Los Angeles Fleet Week Wrap-Up

Lt. Zachary Budda and his trusty companion “Nelly” who visited Vinson as part of the USO presence for Fleet Week.

USS Carl Vinson Carrier cake. Photo by Lt. Zachary Budda.

Moored, Shift Colors

America’s Favorite aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) hosted the city of Los Angeles for fleet week, May 21-27. Not only did Vinson Sailors reach out into the community, participating in multiple outreach programs, but also hosted over 16,000 civilians and distinguished guests. Bringing almost 90,000 tons of American democracy to the shores of Los Angeles (LA) was no easy feat and took the effort of all departments aboard Vinson as well as representatives of the squadrons of CARRIER AIR WING TWO who coordinated static aircraft displays for the public.

Reception Success

Vinson’s Food Service Division had the pleasure of hosting more than 300 visitors to officially kick off LA Fleet Week. Vinson’s superb S-2 team put on a show for COMMANDER, THIRD FLEET, COMMANDER, 1st MARINE EXPITIONARY FORCE, CARRIER STRIKE GROUP ONE, and other distinguished guests. The Food Service Division received high praise by all attendees and the reception was a complete success.

Expeditionary Sustainment Exercise

Vinson’s Materiel Division (S-8) proved why they are America’s favorite S-8 division by providing proof of concept for the versatile receipt of materiel and resupply via the port of Los Angeles. S-8, one of the pillars of the Supply Department, handles the coordination of delivery and receipt of all materiel received aboard the ship along with the ship’s inventory of consumable materiel.

Vinson received 54 pallets of food, 20 pallets of general stock, three pallets of critical CASREP materiel, and one 414 engine canister. They also offloaded 29 pallets of materiel to be disposed of via the ship’s shore based team. Vinson’s S-8 team brought aboard all materiel expeditiously and safely while managing all shipboard rigging for crane operations. Without the versatility and the expert training of our Sailors, Vinson would not be able to complete her missions while in port or underway!

By proving that a large surface combatant such as Vinson can be successfully resupplied at a non-Navy port, we further emphasized the flexibility and innovation in logistics that the Navy and Vinson prides itself on.