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Norfolk-based USS Monterey named best surface ship in Navy

The guided-missile cruiser's crew received the Arizona Memorial Trophy. The award recognizes the best-performing, combat-ready crew among surface ships.

NORFOLK, Va. — The crew of USS Monterey (CG 61) was recognized for its outstanding performance and readiness on January 30 during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

Director, Navy Staff, Mr. Andrew Haeuptle presented the USS Arizona Memorial Trophy on board the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser.

The trophy is awarded every two years to the best-performing, combat-ready crew among ships of the surface force with primary missions in strike warfare, surface fire support, and anti-surface warfare. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) said that the in May that the Monterey earned the distinction for 2017-2018.

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“If you have your back against the wall, you want the best and toughest there with you,” said Haeuptle. “This ship and this crew are that and I cannot wait to see what the future of this crew is.”

The CNO said throughout 2017 and 2018, Monterey showed "superb combat readiness" in its operational readiness, operational performance, and miscellaneous achievements contributing to readiness.

“This award is only made possible by those on the deckplates,” said Capt. Anthony Littmann, Monterey commanding officer. “Along with our other awards, this will be placed on the mess decks where it belongs. There it will be a reminder of what this crew has done right and will continue to do.”

Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Milham, U.S. Navy
Director, Navy Staff, Mr. Andrew Haeuptle presents the USS Arizona Memorial Trophy to Capt. Anthony Littmann, commanding officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61), during a ship tour. The USS Arizona Memorial Trophy recognizes Monterey's exemplary combat readiness.

Monterey was the first ship ordered to surge deploy as part of the Optimized Fleet Readiness Program (OFRP), with less than 48 days’ notice. It executed and achieved mission success deploying to Fifth and Sixth Fleets from October 2017 to May 2018. 

Monterey maintained operational readiness and received her fourth consecutive Retention Excellence Award in 2018, the Secretary of the Navy Energy Excellence Award for fiscal year 2018, and numerous command excellence awards in 2017.

RELATED: USS Monterey returns home after seven-month deployment

She executed more than 90 Tier-One Tomahawk Land Attack Missile strike scenarios and established herself as the premier firing unit in the Navy and during Operation Steadfast Protector, led coalition strike operations against chemical weapons research, production, and storage sites in Syria in the absence of a carrier strike group. 

“From returning after deployment to the maintenance and getting back on the waterfront, the crew has maintained its’ initiative and integrity,” said Lt. Cmdr. Zach Holliday, Monterey combat systems officer. “That is what I think will carry the team on to do more great things for the Navy.”

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