(Groveland Township resident Heather Ricksgers corresponded with The Citizen newspaper through a series of emails while on active duty aboard the USS George H.W. Bush deployed in the Middle East.)
By David Fleet
Editor
Heather Ricksgers remembers the early October autumn weather back home in Michigan.
‘It was 108 here yesterday’which felt cool compared to recent days,? she said. ‘As for the leaves changing, that must be nice’the sand is still brownish tan here, no change there.?
Ricksgers? eyewitness weather report describes the landscape of Bahrain, a small island country situated near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. The 23-year-old 2009 Holly High School graduate is aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W.Bush, where she serves as an Aviation Support Equipment Technician Third Class Petty Officer.
According to the Navy, the USS George H.W. Bush is a 1,092 feet long Nimitz Class aircraft carrier powered with two nuclear reactors’operational for more than 20 years without refueling. On board are about 90 fixed wing planes and helicopters supported by 2,400 air wing personnel. Earlier this month warplanes launched from USS George H.W. Bush were part the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
‘I am taking it all day by day,? she said. ‘However, I’m strongly considering making this a career. After two and a half years’so far it is the best decision I have made.?
Ricksgers? Navy career started at Great Lakes, Ill. from May-July 2012 for Navy training. She then moved to Pensacola, Fla. for Aviation, Support Equipment Technician ‘A? School from July-November 2012, and then Jacksonville, Fla. for Air Conditioning ‘C? School from November to February 2013. That same month she went onboard the USS George H.W. Bush at Norfolk, Va.
‘I feel very safe and secure out here, I’m not going to lie,? she said. ‘I decided to join the Navy and started the process (of joining) before telling anyone. I could see that I was at a stand still in Michigan and I wasn’t happy with that. Plus paying for college as I went was a killer. And on top of that, working. I miss things from home, sure, family and friends’but a lot of my friends after graduating high school, all moved and went different ways.?
‘My whole time here on the USS George H.W. Bush has been ‘Sea Duty,? however this is my first deployment,? she said. ‘When I got here we were going out to sea for a week or two at a time. In August 2013 we went out for a month to do ‘Carrier Quals,? the out for a week or two at a time, then a month again in November 2013, taking us to deployment on Feb. 15, 2014. So far on this deployment we have visited Greece, Turkey, Bahrain and Dubai.?
According to the US Navy, there are about 3,200 personnel onboard that maintain the ship. The purpose of Carrier Quals or carrier qualifications is to give pilots an opportunity to develop fundamental skills of landing on a moving ship.
‘At first it was a huge culture shock,? she said. ‘I live in a berthing with about 44 females, the head has three showers, four toilets, and four sinks for about 80 females. Then I work with about 60 men and woman in the Ground Support Equipment shop.?
‘Since I was little I always took note of females pulling the ‘female card? and men having to take on the job and I decided that I never wanted to be like that,? she said. ‘When I first got to the ship and we had to move our support equipment around in the hangar bay I noticed that the guys would always take my spot or ask for help and look over me when I offered. That was the most nerve-wracking thing ever. So I changed it. When they came to take something from me I wouldn’t let them, or when they asked for help instead of saying I would help, I just walked out and helped. It didn’t take long to earn the respect from them. Men respect the females out here and vica- versa, as long as the drive to work hard and the motivation is there.?
Life on the USS Bush has become routine, added Ricksgers.
‘I work nights right now when we are out to sea, so I wake up at about 5 p.m., get ready, we muster for work at 6:45 p.m. then FOD walkdown at 7 p.m.?
The Foreign Object Damage, or FOD walkdown, is when the crew stands shoulder to shoulder and walks down the flight deck from bow to stern. The purpose is to find a tiny screw, a missing bolt, a scrap of metal wire, or any foreign object on the flight deck that may get sucked into the jet engines causing damage.
Since Ricksgers is on a ship with limited space, exercise is a key part of the daily routine.
‘Some Sundays I wake up around 3:30 p.m. to go run on the flight deck,? she said. ‘That is surprisingly very relaxing, even when it was 130 degrees outside. The day to day changes depending on what is happening and what is not (happening) but in general the days are very routine. Still, boring is never an issue. I can make every and anything entertaining and I am always making people smile and laugh. Although sometimes I think they laugh and think to themselves, ‘What the hell, is this girl serious?? But I’m alright with that, someone has to be the weirdo around here. And I happily volunteer.?
While serving halfway around the world, Ricksgers is not homesick. She recalls working with special needs children at a high school before joining the Navy.
‘I miss my kids from back home. Ok, they weren’t mine, but I will claim them any day of the week,? she said. ‘I miss them the most I’d say. They made me a slideshow and gave it to me right before I left for boot camp, I watch it at least once a week. But my life back home, I don’t so much miss. Plus, no time to be homesick, I’m always busy out here. I have never gotten seasick either and we have hit some pretty rough seas. It is, however, very entertaining to watch the people who do get seasick, but try to play it off as they just ate bad food.?
Heather is the daughter of Dale and Cindy Ricksgers of Groveland Township. She is the sister of Dustin Ricksgers.