Cmdr. David Damstra, head of the medical team for Operation Continuing Promise, recaps the work his people will be doing when the USS Kearsarge comes to port at its various stops in Latin America…
While aboard the USS Kearsarge, bloggers found a passageway that led to an outdoor platform directly below the flight deck. One night, we were treated to helo flight operations occurring not far…
This wasn’t a good day to be on an unfamiliar ship if you drank a lot of liquids, as I did. The crew “secured” for random drug-screening the heads that all of us bloggers had been using , and we…
Man's best friend doesn't typically get to ride along with U.S. sailors, but a mutt named Jenna did for two years aboard a ship stationed in Japan. Lt. Cmdr. Matthew LaPointe was her commanding…
If you spend your life at sea, it's a good idea to plan for the prospect of having to rescue a man overboard. The U.S. Navy has a dummy named "Oscar" for for just that purpose.
There's only one way to practice steering two ships together in the open ocean -- just do it. The U.S. Navy does "underway replenishments," or UNREPs, on a regular basis because that's one…
Training, training, training -- that's what you do in the Navy. Lt. Cmdr. Matthew LaPointe, the training officer aboard the USS Kearsarge, discussed the hours of exercises required to prepare for…
Better health in Latin America is one of the goals of Operation Continuing Promise. But the people delivering it first have to guard their own health. Hence the shield of insecticide being applied…
I won’t name names, but one of the bloggers who was supposed to be on the USS Kearsarge with us isn’t. He thought the ship was leaving this afternoon -- until the ensign in charge of the bloggers…
Navy officers have it much better than the enlisted men when out to sea, at least in terms of comfort.
I’m guessing their meals are…
This has been a good time for a trip at sea. Until today, I couldn’t feel any significant movement of this massive ship. But the waters do seem to be getting a bit rougher as we near Miami, where…
Have you ever wondered where sailors get the necessities of life -- and a few luxuries -- while at sea? Wonder no more. They go to the ship store. We stopped in today. It’s like a 7-Eleven…
As a Christian, one of the things I was curious to see on the USS Kearsarge was the chapel. I was disappointed. I’m not a fan of fancy church buildings. The less money spent on fulfilling the…
Navy men have to get their hair cut about every two weeks. That’s what we learned during our stop at the barbershop on the Kearsarge today. We also learned that there’s a whole black market of…
After lunch today, I joined three other bloggers for some fresh sea air. We walked through a series of three hatches that took us to a deck directly over the ocean and under the flight deck. It…
You wouldn't think that diving for lobsters could lead to bedsores -- but it can if you don't take precautions while diving and end up paralyzed. Navy Commander David Damstra explains how military…
To most Americans, the vet is the doctor who cares for family pets. But in poor countries like those the USS Kearsarge will visit in Latin America, the vet can be key to keeping families fed. Cmdr…
It's no coincidence that the USS Kearsarge deployed to Latin America for Operation Continuing Promise in the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season. Cmdr. David Damstra said the ship wants to be…
A blogger asked that of Cmdr. David Damstra, head of the medical team on the USS Kearsarge. Damstra said private groups like Project Smile already do great work, but the Navy can help them -- and…
Cmdr. David Damstra, head of the medical team aboard the USS Kearsarge, explained how Operation Continuing Promise materialized. The planning for the joint humanitarian mission took months.
When the USS Kearsarge comes to port in Latin American countries between now and December, it will have plenty of people and an array of medical supplies to conduct Operation Continuing Promise.…
Word has it that the motto of military life is “hurry up and wait” After a couple of days aboard the USS Kearsarge, I certainly believe it -- but without the hurry up part. The bloggers onboard…
The USS Kearsarge has a gym equipped with all manner of equipment so the men and women aboard can stay in shape. And they do stay in shape. Just about everyone in uniform I’ve seen aboard this…
I mentioned the inter-service rivalry in passing once already. It has reared its ugly head at least one other time on this trip, not because of the diversity of people currently aboard the USS…
I missed the memo. It was an important memo, too -- the one to bloggers that said to be sure and bring shower shoes onto the USS Kearsarge. Apparently foot fungus , known as "jungle rot" in…