A day in the life (SWOs in action)

091024-N-5319A-011 ATLANTIC (Oct. 24, 2009) Lt. Amy Heck takes her watch on the bridge of the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4) during a general quarters drill. Nassau is conducting a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is designed to provide realistic training environments for U.S. naval forces that closely replicate the operational challenges routinely encountered during military operations worldwide. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brien Aho/Released)

091007-N-5345W-121 SUEZ CANAL (Oct. 7, 2009) Ensigns Amee Johnson, left, and Judith Bates watch from the starboard bridge wing as the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) approaches the Egyptian-Japanese Friendship Bridge at El Qantara, Egypt, while transiting through the Suez Canal. Fort McHenry is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson/Released)

091014-N-1688B-024 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 14, 2009) Lt. j.g. Justin Short, from Kingsport, Tenn., looks over navigational charts with Quartermaster Seaman Apprentice Stephane Razoarreola, from Levern, Tenn., on the bridge of the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67). Cole is participating in Exercise Joint Warrior 09-2, a United Kingdom-led, multi-national exercise designed to improve interoperability between allied navies as well as to prepare for a role in combined operations during upcoming deployments. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Bookwalter/Released)

090811-N-2147L-002 BRIDGE CITY, La. (Aug. 11, 2009) Members of the dock landing ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) New York (LPD 21) repair division practice fighting fires at the Jefferson Parish Fire Training Center. The repair division is responsible for the ship damage control. PCU New York has 7.5 tons of World Trade Center steel in her bow. The New York is scheduled to be commissioned Nov. 7 in New York City. (U. S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Corey Lewis/Released)

090804-N-2452A-002 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 4, 2009) Ensign Christopher Ross, left, and Cmdr. Daniel Blackburn, commanding officer of the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) operate on the bridge wing during commanding officer/executive officer navigation training. Oak Hill is transiting home after completing operations with Southern Partnership Station 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kayla Aiman/Release)

090722-N-4124C-001 NORFOLK (July 22, 2009) U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen inspect bridge equipment aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) during their initial moments aboard the ship. A group of 13 midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy are aboard Normandy during the last phase of midshipmen participating in summer cruise throughout the fleet. The summer cruise exposes the midshipmen to a variety of platforms and operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Adam R. Cole/Released)

It was actually pretty unusual circumstances. Members of the USS Higgins precommissioning unit (PCU) served on two Coast Guard Cutters that came up short filling mission-critical billets for deployments to Europe and the Caribbean. The recognition was also for rendering assistance in preventive-maintenance to several Coast Guard cutters. This all occured before ship was commissioned.

100215-N-8335D-388 SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (Feb. 15, 2010) Lt. Tim Monipisey, left, a Sailor with the Royal Cambodian navy, exchanges warfare pins with Lt. j.g. Bradley Feige during a reception aboard the mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7). Patriot is on a five-month deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin/Released)

100310-N-7058E-054 CARIBBEAN SEA (March 10, 2010) Lt. Cmdr. Mark West stands the tactical action officer watch in the mission control center aboard the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1). Freedom is conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations and theater security cooperation in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

100310-N-7037C-040 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 10, 2010) Seaman Dante Prater, Engineman 3rd Class Christopher Jones and Boatswain's Mate Seaman James Back man the helm aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is underway off the coast of Argentina supporting Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Partnership of the Americas maritime engagement strategy to enhance regional stability and strengthen relationships among regional partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Megan L. Catellier/Released)

100310-N-6676S-044 SEKONDI-TAKORADI, Ghana (March 10, 2010) Quartermaster 2nd Class Kasey Henderson, left, from Lake City, Fla., and ship's navigator, Lt. j.g. Dan Ciullo, from Orlando, Fla., plot the course for the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) as it transits the channel for a port visit to Sekondi, Ghana. Gunston Hall is on a scheduled deployment in West Africa supporting Africa Partnership Station West, an international initiative developed by U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa to improve maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Stratton/Released)

100310-N-4774B-112 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 10, 2010) Quartermaster Seaman Apprentice Kimberly Ramirez, from Las Vegas, uses a slide rule to calculate chart measurements on the bridge of the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52). Bunker Hill is underway off the coast of Argentina supporting Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Partnership of the Americas maritime engagement strategy to enhance regional stability and strengthen relationships among regional partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released)

100308-N-7058E-084 COLON, Panama (March 8, 2010) Chief Hospital Corpsman Joseph Dennis, left, Lt. Todd Sehl and Cmdr. Randy Garner watch from the bridge of the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) as the ship enters the port of Colon, Panama, for refueling and stores replenishment. Freedom is conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations and theater security cooperation in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

100304-N-7058E-086 CARIBBEAN SEA (March 4, 2010) Bales of cocaine are stacked in the airborne mission zone aboard the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) after they were seized from a go-fast small boat. Freedom seized the vessel, five suspects and 1,506 kilos of cocaine during counter-illicit trafficking operations in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

100310-N-9094S-321 BUSAN, Republic of Korea (March 10, 2010) Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Fugate talks about Navy life with Republic of Korea navy Lt. Cmdr. Sang Ki Shin and Lt. Eui Sub Song aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Blue Ridge and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff are in Busan for Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010. The exercise is a routine, peninsula-wide interoperability exercise involving all branches of the U.S. military with combined and joint international forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brian A. Stone/Released)

100308-N-7948C-260 LAGOS, Nigeria (March 8, 2010) Capt. Cindy Thebaud, commander of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West, tours a navigation simulator at the Joint Maritime Training Center at Nigeria Naval Station Quorra. APS West is embarked aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and is an international initiative for U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security on the African continent. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Martine Cuaron/Released)

100308-N-5549O-175 ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 8, 2010) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus receives navigation instruction while taking the helm of a yard patrol craft at the U.S. Naval Academy. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien/Released)

100316-N-4774B-628 STRAIT OF MAGELLAN (March 16, 2010) Quartermasters aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) chart a course as the ship transits the Straight of Magellan. The strait is considered a challenging route to navigate because of unpredictable winds and currents, and the narrowness of the passage. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released)