4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, September 16, 2021
USS Arlington returns from humanitarian mission in Haiti By Petty Officer 2nd Class John Bellino USS Arlington (LPD 24) Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. — The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) returns to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia after deploying to U.S. 4th Fleet area of operation to support a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operation in Haiti, Sept. 8. Arlington was underway participating in the U.S. Navy’s Large-Scale Exercise 2021 (LSE 2021) when tasked to support U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) following a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti Aug. 14. Within 24 hours, Arlington offloaded LSE 2021 personnel and equipment, and embarked HADR assets to include MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters, attached to the “Chargers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26; a landing craft, utility (LCU), attached to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2; Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 2; Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22; and Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “It was a tremendous team effort by multiple commands pulling all of the resources the Navy could muster,” said Capt. Eric Kellum, commanding officer of Arlington. Arlington directly contributed to USAID’s distribution of almost 600,000 pounds of cargo to include food, medical supplies and other critical relief supplies; the transportation of approximately 200 aid workers to support the mission; and supplied 25,000 gallons of JP-5 aircraft fuel to support flight operations. “In a single day we were able to distribute over 100,000 pounds of food with an LCU to the remote area of Jérémie, which
CARIBBEAN SEA (Aug. 31, 2021) Sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) walk food and water down to a landing craft, utility (LCU), assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, in Arlington’s well deck prior to delivering humanitarian aid to the Port of Jérémie, Haiti, Aug. 31, 2021. Arlington is deployed to U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts in Haiti following a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, Aug. 14, 2021. (MC2 JOHN BELLINO)
has been cut off from Port-au-Prince due to damage caused by the earthquake,” said Kellum. “Team Arlington came to Haiti with the goal of saving lives and easing suffering and that is exactly what we were able to do.” The mission consisted of three core tasks: Provide a ready flight deck for refueling and conducting flight operations for over 16 joint task force helicopters; provide a command and control platform for the Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander and the U.S. Marine Corps Task Force; and provide a sea-basing logistical hub for quick and efficient aid distribution to Haiti. “All of our missions provide the president and secretary of defense multiple options to respond to global threats to our national
security,” said Kellum. “However, Arlington is ideally suited for humanitarian missions because we can respond rapidly anywhere in the world and be ready to save lives immediately upon arrival.” Arlington coordinated efforts with other U.S. Southern Command components and U.S. Coast Guard ships in addition to allies and partners from the Netherlands, France and United Kingdom. French and Dutch Sailors visited Arlington to enable the exchange of best practices as they worked together toward the common goal of supporting the humanitarian relief efforts. Rear Adm. Keith Davids, Joint Task Force-Haiti commander, and Tim
Callaghan, USAID disaster response team lead, also visited Arlington prior to Arlington’s departure from the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operation and expressed their appreciation for the humanitarian assistance provided. “You are making a difference,” said Davids. “I can’t thank you enough for your service and your help to the people of Haiti,” said Callaghan. “The amount of support provided, we could not have done it without the DoD.” Arlington is in the advanced phase of deployment training and will continue to maintain readiness levels for a scheduled 2022 deployment with the USS Kearsarge amphibious readiness group.
Retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 runs 48 Miles in 48 hours to honor career and other service members By Mass Communication Specialist 2Nd Class Emily Casavant Naval Station Norfolk Public
NORFOLK, Va. - On August 27, 2021, Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3), Selena Aponte, retiring from her position as the Administrative Department Head for Naval Station Norfolk, honored her last day in the Navy by beginning the daunting challenge of running 48 miles in 48 hours. Aponte decided that, because she could not have a retirement ceremony, she would commemorate and celebrate her time in the Navy by doing something meaningful for herself and her career. “I’m being medically retired so you never know your end date,” said CWO3. “I didn’t want to end my career and legacy by just leaving Naval Station Norfolk and going home. I wanted to do something that really captured the essence of my career in the Navy. This endurance challenge allowed me to face a lot of barriers that I was unable to break through while I was in the service and I was finally able to let go during these runs.” Aponte began her 48 miles Friday afternoon on Naval Station Norfolk. After that, she continued to run 4 miles every 4 hours until Sunday afternoon, where she finished her challenge at the top of Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach. During her first and last run, she carried the American flag with her, folded in a tactical vest adorned with patches from her time in the Navy. In
between, she ran at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Naval Air Station Oceana, Dam Neck Naval Base and the area around her home. “I wanted to pay tribute to those who have not been able to have a retirement ceremony, but more specifically to the lives that have been lost with the 13 service members that died in Afghanistan on Friday,” said CWO3. “That hit close to home for me, so every time I was on the Naval bases, that particular run was for them.” While serving active duty in the Navy, Aponte was also a student. Before retiring, she completed her Master’s degree in addiction counseling and is planning a new career in that field. “I hope to serve the community as well as our active duty and veterans through counseling because I know there’s a lot of us, myself included, that struggled with some sort of addiction and that’s going to be my opportunity to give back,” said Aponte. During her 22.5 years in the Navy, CWO3 served at 8 different commands in multiple countries and states including Italy, El Salvador, California, Hawaii and Virginia. “The Navy saved my life in so many ways and allowed me to travel in so many ways,” said Aponte, who joined the service at age 18 out of south Chicago. “ It allowed me to serve the global war on terrorism in Afghanistan. It had challenges but also a lot of triumphs and I met good people along the way. I’ve served with many good Sailors. It’s
Chief Warrant Officer 3, Selena Aponte, makes it to the top of Mount Trashmore with the American flag, marking the end of her 48 miles in 48 hours running challenge. CWO3 began running on Naval Station Norfolk on Friday, Aug. 27 and continued to run four miles every four hours for 48 hours on multiple naval bases and other locations near Virginia Beach to honor her retirement from the Navy. (MC2 EMILY CASAVANT)
been truly a rewarding experience. I would not change it for the world.” Aponte stated that she will miss her Sailors more than anything and that she will always be there for other service members in need
of help. The staff and crew of Naval Station Norfolk wishes CWO3 Aponte a fulfilling life outside of the Navy and the best of luck in all of her future endeavors.
TOGETHER WE WIN $
52,000 IN 52 WEEKS TO 52 WORTHY CHARITIES
“We would like to thank Rosie’s for this kind donation. This money will benefit the ladies in the HER shelter (Help and Emergency Response, Inc.), an organization in which we partner with in Portsmouth, Virginia. Thanks again Rosie’s for your $ 1,000 check issued to Get Out Prevails Foundation Inc.”
Vernell Palmer
President/CEO | Get Out Prevails Foundation Inc. Every week in 2021 we will award a local charity from a community in which we operate a donation of $1,000. Helping those communities around us is at the core of our operational philosophy. We truly believe that high tides raise all ships and we are determined to add value to the communities in which we operate. Through the charitable program, Rosie’s Gives Back, Colonial Downs Group has made monetary and in-kind donations of more than $1,348,500, and has logged over 2,500 service hours in Virginia communities.
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