The patrol has been long and the crew is more than ready to go back home when they are able. This past week included a short port call and then back out to sea. The crew has been hard at work for the last few months, and everyone is busy talking about their family and friends waiting for them and what they will do when they finally reunite.

Also, this week the crew participated in DC Olympics, an all-hands competition where the crew is divided up into numerous teams and they compete in various damage control evolutions. There were events involving pipe patching, donning firefighter equipment, dewatering a tub, using a fire hose to push a fender, and performing first aid on various simulated casualties. It was a tough competition, but in the end the Bridge team won it all!

In other news, congratulations to Frankie Villani on her promotion to FS3 and joining the ranks of a Petty Officer!

Photos

FN Dillon & GM2 Bravo blasting a fender with a fire hose

FS3 Young & ET3 Dix doing some last minute studying

Now FS3 Villani

Racing to dewater

IT3 Leavitt sawing some wood

It looks like FS3 Villani should be in pain but I guess HS1 Brockett has it under control

BM3 Haskell in some serious pain

MK2 Matthews, EM3 Simpson, and SN Houston after saving a BM3 Haskell's life

SN Carter pumped about DC Olympics

SN Irizarry, SN Ellis, ET2 Carter, OS3 Day, & IT3 Leavitt listening to some instructions

SN Vucetich, Gray, & Demetrius ready for some competition with SN Horabik & FS3 Hanks chilling out

The champs of DC Olympics...Bridge Team

SN Messick patching a pipe

FN Kelley & FN Barsness donning fire fighter gear as quickly as they can

OS2 Golphin most likely thinking of home

MK2 Bart and his red fire helmet