Source: United States Navy
The Battle “E” competition is conducted to strengthen and evaluate both command and overall Force warfighting readiness and to recognize outstanding command performance. The criterion for the Battle “E” Award is the overall readiness of a crew to execute its combat mission.
“The competition for these honors was, as always, extremely keen,” said Houston. “These awards should be a source of great pride to each and every crew member.”
COMSUBLANT Battle “E” winners are the following:
USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), Commander, Submarine Squadron TWO (CCS-2)
USS North Dakota (SSN 784), CSS-4
USS Albany (SSN 753), CSS-6
USS Toledo (SSN 769), CSS-8
USS Newport News (SSN 750), CSS-12
USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (BLUE), CSS-16
USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (GOLD), CSS-16
USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) (BLUE), CSS-20
USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) (GOLD), CSS-20
Engineering Red “E” winners:
USS Virginia (SSN 774), CSS-2
USS North Dakota (SSN 784), CSS-4
USS Albany (SSN 753), CSS-6
USS Toledo (SSN 769), CSS-8
USS Delaware (SSN 791), CSS-12
USS Georgia (SSBN 729) (BLUE), CSS-16
USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) (GOLD), CSS-20
White Weapons “W” winners:
USS Texas (SSN 775), CSS-2
USS South Dakota (SSN 790), CSS-4
USS New Hampshire (SSN 778), CSS-6
USS Indiana (SSN 789), CSS-12
USS Florida (SSGN 728) (GOLD), CSS-16
USS Alaska (SSBN 732) (BLUE), CSS-20
White Strategic “S” winner:
USS Alaska (SSBN 732) (BLUE), CSS-20
Navigation Red and Green “N” winners:
USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), CSS-2
USS Colorado (SSN 788), CSS-4
USS Pasadena (SSN 752), CSS-6
USS Montana (SSN 794), CSS-8
USS Indiana (SSN 789), CSS-12
USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (GOLD), CSS-16
USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) (GOLD), CSS20
Communications/Cyber Green “C” winners:
USS Texas (SSN 775), CSS-2
USS Colorado (SSN 788), CSS-4
USS Albany (SSN 753), CSS-6
USS Toledo (SSN 769), CSS-8
USS Indiana (SSN 789), CSS-12
USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (GOLD), CSS-16
USS Maryland (SSBN 738) (GOLD), CSS-20
Electronic Warfare Green “E” winners:
USS North Dakota (SSN 784), CSS-4
USS Washington (SSN 787), CSS-6
USS Delaware (SSN 791), CSS-12
USS Florida (SSGN 728) (BLUE), CSS-16
USS Alaska (SSBN 732) (GOLD), CSS-20
Supply Blue “E” winners:
USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), CSS-2
USS Vermont (SSN 792), CSS-4
USS Albany (SSN 753), CSS-6
USS Montana (SSN 793), CSS-8
USS San Juan (SSN 751), CSS-12
USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (GOLD), CSS-16
USS Maryland (SSBN 738) (GOLD), CSS-20
Personnel White “P” winners:
USS Greeneville (SSN 772), CSS-2
USS Vermont (SSN 792), CSS-4
USS New Hampshire (SSN 778), CSS-6
PCU Massachusetts (SSN 798), CSS-8
USS San Juan (SSN 751), CSS-12
USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (GOLD), CSS-16
USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) (GOLD), CSS-20
Medical Yellow “M” winners:
USS Texas (SSN 775), CSS-2
USS South Dakota (SSN 790), CSS-4
USS John Warner (SSN 785), CSS-6
USS Montana (SSN 794), CSS-8
USS California (SSN 781), CSS-12
USS Florida (SSGN 728) (BLUE), CSS-16
USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) (BLUE), CSS-20
The Battle “E” competition recognizes commands that attained the highest overall or departmental readiness to carry out assigned wartime tasks as a unit of the Atlantic Submarine Force and is based on a yearlong evaluation.
“This year’s Battle “E” award winners have undoubtedly met and excelled at every possible task, goal, or circumstance throughout the year,” said COMSUBLANT Force Master Chief Neil Ford. “Each Sailor on these boats has continuously challenged themselves to critique their strengths and weaknesses and find ways to improve.”
These ships were considered the most ready for combat throughout the year and were judged based on their warfighting readiness; mission accomplishments; self-assessments and ability to improve; ability to innovate; and resiliency in executing the ship’s schedule.
“I want every crew member to know your hard work, dedication to duty and superior work ethic has been noticed and is greatly appreciated,” said Houston. “I am proud every day of the work you all do for the Atlantic Submarine Force. Bravo Zulu for a job well done.”
The Submarine Force executes the Department of the Navy’s mission in and from the undersea domain. In addition to lending added capacity to naval forces, the Submarine Force, in particular, is expected to leverage those special advantages that come with undersea concealment to permit operational, deterrent and combat effects that the Navy and the nation could not otherwise achieve.
The Submarine Force and supporting organizations constitute the primary undersea arm of the Navy. Submarines and their crews remain the tip of the undersea spear.