Month: August 2024

Source: United States Navy

Oscar Austin is the first of two additional Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to join the current Forward Deployed Naval Force-Europe (FDNF-E) force – adding additional capabilities to the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility. The addition of these two ships will be phased, with the second arriving in 2026. The second ship will be named closer to its arrival.

“Shifting Oscar Austin’s homeport to Rota is the next step in bolstering U.S. and NATO maritime presence and combat power in Europe as well as increasing the capacity to execute the One Atlantic concept,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “The One Atlantic concept improves the ability to share, leverage, and fully utilize naval forces in response to threats and strategic competitors while conducting multi-mission operations across the Atlantic by multiple Combatant Commanders.”

The move will increase the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed operational footprint in EUCOM to five destroyers in Rota. The increased presence reinforces the U.S. Navy’s commitment to its enduring relationship with maritime allies in Spain, and it enhances operations to support maritime security alongside allies and partners in Europe and Africa, strengthening the trans-Atlantic link. The addition will enable additional coordination between U.S. and Spanish navies on ship maintenance and training.

Operating naval forces from Spain maximizes flexibility and ensures access to strategic global crossroads. The addition of Oscar Austin to Rota will allow for more operational flexibility within the European theater. The arrival of the ship will provide a mitigation of operational tempo for other FDNF-E Sailors assigned to ships in Rota, improving quality of life and decreasing operational stressors.

On May 8, 2023, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Julissa Reynoso, signed in Madrid on behalf of President Biden the enhancement of the Defense Cooperation Agreement with the Kingdom of Spain to increase the U.S. Navy’s presence at Rota Naval Base, Spain, from four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to six.

The initial decision to base destroyers out of Spain is part of the U.S. European Phased Adaptive Approach announced by President Obama in 2009. Since its announcement, the U.S. has broadened its Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capabilities in theater including increasing FDNF-E from four to six and the finalization of the second Aegis Ashore site in Poland.

Oscar Austin is the first Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer and proudly bears the name of Pfc. Oscar P. Austin, United States Marine Corps. USS Oscar Austin was commissioned on August 19, 2000, in Norfolk, Va. Oscar Austin is ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare capable. The ship can embark two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to assist in anti-submarine and other warfare areas. Destroyers can work with Carrier Strike Groups, Surface Action Groups, Expeditionary Strike Groups or independently.

Source: United States Navy

During his visit, RADM Todd joined in conversations that revealed the great impact of spiritual readiness on IKECSG Sailors. He spoke with warfare leaders, Religious Ministry Team Chaplains, and Sailors from all ranks, seeking insights into how faith and community had sustained them through months of combat operations.

During his meeting with Religious Program Specialists (RPs), Todd heard about the progression of their role and the critical support they provided in maintaining morale and mental health.

Reports of reduced destructive behavior and increased mental wellness underlined the Chaplains’ essential role aboard the Eisenhower. The Chaplains weren’t just spiritual guides; they were also trusted members of the crew, promoting a culture where Sailors could find comfort and strength in their faith.

One Sailor expressed how her faith had served as an anchor throughout the deployment. She also stated that finding comfort in prayer and the supportive community of chapel services helped her maintain resilience during uncertain times.

Another sailor, newly baptized, described how his spiritual journey began during the deployment, highlighting the transformative power of faith even during conflict.

The stories Todd heard were distinct yet intertwined with a common theme of finding purpose and strength through faith. Sailors from multiple religious communities shared how their beliefs had provided them with guidance and comfort during challenging times. They spoke of building community through shared worship and prayer, creating bonds that surpassed the stresses of combat.

They also shared that spiritual readiness, supported by Chaplains, played a pivotal role in maintaining mission readiness throughout the deployment.

The mission of the IKECSG included over 13,800 sorties, numerous engagements, and the successful defense against threats in the U.S. 5th Fleet area. Yet among the statistics of military success, it was the personal stories of faith and resilience that stood out. Each Sailor faced the challenges of combat with a determination that could only be nurtured by a deep-rooted faith and a supportive community.

The spiritual readiness tools offered by Chaplains during this deployment will significantly assist these Sailors in their transition back home, providing them with guidance and support as they reintegrate into their families and communities.

Source: United States Navy

The East St. Louis, Illinois, native and former intelligence chief with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing attributes his decision to join the Navy Chaplain Corps to his passion for serving others, which he discovered during his service as a Marine, often volunteering at base chapels.

“I found in serving that it really challenged and encouraged me because I want to inspire people,” Liddell Gayden explained. “I also found it very rewarding to help people walk through scriptures and learn to grow spiritually. That laid some foundations for what came to be a ministry call.”

Liddell Gayden joined the Marine Corps in 1996 with the intention of using his service as a stepping stone for college.

“I knew that after serving in the military I could qualify for a grant from Illinois, in addition to the Mongomery GI Bill, to pay for college,” Liddell Gayden said.

Liddell Gayden began his career as an administrative clerk and decided to reenlist following his first four-year tour. When his military occupational specialty as an administrative clerk closed, he transitioned to the intelligence field.

Over 24 years, Liddell Gayden has served as an intelligence Marine at every element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, including tours to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I spent the first five years at 1st Intelligence Battalion,” Liddell Gayden said. “I’ve done two tours at 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, a tour at 2nd Marine Logistics Group, 5th Marine Regiment and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. I also completed a tour at Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron 1.”

“For him to commission after 28 years of service and to give through this new endeavor as a U.S. Navy chaplain shows his commitment to service members and the military,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Dennis Wheeler, the 3rd MAW chaplain.

Liddell Gayden leaned heavily on his faith for support throughout his action-packed Marine Corps career. He was raised in a family of religious ministers and his spiritual relationship provided familiar comfort.

“I’ve always had that influence in my life,” Liddell Gayden said. “I’ve always sought my faith for strength, especially in boot camp and in my first assignment. Being away from home and in my first few years in the Marine Corps, my time in the barracks, when I had free time, would often be spent reading the Bible. I found a lot of strength and encouragement in that.”

Upon completing seminary in his off-duty time and after many conversations with Navy chaplain mentors, Liddell Gayden began speaking with a Navy recruiter about the requirements to join the Navy Chaplain Corps. After completing the administrative process, he was interviewed by chaplains which invigorated him to continue pursuing his goal.

As a chaplain, Liddell Gayden will provide religious ministry, support the faith of service members and their families, and provide care and counsel to all service members. The Navy Chaplain Corps boasts more than 800 chaplains from more than 100 different faith groups, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and others. Navy chaplains support the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, immersing themselves in the daily lives of service members and deploying with them overseas.

“Those interviews helped me understand more about the weight that comes along with the job,” Liddell Gayden said. “It encouraged me to want it even more because I enjoy serving people, and I enjoy helping people—specifically service members and their families, and I think this job gives me the opportunity to do that.”

The support of Liddell Gayden’s wife, Rachel, was equally significant.

“I really am blessed to have Rachel as my wife,” Liddell Gayden said. “Just the care and concern that she has for people in general has really inspired me to continue to do more in service.”

Liddell Gayden will report to the Navy Officer Development School this fall, followed by Naval Chaplaincy School at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island.

Source: United States Navy

Hailing from Ghana, Ensign Parker-Ansah has exemplified dedication, resilience, and a profound commitment to service throughout her journey.

“Receiving a commission in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps is a significant achievement, a dedication to service, leadership and the responsibilities that come with it,” said Cmdr. Eric Polonsky, director for administration, Naval Medical Forces Pacific. “As with any milestone, the wisest person is one who while looking forward to the journey before him or her also looks back in a moment of reflection to its beginning.”

Parker-Ansah graduated from Accra Girls Senior High School, Accra Region, Ghana, in 2008, a bustling institution with a student body of approximately 10,000. Her academic pursuits took her to the London School of Business and Finance in the United Kingdom, where she earned a degree in economics and statistics in 2012. She further honed her skills and knowledge at Duke University, graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. By 2018, she had completed a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from Emory University and is currently on track to graduate from Liberty University in 2025 with a Master of Divinity, focusing on Military Chaplaincy.

Parker-Ansah enlisted in the Navy on January 7, 2019. With educational background in health care, she was motivated to serve as a Navy health care administrator. Since joining the Navy, Parker-Ansah had significant assignments, such as working in the operating room at Walter Reed National Military Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she played a crucial role in life-saving surgeries.

At Naval Medical Forces Pacific, Parker-Ansah received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for exceptional meritorious service in her multiple roles with the command. For her primary role as administration assistant, she processed thousands of official correspondences and coordinated command trainings resulting to 99 percent compliance rating for two quarters in a row in 2023. Additionally, as the assistant command diversity officer, she championed diversity and workplace equality.

Her journey toward becoming a chaplain began in February 2023 when she learned about the Chaplain Candidate Program Officers. Parker-Ansah submitted her package for the program in April 2024, marking a new chapter in her career. She aims to bridge healthcare and chaplaincy in the Navy, leveraging her background as a registered nurse and her advanced degrees in healthcare administration and divinity. Her passion for ministry and healthcare uniquely positions her to address mental health issues among service members, including reducing suicide rates.

“I was drawn to this field because I want to impact the lives of our Sailors by providing a safe space for them to express their concerns without judgment,” she said. “I have a passion and call to ministry, so I intend to touch their lives by sharing my experience and faith with them. I specifically want to help reduce mental health related issues like suicide.”

She also recollects a commitment she made in the past after a tragic experience before joining the Navy. While visiting her family in Ghana, a gang of armed intruders breached into her family’s home that claimed the life of her grandmother.

“With guns pointed into our heads, I prayed to God to keep us alive in exchange for my service to Him (God),” Parker-Ansah said during her remarks. “Standing here before you this morning is a testament I’ve dedicated my soul in the business of saving souls.”

Parker-Ansah is supported by her husband, Daniel and their two-year-old son Damian. One of the biggest challenges she faced in her Navy career was giving birth to her son in the absence of her husband, managing the demands of work and school on her own. These experiences have revealed her strength and resilience, further motivating her to pursue her goals.

“My beloved son, Damien, you make all the hassle worth it,” she said during her commissioning ceremony. “Thank you for choosing me to be your mother. I really found the strength I didn’t know I embodied. I hope someday when you’re old enough, you will be proud of me. My handsome and gentle husband, thank you so much for standing by me. You are my gift from God wrapped in human form, and I love you dearly.”

Her mentors, Chief Hospital Corpsman Rashanta Pippins, NMFPs command senior enlisted leader, and Cmdr. David Alexander, NMFP’s force chaplain have been instrumental in guiding her.

“NMFP really is home for me,” Parker-Ansah said. “This command gave me all the necessary tools I needed to succeed in my career. The leadership was amazing and shaped me into the best version of myself. This command is indeed a family, and I will forever cherish you all.”

Alexander praised her steady, deliberate pursuit of her dream and her deep spiritual life, which he believes makes her an excellent addition to the Chaplain Corps.

“I am impressed by the spirit in which she has pursued her dream,” Alexander said. “She has been steady, deliberate, patient, and singularly focused. Nothing was going to keep her from this path, and she accepted the adversities that came calmly without breaking her stride. She loves people and wants to help them flourish. Also, she possesses a deep spiritual life. In those two attributes, she has everything she needs to set out on this path.”

Parker-Ansah envisions completing her Divinity Program and pursuing certification in Clinical Pastoral Education. As a member of the Chaplain Corps, she aspires to be a beacon of hope and resilience, providing spiritual guidance and support to those in need.

The U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps promotes the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of Navy and Marine Corps members. Comprising clergy from various religious traditions, the Chaplain Corps supports service members’ free exercise of religion and provides vital support in times of adversity, reinforcing morale and ethical conduct during military operations.

Parker-Ansah’s commissioning reflects the Chaplain Corps’ mission and the enduring legacy of chaplains who have served with honor since 1775.

“Some folks who know my background are asking why a nurse would want to be a chaplain,” she said. “To those folks I say, when God calls, all you have to do is answer.”

Source: United States Navy

Giangrande, assigned to Submarine Readiness Squadron (SRS) 32, received the 12th annual award for “early achievements in military psychology” and was selected from a pool of 1,200 potential military mental health professionals.

“Receiving this award exemplifies the work I have done throughout my career in the Navy,” Giangrande said. “Much of the work I do as a psychologist focuses on how I can empower others to live a more fulfilling life and overcome personal and occupational challenges.”

The Arthur W. Melton Early Achievement Award, from the American Psychological Association (APA), Division 19 (Military Psychology), recognizes outstanding early career achievements in military psychology, normally within five to 10 years of entry into the field.

The citation reads that the recipient of this award “has clearly shown the advancement of the profession of military psychology, improved effectiveness of the military psychology system, and service on behalf of the welfare of military personnel.”

“This award is a reminder that I am making an impact on the military psychology community, and that the sacrifices I have made along the way are appreciated and valued,” Giangrande added.

The award’s namesake, Arthur w. Melton, was an air force psychologist during World War II and continued to serve and revolutionize the way psychologists operate in the military. Dr. William Brim, President of APA Division 19 Society for Military Psychology, presented the award during the ceremony.

Giangrande, an Islip, New York native and 2019 graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, commissioned in the Navy in 2018 after her training director encouraged her to get into military psychology.

“I expressed that I was interested in a career that challenged me, aligned with my values, and would increase opportunities for making a national and global impact,” Giangrande explained. “During my fourth year of the doctoral program, I obtained a recruiter, applied for Navy internship sites, and was matched with a Navy Psychology internship via the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC).”

Giangrande will continue to serve in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force as she transfers to Naval Submarine School next year, also in Groton.

SRS 32 medical clinic treats Groton and Portsmouth-based submariners assigned to 19 submarines homeported in the U.S. northeast. SRS 32’s primary mission is to centralize administrative and support functions, economize resources, and provide a common pool of experts who provide complete functional support to the commanders of Submarine Squadrons 2, 4, and 12. SRS 32 provides support in the areas of administration, medical, legal, chaplain, supply, combat systems, engineering, communications, and operations to improve operational readiness.

Story originally posted on DVIDS: Submarine psychologist awarded prestigious Arthur W. Melton Early Achievement Award