Families, Friends Experience Navy Life Aboard Mount Whitney

USS MOUNT WHITNEY, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) Sailors welcomed aboard 36 family members and friends Oct. 9-11 for a Tiger Cruise from Tarragona, Spain, to the ship's homeport of Gaeta, Italy.

Each Tiger Cruise participant received a welcome aboard folder, which included a welcome aboard letter, a schedule of events for the next two days and general information about ship board life, upon arrival Oct. 9.

"The Tiger Cruise is an opportunity to show our friends and family exactly what we do and how we live," said Capt. Jeffrey Ruth, commanding officer of Mount Whitney. "It is a great chance to show the pride we have both in our ship and in the Navy to those who might not understand the details of our way of life."

Shortly after Mount Whitney was underway, the Tiger Cruise participants were briefed on general safety and security procedures for the ship and received a basic overview covering the mission and history of Mount Whitney.

Tiger Cruise participants gathered at the bow of the ship in the afternoon to witness an air show by the multimission SH-60S Sea Hawk hovering near the ship.

Lt. Lyon Ellison, the weapons officer aboard Mount Whitney, briefed the Tiger Cruise participants prior to a live fire exercise Oct. 10.

"The main point emphasized was safety; other points covered were basic operating procedures and capabilities of the .50 caliber machine gun," said Ellison.

Mount Whitney's gunner's mates fired a .50 caliber machine gun and a 25mm chain gun to demonstrate the proper handling of the weapons. The Tiger Cruise participants were then given the opportunity to fire 10 rounds per person from two .50 calibers located on the port side aft of the ship.

"It was an exciting experience, and I've been looking forward to this event since the cruise started; it made me a bit nervous to be in control of such a powerful weapon," said Erica Ruth, daughter of Capt. Ruth.

During the course of the cruise, the Tiger Cruise committee sponsored several fun-filled activities, including an ice cream social, Tiger Cruise bingo and movie night on the mess decks. This gave the participants an opportunity to relax after enjoying the events.

"I was excited to win 50 bucks during the last game of bingo. I enjoyed this event, plus it gave all the Sailors time to unwind with their Tigers," said Tammy Gorman, wife of Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class (SW) Ryan Gorman.

At the conclusion of the cruise, an awards ceremony was held to congratulate Tigers who completed a honorary surface warrior personnel qualification standard.

Tigers received certificates and a photo of themselves on the cruise in remembrance of their visit aboard Mount Whitney.

Moments after Ruth thanked the participants for their participation, he announced the winners of the Blue Jacket, Junior Sailor and Senior Sailor of the Quarter Awards.

"I felt ecstatic that I was selected for Junior Sailor of the Quarter (JSOQ)." said Ship's Serviceman 2nd Class (SW) George Diaz. "My perform-to-serve package was recently approved and being selected for JSOQ gives me a whole new outlook about the Navy."

Mount Whitney is U.S. 6th Fleet's flagship and operates with a hybrid crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners.

For more news from USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), visit www.navy.mil/local/lcc20/.