Gerald R. Ford's Largest RAS Yet

Photo By Seaman Tajh Payne | Sailors assigned to the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and Carrier Air Wing 8 sort mail in the hangar bay during a replenishment-at-sea, Aug. 17, 2023. Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, representing a generational leap in the U.S. Navy's capacity to project power on a global scale. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tajh Payne)  

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

08.17.2023

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Adonica Munoz 

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)           

The world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) successfully completed its largest replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Medgar Evars (T-AKE) 31 in the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 17, 2023.
During the RAS, Gerald R. Ford received 144 pallets of mail, 161 pallets of general stock, 297 pallets of provisions and 17 pallets of store merchandise.
“I enjoy everybody coming together from all parts of Gerald R. Ford to help us get resupplied and help improve everyone’s quality of life onboard,” said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class William Swan, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, assigned to Gerald R. Ford’s supply department. “It’s something that we logistics specialists study and train for when we go to school and it all comes together to something similar to getting presents on Christmas day.”
A RAS allows Gerald R. Ford to stock up on repair parts, supplies and goods necessary for daily operations and quality-of-life while deployed.
“Receiving supplies while we operate at sea ensures that our crew can continually execute the mission,” said Lt. Cmdr. Wanda Colon, Gerald R. Ford’s principal assistant for services. “Not only are we receiving mail, but we are also restocking our food stores, and more importantly any material parts that are needed. RAS days are long, but they truly show that our crew comes together contributing with working parties on the flight deck, in the hangar bay, and below decks.”
Sailors assigned to Gerald R. Ford’s deck department helped receive 116 pallets via connected replenishment (CONREP) while the “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 simultaneously helped transport the remaining 505 pallets via vertical replenishment (VERTREP). A 250-man working party made up of Sailors from each department was formed to help move stores as they were received onboard.
In addition to the over 600 pallets of goods received, Gerald R. Ford also off-loaded 124 pallets of used supplies, outgoing mail, and waste.
“The effort that was put forth in this RAS ensures that we are restocked and continue to be the biggest and baddest carrier in the fleet,” said Colon.
The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) is conducting a scheduled deployment in the Atlantic Ocean in support of interoperability and maritime security. The GRFCSG provides an inherently flexible naval force capable of deploying across combatant commands to meet emerging missions, deter potential adversaries, reassure allies and partners, enhance security and guarantee the free flow of global commerce. In total, the GRFCSG is deployed with more than 6,000 Sailors across all platforms ready to respond globally to combatant commander tasking.
Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier. As the first-in-class ship of Ford-class aircraft carriers, CVN 78 represents a generational leap in the U.S. Navy’s capacity to project power on a global scale. Ford-class aircraft carriers introduce 23 new technologies, including Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System, Advanced Arresting Gear and Advanced Weapons Elevators. The new systems incorporated onto Ford-class ships are designed to deliver greater lethality, survivability and joint interoperability with a 20% smaller crew than a Nimitz-class carrier, paving the way forward for naval aviation.
For more information about the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), visit https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/ and follow along on Facebook: @USSGeraldRFord, Twitter: @Warship_78, DVIDS: www.dvids.net/CVN78 and LinkedIn at USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

• Date Taken: 08.17.2023
• Date Posted: 08.19.2023 02:14
• Story ID: 451636
• Location: MEDITERRANEAN SEA