TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. - Command Master Chief Petty Officer Leonard Eugene has had many significant moments in his 24 years of service with the United States Navy. Still, his proudest are those shared with his family.
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Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anna-Liesa Hussey, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
“My absolute proudest moment that will resonate with me for the rest of my life was on April 13, 2010,” said Eugene. "I was returning from a deployment and our ship was conducting a Tiger Cruise.”
A Tiger Cruise is the chance for family and friends of sailors to see up close what the United States Navy does on a daily basis by riding a ship at the end of a deployment. The ship pulls into a port, picks up the relatives or friends (the “Tigers”) and then everyone spends a few days aboard the sea-going vessel.
“Children younger than eight are not allowed aboard a Tiger Cruise,” said Eugene. “On April 12, my daughter was seven and on April 13, she was eight.”
She just made the cut off.
“Once everyone had boarded, the captain of the ship called everyone to attention: the crew, the families, the friends,” said Eugene. “He spoke about the work and accomplishments of the sailors over their 10-month deployment. Then he said, ‘It’s my friend’s birthday. I want everyone to sing to her,’ and he called my daughter to the front. It was one of those tear jerker moments. It made me realize that the Navy not only has the power to be a show of force; it has the power to be a show of compassion. Even as the commanding officer, our captain's compassion was there.”
Twelve years later, Eugene is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission at Strategic Communications Wing One (STRATCOMMWING ONE). Its TACAMO ("Take Charge and Move Out") mission provides airborne communication links to nuclear missile units of U.S. Strategic Command.
The Navy's presence aboard an Air Force base in the middle of America may seem like an odd location given its distance from any ocean; however, the central location allows for the deployment of aircraft to both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico on a moment’s notice. This quick response is key to the success of the nuclear deterrence mission.
The Navy command consists of a Wing staff, the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, and three Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons: The "Ironmen" of VQ 3, the "Shadows" of VQ 4 and the “Roughnecks” of VQ 7.
STRATCOMMWING One employs more than 1,300 active-duty sailors and 100 contractors to provide maintenance, security, operations, administration, training and logistic support for the Boeing E-6 Mercury aircraft fleet, an airborne command post and communications relay based on the Boeing 707.
Their mission stems from the original 1961 Cold War order known as ‘Take Charge and Move Out!’ Adapted as TACAMO and now the command’s nickname, the men and women of TACAMO continue to provide a survivable communication link between national decision makers and the nation’s nuclear weapons.
The commander-in-chief issues orders to members of the military who operate nuclear weapons aboard submarines, aircraft or in land-based missile silos. Sailors aboard TACAMO E-6 Mercury aircraft provide the one-of-a-kind and most-survivable communication needed for this critical mission.
Eugene, a Shreveport, Louisiana, native and 1996 Booker T. Washington High School graduate, joined the Navy for the opportunities the military provides.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to have a career and to seek out challenging experiences,” said Eugene.
To this day, Eugene still thinks about the lessons his parents taught him back in his hometown of Shreveport.
“Growing up in my hometown, my mom and my dad taught me hard work and consistency,” said Eugene. "They also taught me to keep an open mind to everything. Hard work and consistency played a major role in my advancing in rank to where I am now."
Eugene had the chance to put those words to action while partaking in humanitarian efforts during Hurricane Katrina.
“In 2005, I was part of the relief efforts to the people of New Orleans,” said Eugene. “That was especially rewarding because my dad, who was working for the city of Shreveport, and my brother, who was the Lafayette sheriff, were also both involved. Having the whole family work together on that means so much to me.”
Serving in the Navy means Eugene not only gets to assist with humanitarian efforts, but he is also part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy contributes to the National Defense Strategy more than any other service,” said Eugene. "We're always a moment's notice away from the action. We can get closer to any adversary that may want to cause harm than anyone else because we're a base in the middle of the ocean. From sea, land and air we are a show of force that lets all other nations know we are prepared to protect and defend."
As Eugene and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“To me, the Navy means security for my family,” added Eugene. "They can sleep well at night because of the work we do.”
A Tiger Cruise is the chance for family and friends of sailors to see up close what the United States Navy does on a daily basis by riding a ship at the end of a deployment. The ship pulls into a port, picks up the relatives or friends (the “Tigers”) and then everyone spends a few days aboard the sea-going vessel.
“Children younger than eight are not allowed aboard a Tiger Cruise,” said Eugene. “On April 12, my daughter was seven and on April 13, she was eight.”
She just made the cut off.
“Once everyone had boarded, the captain of the ship called everyone to attention: the crew, the families, the friends,” said Eugene. “He spoke about the work and accomplishments of the sailors over their 10-month deployment. Then he said, ‘It’s my friend’s birthday. I want everyone to sing to her,’ and he called my daughter to the front. It was one of those tear jerker moments. It made me realize that the Navy not only has the power to be a show of force; it has the power to be a show of compassion. Even as the commanding officer, our captain's compassion was there.”
Twelve years later, Eugene is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission at Strategic Communications Wing One (STRATCOMMWING ONE). Its TACAMO ("Take Charge and Move Out") mission provides airborne communication links to nuclear missile units of U.S. Strategic Command.
The Navy's presence aboard an Air Force base in the middle of America may seem like an odd location given its distance from any ocean; however, the central location allows for the deployment of aircraft to both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico on a moment’s notice. This quick response is key to the success of the nuclear deterrence mission.
The Navy command consists of a Wing staff, the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, and three Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons: The "Ironmen" of VQ 3, the "Shadows" of VQ 4 and the “Roughnecks” of VQ 7.
STRATCOMMWING One employs more than 1,300 active-duty sailors and 100 contractors to provide maintenance, security, operations, administration, training and logistic support for the Boeing E-6 Mercury aircraft fleet, an airborne command post and communications relay based on the Boeing 707.
Their mission stems from the original 1961 Cold War order known as ‘Take Charge and Move Out!’ Adapted as TACAMO and now the command’s nickname, the men and women of TACAMO continue to provide a survivable communication link between national decision makers and the nation’s nuclear weapons.
The commander-in-chief issues orders to members of the military who operate nuclear weapons aboard submarines, aircraft or in land-based missile silos. Sailors aboard TACAMO E-6 Mercury aircraft provide the one-of-a-kind and most-survivable communication needed for this critical mission.
Eugene, a Shreveport, Louisiana, native and 1996 Booker T. Washington High School graduate, joined the Navy for the opportunities the military provides.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to have a career and to seek out challenging experiences,” said Eugene.
To this day, Eugene still thinks about the lessons his parents taught him back in his hometown of Shreveport.
“Growing up in my hometown, my mom and my dad taught me hard work and consistency,” said Eugene. "They also taught me to keep an open mind to everything. Hard work and consistency played a major role in my advancing in rank to where I am now."
Eugene had the chance to put those words to action while partaking in humanitarian efforts during Hurricane Katrina.
“In 2005, I was part of the relief efforts to the people of New Orleans,” said Eugene. “That was especially rewarding because my dad, who was working for the city of Shreveport, and my brother, who was the Lafayette sheriff, were also both involved. Having the whole family work together on that means so much to me.”
Serving in the Navy means Eugene not only gets to assist with humanitarian efforts, but he is also part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy contributes to the National Defense Strategy more than any other service,” said Eugene. "We're always a moment's notice away from the action. We can get closer to any adversary that may want to cause harm than anyone else because we're a base in the middle of the ocean. From sea, land and air we are a show of force that lets all other nations know we are prepared to protect and defend."
As Eugene and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“To me, the Navy means security for my family,” added Eugene. "They can sleep well at night because of the work we do.”