08/17/2014: The USS America is in transit to San Diego and then on to San Francisco for its official commissioning in October.
In transit, the crew is training and fitting out the ship. In this slideshow, some of the many skills being learned and applied at sea are highlighted, and these are not the skill sets which are immediately visible as airplanes take off and are recovered aboard the latest large deck amphibious ship.
Lieutenant Col. George Hasseltine, the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force commanding officer, and a native of Metairie, La., conducts rifle drills during a dry-fire exercise aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Aug. 14, 2014.
The purpose of the training was to refresh the Marines on their weapon skills prior to conducting a live-fire event later this week. Training like this ensures that Marines with the SPMAGTF are prepared to provide our nation and partners with the capacity to respond immediately to a multitude of crisis.
SPMAGTF-South is currently embarked aboard America on her maiden transit dubbed, “America Visits the Americas.
Credit Photos: USS America, August 2014
- In photo 2, Corporal Frank Gonzalez, a squad leader with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native Pleasanton, Calif., conducts a speed-reload during a dry-fire exercise aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Aug. 14, 2014.
- In photo 3, Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Shakkai Anders, assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA6), cleans and inspects a 9 mm pistol in the ship’s armory after conducting a live-fire course. Planned maintenance helps keep equipment in working order and prolongs its life span.
- In photo 4, Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Christopher Womack, assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America, cleans and inspects an M16 rifle in the ship’s armory after conducting a live-fire course. Planned maintenance helps keep equipment in working order and prolongs its life span.
- In photo 5, Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Travis Gerardi, back, teaches Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Lyndis Hawkins, both assigned to Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department’s I-M3 division aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), how to calibrate an automatic pressure calibration system with a 3689 model precision pressure standard machine.
- In photo 6, Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Zoe Nelson, assigned to Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department’s I-M3 division aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), verifies all standard instruments within the calibration lab.
- In photo 7, Aviation Electrician Blake Peterson, right, and Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Alain Wescott, both assigned to Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department’s I-M3 division aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), research information prior to an audit validation in the quality assurance office.
- In photo 8, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Victor Barone, assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), empties a cap of spectrometric oil after testing the spectrometer for element contamination in the aviation oil analysis lab.
- In photo 9, Airman Dustin Mitchell, assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), cuts metal supports for a crew recreation room table using the band saw machine in the aviation structural shop. The aviation structural shop is used to rebuild structural aircraft components.
- In photo 10, Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Justin Rodriguez, assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), welds test plates in the aviation structural shop.
- In photo 11, Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Daniel Ussery, right, assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), describes the hydraulic component test stand procedures to Airman Joshua Schlueter in the aviation hydraulics shop. The aviation hydraulics shop is used to test and troubleshoot aircraft hydraulic components.
- In photo 12, Aircraft Survival Equipmentman 3rd Class Kenjuan Gill, assigned to future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), adjusts the bobbin on the EconoSew sewing machine before sewing flight suit coveralls in the aircrew survival equipment room.
- In the final photo, Yeoman 1st Class LaDonna Williams, left, reviews administration programs with Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Christopher Rivera aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). Rivera is training to be the administration correspondent for Weapons Department aboard the ship.
The ship has three synergistic decks, which work together to support flight deck operations.
These photos show some of the sailors and Marines living and operating on these decks.
There is space to maintain and sustain the Osprey and the other aviation assets, and prepares for the coming of the F-35B as the ISR C2 asset taking the assault force to another level of capability