USNS COMFORT
“Care of the Sick on the Sea” The USNS COMFORT started life as a super oil tanker named the SS Rose City in 1976. This is a violation of privacy.
By 1987 the ship was bought by the US Navy and converted into the USNS Comfort, the second of two Mercy-Class Hospital Ships. The USNS COMFORT has served in such missions as the Terror attacks on 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the devastating 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti. The crew consists of approximately 60 permanent crew members, the rest of approximant 1000 crew members come from 10 commands f
rom around the Navy. When called into action the USNS COMFORT can be activated and leave port in 5 days. But, has done it in as little as 24 hours. The USNS Comfort is a unique ship with a unique mission. Welcome to the USNS COMFORT'S Facebook Fan Page! This page is intended to provide updated information and discussion on the USNS Comfort. Please visit our official homepage at http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnscomfort/Pages/default.aspx. While this is an open forum, it's also a family friendly one, so please keep your comments and posts clean. In addition to keeping it family friendly, we ask that you follow our posting guidelines here. Comments and posts that do not follow these guidelines will be removed:
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Operating as usual
Today marks the 20th anniversary since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) spent 56 days in the Arabian Gulf treating 300 outpatients and 360 inpatients; most with combat-related injuries in Iraq. The casualties included U.S. troops, Iraqi civilians and Iraqi prisoners of war. The first two patients arrived March 22, 2003.
Photos from Military Women's Memorial's post
Photos from U.S. Naval Institute's post
USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) would like to give a big thanks to Russell Wagenman, Fleet and Family Support Center NSA Hampton Roads, and Janelle Hazelton, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Norfolk, for supporting today's training! Their expertise and dedication to our Navy team is greatly appreciated!
🇺🇸 Today begins our celebration of ! ♀️
Lt. Cmdr. Amber Cowan (Top) was the first woman to serve as Executive Officer of a U.S. Navy Submarine.
ITSCM Angela Koogler (Top right) was the first woman to serve as chief of the boat; the senior enlisted advisor to the commanding and executive officers of a submarine.
Lt. Sabrina Reyes-Dods (Left) – Women in Submarines (WIS) Coordinator, responsible for the planning and ex*****on to integrate women onto submarines.
CSSC Dominique Saavedra (Bottom right) Was the first Enlisted woman to earn her “Dolphins,” or submarine warfare qualification.
Thank you to all our women who have served or are still serving, we salute you. 🫡
Take some time today to thank your dentist for healthy teeth and a great smile.
Since formalized as an official staff corps on March 3, 1871, the men and women of the Navy Medical Corps have continued to adapt to the times and answer the call. To all those who have served in the Medical Corps and the more than 4,200 Active Duty and Reserve Medical Corps Officers serving in 26 unique specialties today, thank you for your selfless service, professionalism, and dedication to your craft. Happy Birthday, 152nd Birthday!
Congratulations to Command Master Chief Brian "Tito" Santa Cruz, USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), on his promotion to Master Chief Petty Officer!
Family, friends, and the Comfort crew were on hand to witness the momentous occasion of his promotion to the Navy's highest enlisted rank! Special thanks to Force Master Chief Steven Bosco, Military Sealift Command (MSC), Command Master Chief Robert L. Barber Jr., USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Command Master Chief Eric Frank, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Yanda-Kalie State, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, and Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Malik White, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11.
As we continue to celebrate , we recognize CAPT Janet Days – who made history this month when she assumed the duties as Naval Station Norfolk's 51st commanding officer, becoming the first African-American woman to command the world’s largest naval base in its 106-year history.
“I wandered down the halls of (the) headquarters where my office resides and took note of the majestic pictures and leadership boards displaying the previous commanding officers of Naval Station Norfolk ... As my eyes moved from name plate to name plate, it was painfully obvious that in 31 years from the day I entered the Navy, still not one person of color was displayed. And finally today, that changes,” Days said, Feb. 3, 2023.
Days, a Chicago-native, graduated from Old Dominion University in 1999 with a bachelor of science in business, summa cm laude. She also holds a master of business administration from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a graduate of the Joint and Combined Warfighting School at Joint Forces Staff College.
Her sea assignments include tours aboard the USS Simon Lake; USS Mahan and USS Forrest Sherman as engineer officer. Additionally, Days completed two deployments, one to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to conduct theater security cooperation and a subsequent deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility to conduct counter-narcotics operations.
Days went on to serve as the Destroyer Squadron 28 material officer and staff director embarked aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, where she completed two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Days also served as the executive officer and commanding officer of USS McFaul.
A deployment took Days to Kabul, Afghanistan as the Joint Staff, J7 liaison officer to the International Security Assistance Force headquarters.
Following a tour as the executive officer of Surface Warfare Schools Command in Newport, Rhode Island, Days was appointed Naval Station Norfolk’s executive officer in 2021. She is also the first Black woman to hold that position.
To read more of Capt. Days’ story:
https://www.pilotonline.com/military/vp-nw-navy-norfolk-20230203-dd6mmifak5hhxmeb5y7fgvby3u-story.html
To learn more about how MyNavy HR’s N17 Office works to ensure all Sailors have the opportunity to succeed in today’s Navy, visit:
https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/
From work/life balance and family planning to retention and inclusion – If you voiced it in the Health of the Force Survey for 2022, Navy leaders heard you! 📢
The U.S. Navy published the results from the Health of the Force Survey. The report captures the voices of the fleet on issues that impact Sailors and their families, which helps to focus fleetwide efforts to advance our Navy culture. You can view the full report here:https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Reference/Publications/CY2022_HOF_FINAL_8_Feb_23.pdf
All Hands Magazine
As we continue to celebrate , we recognize trailblazer retired FLTCM April Beldo.
Beldo was the first of many Navy achievements: the first African-American woman to become Command Master Chief (CMC) of Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes; the first African-American woman CMC of an aircraft carrier; the first woman and African-American Force Master Chief for Naval Education and Training Command; and the first woman and African-American Fleet Master Chief for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education.
Talk about making HISTORY❗❗
Beldo enlisted in the Navy in 1983. Her initial plan was to serve four years, learn self-discipline, save money and then return to college. Little did she know that from the day she stepped off the bus at Recruit Training Center in Orlando, Florida, that her career would span more than three decades and break numerous barriers.
Beldo, who retired Jan. 18, 2017 after 34 years, said she wants to be remembered as more than the first African-American woman to hold certain positions. She also wants to be remembered as a good Sailor, a good master chief: "If you can look somebody in the eye and you can say when you think of Master Chief Beldo, 'Fair, consistent, honest, knew what the Navy core values meant and practiced the core attributes,' that's all I want."
How has FLTCM's story inspired your story? Let us know in the comments ⬇️
To learn more about the historical contributions of African Americans in the Navy:
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/diversity/african-americans.html
To learn more about how MyNavy HR’s N17 Office works to ensure all Sailors have the opportunity to succeed in today’s Navy, visit:
https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/21st-Century-Sailor/
Oversight Hearing - Quality of Life in the Military
House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies(EventID=115365)
USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) crew and guests came together last Friday, February 24 for the Comfort Holiday Party - this year's theme: Mardi Gras! The event was a great opportunity to celebrate one another and highlight the many accomplishments achieved over this past year! The energy and enthusiasm made the evening a memorable one. Here's to a great team and a great year ahead!
The USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) welcomed over 100 Sailors from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth for Comfort Day 2023. Officers and Enlisted Sailors newly platformed to Comfort spent the day learning about shipboard operations, departmental familiarization, as well as completing basic safety courses, all in preparation for future activation and mission assignments!
Today we welcomed Rear Admiral Douglas Verissimo, the U.S. Fleet Forces Command Director of Maritime Operations and gave him a tour of our beautiful ship.
The USNS Comfort would like to thank United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Sen. Tim Kaine, representing the commonwealth of Virginia, and Adm. Daryl Caudle, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command for coming aboard and touring the MTF!
As deployment ends, we have a very big update for you! We have news on scheduled return to homeport. As it stands, you can expect to see the ones you love some time between 1030 and 1200 on December 21st! Please reach out to your person onboard or our Ombudsman to get details on base access. As always, the tides and weather get a vote. However, fingers crossed, we will see you on Pier 1 on Naval Station Norfolk on the 21st!! We can't contain our excitement!!
Photos from Continuing Promise's post
Photos from Continuing Promise's post
Photos from Continuing Promise's post
🗣 “It’s been more than I had envisioned it to be; the lives that we’ve been touching, the many medical interventions we were able to offer the locals, just the smiles that we put on each patient’s face - is more than what anyone could ask for.”
👨 Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Lou-Shane Daley
🌎 St. Catherine, Jamaica
📰 HM3 Daley, originally from Jamaica, migrated to the U.S. in his mid-twenties and has now been in the U.S. Navy for about two years. He is now aboard USNS COMFORT, providing medical support for 2022. The purpose of is to provide medical assistance, including medical, surgical, dental, and optometry services, as well as veterinary services, demonstrating U.S. support and commitment to our partners in Central and South America and the Caribbean. The mission further strengthens U.S. partnerships with partner nations, improve our collective capacity to respond in support of medical assistance and disaster relief in the region, and provide an invaluable opportunity to learn from partner nations.
“Ha sido más de lo que yo había visualizado que podía ser; las vidas que hemos tocado, tantas intervenciones médicas que pudimos ofrecer a los locales, tan solo las sonrisas que pusimos en cada una de las caras de los pacientes-es mucho mas de lo que cualquiera hubiera pedido”
Daley, originalmente de Jamaica, emigró de los Estados Unidos a mediados de sus veinte y lleva en el U.S.Navy alrededor de 2 años. Al momento es parte del USNS Comfort, ayudando como parte de 2022. El propósito de La Promesa Continua 2022 es proveer asistencia médica, incluyendo medicina, cirugía, dentista, y servicios de optometría, así mismo como servicio veterinario, demostrando el soporte y el compromiso de los Estados Unidos con nuestros compañeros en América Central, Suramerica y el Caribe. La misión es fortalecer la cooperacion de parte de los Estados Unidos con las naciones compañeras, mejorar nuestra capacidad colectiva para responder en soporte de asistencia médica y calma de desastre en la región, y proveer una invaluable oportunidad para aprender de las naciones compañeras.
U.S. Navy America's Navy Navy Medicine U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet
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Congrats to our newest 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class Petty Officers!
We're open for business!
The people you love doing the mission that counts!
Another reenlistment in the bag courtesy HSC-26!
"We're soaring! Flying!" Reenlisting midair, courtesy HSC-26!
Photos from Continuing Promise's post
Photos from Continuing Promise's post
We're on to the next stop!
Another successfully accomplished, life-changing surgery!
The ones you love out in the community of Tierra Bomba painting the musical school and enjoy a performance from the students!
A few members of the team who provide you with the photos of the ones you love! Follow the Continuing Promise 2022 page for regular updates
The Poppy flower is the national symbol of remembrance in Canada and is worn as a patch on the chest of Canadian Armed Forces from the last Friday of October until November 11th to remember the sacrifice of the Canadian veterans who fought in the first world war.
“…we take a moment of silence on the 11th of November at the 11th hour to thank all of the people who gave their lives for our rights and freedoms,” said CAF Cpl. Valerie Villeneuve.
In order to show support and observe Remembrance Day, a poem, citation, and moment of silence was shared with the personnel aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). Canada is one of seven nations aboard Comfort supporting Continuing Promise 2022 in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Seven members of the CAF contribute to Continuing Promise and are assigned to nursing, medical, dental, and surgical directorates.
“Canada has missed being on this mission” says Capt. Cleve Kim, CAF dentist. “We were all very eager and looking forward to it.”
Continuing Promise 2022 is a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission conducting direct medical care, expeditionary veterinary care, subject matter expert exchanges and has positively affected more people in our partner nations than any other U.S. Navy deployment in history.
Happy Birthday to the U.S. Marine Corps and our Marines on board! although we would love to be home and celebrating with you all, your Marines are at sea answering the call, as they have for the last 247 years
While in transit to our next mission stop, a few of the U.S. Marine Corps finest decided they would share their MCMAP skills with some of the ambitions members of the crew!
...and yes. We will be celebrating a birthday here shortly. Standby for photos ;)
Building relationships with the communities we are serving is a HUGE part of the mission. Here are a few shots from our volunteer events with the children in Guatemala. The crew and U.S. Fleet Forces Band put a lot of smiles on faces 🥹
As most know, we provide a lot of medical care at our sites during these mission stops. What you might not know is we also focus heavily on subject matter expert exchanges. What does that mean? Well, we send our humble professionals in country to meet with their counterparts from the host nation in order to exchange best practices and help each other build new techniques. Here are some photos from our Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief exchanges in Guatemala.
We know we owe you some photos. Please accept the posts over the next few hours as we attempt to get caught up on the updates from our first two mission stops. Our IT team have been moving mountains to make sure we can keep you all in touch with your people on board you love.
Pictured below are a few selects from our mission stop in Guatemala. We did some great work at the medical site and providing high quality care.
We're off to the next port! Standby for more pics of the ones you love!
Naval Station Norfolk
Norfolk, VA
23502
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U.S. Navy HM3 Fulton is a radiographic technologist aboard USNS Comfort. He takes pictures using a CT machinine and x-ray machine. U.S. Northern CommandCommander, U.S. 2nd FleetU.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command
Joe Watts is the Chief Engineer aboard U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command's Comfort. He makes the ship move. U.S. Navy U.S. Northern Command Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet
HN Ellis gives us a tour of the pharmacy aboard the USNS Comfort.
Sometimes the best medicine is some good grub! U.S. Navy HN Murphy ensures USNS Comfort patients receive quality meals to help them heal while aboard the ship. U.S. Northern Command Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command
U.S. Navy HM3 Wright walks you through 1 of the 8 wards aboard the USNS Comfort. U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, U.S. Northern Command
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Yazici ensures everyone is wearing the right protective equipment the right way to ensure everyone's safety!
21 days in NYC and U.S. Navy Sailors aboard Comfort have treated over 170 patients!
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Malcolm Burts, a surgical technologist from Yonkers, New York works aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). Comfort is working with Javits New York Medical Station as an integrated system to relieve the New York City medical system, in support of U.S. Northern Command's Defense Support of Civil Authorities as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
#USNSComfort team member bakes a cake for the #USNavy and #Jamaica partnership ceremony.
#USNSComfort team member bakes a cake for the #USNavy and #Jamaica partnership ceremony.
#Comfort arrived in #Manta Ecuador for its first medical stop during #COMFORT2019 check it out! #MaritimeForce #EstamosUnidos
Have you ever wondered how two highly caffeinated news anchors run a news broadcast? Well ladies and gentlemen, if you have, you're in luck with this exclusive USNS Comfort update!
Norfolk Department of Emergency Preparedness
E Virginia Beach BoulevardBravo Battery 1st 111th FA "Steel Rain"
E Virginia Beach Boulevard1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th I
E Virginia Beach BoulevardNorfolk State University Police Department
Corprew AvenueUS Army Recruiting - Norfolk Company
E Virginia Beach BoulevardU.S. Army Recruiting Station Norfolk, VA
E Virginia Beach BoulevardNavy Recruiting Station Norfolk
East Virginia Beach BoulevardNorfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Poplar Hall Drive
Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer
Front Street
U.S. Army Recruiting Station Little Creek, VA
E Little Creek Road
Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads
Blandy Road
NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT)
Blandy Road
Civil War Navy Sesquicentennial
Waterside Drive
US Army Recruiting - Norfolk Company
E Virginia Beach Boulevard
U.S. Coast Guard Force Readiness Command
E. Main Street