Farragut On Maiden Deployment

As Farragut's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Scott Dugan has the honor of leading this ship through its first deployment.

"Deploying is a significant event in any service member's career, but there is a significant amount of pride associated with being the first crew to deploy a ship," Dugan said. "A successful deployment will be an excellent opportunity to set the tone for Farragut's long career."

Farragut will have escort duty for USS George Washington (CVN-73) to its new homeport in Yokosuka, Japan. Due to the immensity of the aircraft carrier, George Washington is unable to transit through the Panama Canal, necessitating a transit around the entirety of South America.

The last carrier to embark upon this course for a homeport transition was the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), which maneuvered from its construction site in Newport News, Va., to its new home in San Diego, Calif., an endeavor conducted from May to August 2004.

During an earlier visit on board Farragut, Rear Adm. Phillip Cullom, Commander Strike Forces Group Eight, commented on this deployment's distinctiveness.

"UNITAS operations are frequent, yet a carrier only changes its homeport every four years or so. It is rare when these events coincide." Consequently, the work up cycle for such an illustrious and varied deployment was incredibly involved.

During Group Sail with the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, Farragut engaged in air defense exercises in preparation to become the Air Defense Coordinator (ADC) for the entire Strike Group.

"The role of the primary Air Defense Commander for an entire Carrier Strike Group is not a role usually delegated to AEGIS destroyers," according to assistant Air Defense Coordinator, Senior Chief Fire Controlman Jason Brock. "Due to their larger crew size and greater defensive capabilities, this distinction is normally reserved for the cruiser Navy. Farragut was chosen to fill that role despite these limitations."

Farragut's air defense team will be actively engaged in managing all air contacts through the entirety of its transit with Washington.

Similarly, the Partnership of the America's mission presents its own unique challenges. Numerous Community Relations (COMREL) projects will take place during Farragut port visits, involving a high level of operational support and management.

Additionally, exercises will be conducted with the Brazilian, Argentine, Chilean, Peruvian, and Panamanian Navies, not only to demonstrate U.S. naval prowess, but to embrace these nations as partners in the Global War on Terrorism and the continuing War on Drugs.

After Farragut detaches from escorting Washington and their Partnership of the America's tasking, Farragut will engage in counter-narcotic operations in support of Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) 2008 mission.

Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) scenarios were conducted during Group Sail in preparation for the types of situations Farragut's Vertical Boarding Search and Seizure (VBSS) will encounter during TSC.

Training during Group Sail consisted of everything from simple approach operations, compliant boardings in support of expanded MIO, and tensely escalated non-compliant boardings. What sets VBSS operations apart from is the generally unpredictable nature of boarding operations, as well as the opportunity to establish a rapport with local mariners.

This relationship is integral in obtaining information with regards to potential drug trafficking and establishing the U.S. naval presence as formidable yet benevolent.

The varied missions and tasks which Farragut will confront head on will be a test of the crew's stamina and resilience.