US Navy Tiger Cruise

My daughter is in the Navy and is stationed on the aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis. They just finished a 213 day combat deployment, which literally took them around the world (covering 75,486 nautical miles).

Last week, the ship pulled into the Mayport Naval Station in Florida and Ms. Nachos and I were able to come aboard for a 3 day Tiger Cruise while we set sail for Norfolk. It was a once in a lifetime experience for sure. We lived the life of a sailor and got the true experience. There were 70 aircraft aboard and we had a front row seat on the flight deck for an unbelievable airshow that included F/A-18F Super Hornets, E-2 Hawkeyes, EA/18-G Growlers and SH-60 Seahawks. We were perched up on Vultures Row as we got to see these beasts take off and land. Watching a Navy jet take off on an aircraft carrier is something that can't be described but it was breathtaking.

Most importantly, it was incredible to meet the incredible people who serve in our military and to see how dedicated they are. I'm so fortunate to have had this experience and am proud of our service members.

That sounds awesome, I'm jealous.

Make sure to give your daughter a big "thank you" for her service. :thumb:

Sounds awesome! Glad you and your wife were able to experience it. What's your daughter's duty aboard the carrier?

I was also stationed on the Stennis...was on its first deployment in 1998. Norfolk to San Diego via the Gulf. The tiger cruise was such a neat experience. Ours was from Pearl Harbor to San Diego

In a 213 day deployment at sea, how often do they visit ports and have a chance to get off the ship?

That sounds awesome, I'm jealous.

 

Make sure to give your daughter a big "thank you" for her service. :thumb:

What @TheDeuce said, my thoughts exactly!

So much fun.

Wow!!! Add me to the jealous list. What an experience!

Sounds awesome! Glad you and your wife were able to experience it. What's your daughter's duty aboard the carrier?

She is an aviation logistics specialist. Whatever parts/commodities the squadrons need, she makes it happen. She’s everyone’s best friend because she holds the keys to everything from jet tires, parts, boots, headgear, etc. She makes fast friends because of this.

In a 213 day deployment at sea, how often do they visit ports and have a chance to get off the ship?

They were in port a total of 21 days, with visits to San Diego, Singapore, Dubai, Bahrain and France.

What a fantastic experience!

She is an aviation logistics specialist. Whatever parts/commodities the squadrons need, she makes it happen. She’s everyone’s best friend because she holds the keys to everything from jet tires, parts, boots, headgear, etc. She makes fast friends because of this.

It sounds like she chose a great career for her time in the military. That is something that will definitely translate well into the civilian world as well. Congrats on the experience, very cool.