverage the resources that are provided to them.
“The Command has done a phenomenal job in setting the expectations that mental health is a priority,” said Lt. Milo Curtis, Command Chaplain. “But it isn't enough for that to come from the top, it has to be present and relevant in the work centers. An intentional and guided heart-to-heart conversation about mental health normalizes a topic many are not comfortable discussing openly. The intent is to remove the interpersonal barriers that keep people from getting the help they need. Some of our Sailors have experienced a lot of success in maintaining or improving their mental health. But that's typically not a topic that comes up in daily conversation. By carving out a dedicated time to discuss these things, we are normalizing that discussion in work spaces where it is often absent.”
Following divisional discussions, the crew assembled to attend a brief and discussion on warrior toughness, and what that looks like in an operational environment such as Porter’s patrol.
“It’s not a time out card,” said Lt. Abigail Rouser, the ship’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, one of the Sailors who delivered the brief. “To the contrary, Warrior Toughness is about staying in the fight, being better and stronger throughout the mission, and reflecting on what went right and what went wrong afterwards.”
The brief also provided Porter’s Sailors with resources to apply to their day-to-day operational environments, allowing them to take a hit and keep going, perform under pressure, and excel day to day.
“Our agenda includes defining Warrior Toughness; the fact that stress itself can be good for us, and we will include a few practical exercises to teach the crew on how to mitigate the physiological symptoms of immediate stress,” said Rouser.
Sailors also participated in “shoulder-to-shoulder” team building events, such as tug-of-war and corn-hole competitions on the flight deck. Other Sailors volunteered to run the different stations throughout the morning, facilitating their shipmates’ education and recreation.
“If we don't have assistance from Sailors like those on our Command Resiliency Team, we don't have success,” said Duke, on the cooperation required to run an event like this. “We are lucky to have dedicated and engaged leaders who want all of Porter’s Sailors to excel in all facets of their lives. What makes it worth it is knowing we have hopefully constructed a well-rounded interactive experience mixed with thoughtful discussion and provided mental resiliency tools for Sailors.”
In the afternoon, Porter’s Sailors had time to rest and reset. This involved bonding with their shipmates over a steel beach picnic, prepared by the ship’s Chiefs Mess and Wardroom, and a swim call. This kind of recreation gave the crew time to reflect on the topics discussed earlier in the day, and to build camaraderie and comfortability with the people they live and work alongside while on patrol.
“Being tasked with a short-notice deployment, and immediately pivoting to a multi-national NATO exercise where we excelled can take a toll on the mind and body,” said Duke. “Giving the crew a period of time to relax from the operational stress of the last four months allows them to physically and mentally reset, refocus, and recharge for the return home. This is particularly important as we begin the re-integration phase with our families.”
This day of rest comes less than a week after the conclusion of Porter’s participation in Exercise Formidable Shield 2023, a live-fire exercise involving 13 NATO allied and partner nations. Between May 8 and 23, Porter participated in multiple evolutions including live-fire missile exercises, air defense scenarios, replenishments-at-sea, live-fire gunnery exercises, and maneuvering drills with other NATO allied naval assets. During the event, Porter’s crew successfully fired three Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) interceptor missiles, all of which destroyed their targets.
“The operational environment comes with a hyper focus on accomplishing the mission and responding to the obstacles that get in the way,” said Curtis. “As a result, it is easy to neglect the personal needs that arise by ignoring or minimizing them. Through our monthly trainings and Human Factors Council, we do our best to keep the needs of the crew in front of us and then respond appropriately. But it is also good to slow down and exclusively focus on the topic of mental health. Our CO is making a calculated decision to throttle back, in the middle of a work week, to cultivate this culture. The decision is producing results.”
Porter’s patrol in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of operations comes months after it shifted its homeport from Naval Station Rota, Spain to Norfolk, in Oct. 2022. Prior to the homeport shift, Porter spent seven years in Spain as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe force operating throughout the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S., allied and partner interests.
For over 80 years, NAVEUR-NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with our allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.
| Date Taken: | 05.31.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2023 06:37 |
| Story ID: | 446757 |
| Location: | ATLANTIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 44 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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