All Hands: SOY 2003 Northern exposure

TO A SAILOR, DEPLOYMENT USUALLY MEANS separation from friends and family, working "parties" and foreign destinations. But, for the 10 Sailors of the Year (SOY) and their guests selected for Morale, Welfare and Recreation's (MWR) "Alaskan Adventure" cruise, the only order was relax and have fun.

In seven days, these fortunate Sailors and guests visited three Alaskan ports: Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan; viewed two of the world's largest glaciers--Hubbard and Taku; enjoyed a helicopter tour over scenic mountain tops; and mushed a dog sled team across the Juneau Ice Field. For all this, a majority of the adventure took place underway.

Similar to most naval deployments, time in port was limited to a few precious hours due to the long transit between each destination. Yet, this is where any similarity to a typical deployment ended. Between stops, the luxurious cruise liner, Vision of the Seas, had numerous amenities to keep the Sailors and guests entertained. In the common areas, guests enjoyed a health club, two heated pools, a variety of duty-free shops, a stadium-seated theater with nightly shows, a formal dining room with full-length windows and all unobstructed view, and a casino and disco. In their private quarters, the Sailors were treated to an unfamiliar shipboard concept--space.

Instead of sleeping in open-bay berthing areas stacked with coffin racks and being assigned to cleaning details, these Sailors found themselves in private rooms with ocean views being pampered by the staff of Vision of the Seas.

"It's almost a sort of culture shock," explained Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (SS) Nicholas Wallace, USS Alaska's (SSBN 732) Junior Sailor of the Year (JSOY). "I actually couldn't sleep the first night because there was so much room. The space on a submarine is limited, but after awhile, you get used to the confined quarters. Here, I not only have a TV in my room, but I also have a private bath, a living room and a balcony!"

Other members of the group acclimated to the spacious state-rooms faster, but were equally amazed by the little extras.

Each member of the group received embroidered shirts, jackets and backpacks. Their brightly colored attire, along with the MWR-sponsored scavenger hunts and human bingo tournaments requiring them to interact with other shipboard vacationers, made the SOY group easily recognizable around the ship. On a daily basis, guests from around the world stopped someone from the group to thank them for their military service.

As if everyone wasn't enjoying the constant attention and labor-free week enough, the results of the chief's board arrived halfway through the vacation. When the results were announced, seven of the Sailors had been selected for advancement.

"This cruise has been non-stop exhilaration," said Melissa Lardie, wife of Signalman 1st Class (SW) Chris Lardie, SOY for USS Lake Champlain (CG 57). "It took away all the tension that had been underlying [this cruise]. We thought for sure we would have to wait until the cruise was over to find out if Chris made chief."

The MWR coordinators couldn't have been happier at their guests' enjoyment. After all, that's their mission.

According to MWR Community ITT Program Manager and Cruise Coordinator Karen Fritz, "Alaska: A Navy Adventure" developed as part of MWR's Saluting Sailors and Their Families program which consisted of a series of contest tours and events to thank Sailors and their families for the sacrifices they've made since Sept. 11, 2001. Recognizing the SOYs and JSOYs through this program seemed only natural.

"The Navywide invitation to be a part of this cruise was open to all Sailors of the Year, Junior Sailors of the Year and Blue Jackets of the Year. Their commands simply had to contact our offices and put their names on the list," said Fritz. "We received close to 850 submission, but unfortunately, we can't take everyone."

From the names entered, 10 Sailors were ultimately selected through a random drawing and invited to bring a friend or family member along with them.

"This week has been amazing. Going on an all-expense paid cruise is wonderful, but being able to bring my sister along as well--that's the best part," said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class (AW/MTS) Jill Stack, SOY for Naval Air Reserve Force, Point Mugu, Calif., who brought her sister, Lisa. "This has been a pretty difficult year for her, so I'm glad she was able to relax and enjoy herself for a change."

As the week-long deployment drew to a close, the SOYs arranged to be part of the final show, where they saluted the Vision's crew on stage for the long hours and hard work each put in to make the cruise so memorable.

Before departing, the SOY group said their good-byes to one another and parted ways, returning to commands that are spread across the globe. However, they didn't leave empty handed. Besides the bags full of t-shirts and smoked salmon, they took home with them something more valuable than any souvenir--camaraderie.

"Don't get me wrong, the glaciers were cool, the clog mush and the helicopter ride were great," said Aviation Ordnancemen 2nd Class Douglas Kesterson, VFA-83 Naval Air Station Oceana's JSOY, (who brought along his command's SOY, Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class (AW) Rickey Hannon, as his guest). "But, mostly I enjoyed the friendships I've developed this week. Just hanging out with these folks has been the best part for me."

Lardie, shared Kesterson's sentiments. "I can't believe how easily we all bonded. Even though we all came from different backgrounds and areas, I think it was the common bond of being not only Sailors, but also being the best at our individual commands that drew us together."

Padluck is a photojournalist assigned to All Hands