USS Louisiana SSBN 743 (G)

The Louisiana Lookout Newsletter

March 2012

Letter from the CO

LOUISIANA Gold Families, It is great to be back, even if we did bring snow back with us! Im sure you have all enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with your sailor. The crew performed well and overcame many challenges. We routinely run drills and simulate casualties caused by equipment that breaks, and during our short patrol the ship ran a few drills on us. The crew responded quickly and worked tirelessly to restore every system before there was an impact on the ships mission. Despite not having operated for an extended period at sea in almost 12 months, the LOUISIANA provided strategic deterrence for our nation with the highest standard of readiness possible. You can be proud of the part you and your sailor played in getting this powerful warship back to work performing her mission! This is my last letter to you as Commanding Officer, USS LOUISIANA (GOLD). Julie and I enjoyed our time working with the outstanding support many of you provided the crew. On March 16 at 10 AM CDR Rob Peters will relieve me during a ceremony at the Keyport Submarine Museum Auditorium. I encourage you to attend and welcome CDR Peters and his wife, Sarah, onto the LOUISIANA team. Joe Turk Commanding Officer USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743)(G)

Contact Information

COMMANDING OFFICER: CDR Joe Turk

EXECUTIVE OFFICER: LCDR Keith Floyd CHIEF OF THE BOAT: MMCM (SS/SW) Dave Janowski COMMAND SUPPORT TEAM COs Wife Julie Turk (360) 830-0481 joeturk@aol.com XOs Wife Jennifer Floyd jwfloyd13@yahoo.com COB'S Wife Allison Janowski (360) 550-4092 allijanowski@gmail.com Ombudsmen: Shiloh E. Mahmood 360-598-0587 (H) 860-218-5001 (M)
ombud743gold@yahoo.com

Stacie Hall 360-689-2662 (M) 843-437-4263 (M)

ombud743gold@yahoo.com

March Events COBs Corner

LOUISIANA Gold Families, LOUISIANAs patrol was marked with many successes, qualifications, and increased professional development. We had the opportunity to excel during a Mini-Demonstration and Shakedown Operation where MT2 Traux and MT3 Eis where both called out for their technical excellence. Missile Division, ships control teams, and efforts ship wide proved how well we can execute our mission and just how knowledgeable our men are. We also had the opportunity to exercise our Engineering Department with an inspection where they performed well in all areas. Every Sailor onboard is an integral part of LOUISIANAs success and we all should be justifiably proud. Inspections aside, qualifications were abundant. We had eight men qualify Submarines, they are: HM1 Humaran, ET3 Jessurun, STSSN Santos, MT3 Stich, ET2 Turpin, STSSN Wedgewood, ET3 Winn, and MT3 Wyant. This accomplishment is a milestone in each of our careers, if you get the chance to congratulate any of these men, please do. We have also had several new crew-members check onboard, they are: LT Fike, MTCS Hallwirth ET3 Jones, FTSN Rosado, and MMFN Penaayala. Congratulations to MM3 Branfoot and his wife Michelle on the birth of their son and EM2 Guzman and his wife Lisa and the birth of their daughter. Welcome to the LOUISIANA family. As we enter our Pre-Deployment Training Period, I encourage each of you enjoy the time ashore. The opportunities that the Pacific Northwest offers are abundant. Our Family Readiness Group and Ombudsman are always seeking additional assistance, if you would like to lend some of your time, it would greatly benefit the ship and those who serve onboard. Looking ahead, our leave period is right around the corner, enjoy it, you have earned it. Finally, I would like to wish Fair winds and Following seas to MTC Nunez and his family as they departed for their next duty station in Pearl Harbor, HI and MM2 Fenton and his family as they depart for Naval Submarine School, in Groton CT. CMDCM Dave Janowski Chief of the Boat USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743)(G)

March 11th March 17th March 20th

Daylight Savings Time begins St. Patricks Day First Day of Spring

Happy Birthday!
Ann Daly Edward K Floyd II Rachel Grace Floyd Keith Hagenbrock Kathryn Hanson Crystalee Kinkaid Andrew Martindale Nicholas Otterbeck Nichole Paoli Kerri Miller-Topp

Happy Anniversary!
ET3 Akins and Felicia ETCS Jackson and Denise

Congratulations!

HM1 Humarang ET3 Jessurun STSSN Santos MT3 Stich ET2 Turpin STSSN Wedgewood ET3 Winn MT3 Wyant

Welcome to the World!

Liam John Branfoot Born February 7th at 2:11 AM to MM3 Branfoot and Michelle

Melanie Jean Guzman Born February 27th at 9:23 PM to EM2 Guzman and Lisa

Congratulations to Crystal Gates winner of First Kiss!

Family Readiness Group

There will be no FRG Meeting for the month of March. The next meeting will be announced as soon as the information is available! Thank you to all the contributors and volunteers who made our Kids Event at the Imagination Station and our Valentines Dinner such a success! We had a great turnout and a ton of fun!

Congratulations to Gavin and Mathieu Rittenhouse winners of First Hug!

Welcome Home LOUISIANA!

Families welcome home their sailors!

The FRG kids event!

Enjoying conversation at the FRG Valentines Dinner

Babies at the Imagination Station!

Christy Zaccardi and Miranda Tagaloa raffle off some fabulous gifts!

The kids had a great time!

Tons of gifts, everyone went home with a prize!

111th Enlisted Submarine Birthday Ball

April 14 at Sheraton Seattle. Guest Speaker: Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West Parking at the Sheraton is very expensive! If you do not wish to drive, there will be a shuttle from the Inside Out Caf to bring you to the Ferry. The Sheraton is a short walk from the ferry terminal. There are 150 rooms reserved at the Sheraton for a reduced rate! Reserve your room at:
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/esbb2012

Change of Command Ceremony

Commander Joseph M. Turk will be relieved by Commander Robert E. Peters Friday, March 16th at 10 AM Naval Undersea Museum, Keyport, WA

Details are included at the reservation page. The rate is available until March 12, subject to availability.

TRICARE SERVICE CENTER HAS MOVED The TRICARE Service Center has moved to the Healthcare Business office spaces in Building 14. Building 14 can be accessed directly from the Mount Adams parking lot or by walking across the pedestrian walkway on the 3rd floor of the hospital (outside of OB/GYN).

2011 FBM Dates (Boomer Letter) If you need a copy of the 2011 FBM dates for your taxes, please let the Ombudsmen know and we can email a copy to you!

ID/CAC Card Appointment If you need a new ID or have business in DEERS, avoid the long line at PSD! Make an appointment here.

March 2012

Quick Links to Remember

www.myffr.navyaims.com www.militaryonesource.com www.navylifepnw.com http://www.gocompass.org/kitsap.html

Ombudsman Contact Information: ombud743gold@yahoo.com

To keep current crew members and their families updated on boat information as well as local events, please "Like" the Command page: "USS Louisiana (SSBN-743G)". If you would also like to be able to contact the Ombudsmen via Facebook, please feel free to add "Louisiana Gold Ombudsman" to your Friends List.

Shiloh E. Mahmood 360-598-0587 (H) 860-218-5001 (M)

Stacie Hall 360-689-2662 (M) 843-437-4263 (M)