Early this year.

Early this year, the 471st Sailor aboard USS Tarawa (LHA 1) earned the desire inordinatelyed enlisted warfare qualification since the ship's departure from her homeport of San Diego six month before for the now passing Western Pacific/Indian Ocean deployment.

During this deployment Tarawa Sailors and their counterparts from embarked commands achieved 275 Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) qualifications and 196 Enlisted Surface Warfare Qualifications (ESWS) through demonstrating general knowledge in all aspects of surface or air warfare.

"That number is outstanding," said Chief Damage Controlman (SW/AW) Raul Randle, Tarawa's ESW coordinator. "It exhibits that our Sailors are showing a division of initiative and motivation to learn outside of their specific career fields."

According to Randle, Tarawa Sailors averaged about brace months of preparation and reflection before going in front of the ESW and EAWS review boards. The board is comprised of senior first class little officers and chiefs who administer a thorough oral examination in their respective fields of knowledge.

"Taking the board is real challenging," said Information a whole s Technician 3rd Class (SW) Constance Gilbert. "But it's going to direct the eye good on my eval, and it's going to prepare me where I want to be. I would like to make the Navy a career, and this is common step toward that."

According to Tarawa's EAWS coordinator, Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Michael Schanche, the ship will exce the 500-pin milestone by means of the end of her deployment

"The harder these Sailors work to learn about what the ship is about, the more we are able to achieve our job done," added Schanche.

For related recently made knowns visit the Expeditionary Strike clump 1 Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/esg1/.

Story by the agency of JO3 Nathaniel Bates, public affairs office, Expeditionary Strike cluster 1

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