Long a skipper’s perk, the gig is going away

[CommunityEditor]

Carrier skippers are losing a traditional status symbol under a Navy directive issued in January. The captain’s gig, the motorboat set aside to ferry commanding officers to shore when their ships are anchored away from land, is being phased out of the fleet.

Under a directive issued by Naval Air Forces, all 11 carriers will be required to turn in their captain’s gigs before June 30, 2009. “Removal of the captain’s gig will reduce maintenance costs and free up valuable hangar bay space,” the message reads.

Admiral’s barges, another variety of boat traditionally carried aboard carriers, aren’t affected by the gig withdrawal. And captain’s gigs will stay aboard the amphibious assault ships and other surface ships that now carry them, said Cmdr. Jane Campbell, spokeswoman for Naval Surface Forces.

So far, three carriers — the Enterprise, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Carl Vinson — have turned in their boats, said Capt. Ted Carter, the Vinson’s commanding officer and head of the Navy’s Carrier Readiness Team. All three carriers are in port or being overhauled.

The motorboats, some of which have served as long as their host carriers and been continually refurbished, will go into storage until the Navy decides what to do with them.

The gig withdrawal is part of a larger Navy bid to economize carrier operations, Carter said, and reflects a long-standing reality that Navy ships contract with local tenders to ferry crew members at port calls. It has been decades since carriers carried enough of their own boats to transport crews back and forth, Carter said, or that a carrier captain could take out the launch for a carefree jaunt. Now in his 26th year in the Navy, Carter remembered riding locally contracted tenders to and from liberty during his first cruise aboard the carrier Midway

“It’s not just about saving money, it’s about taking a common sense approach to the way we do things. Look, these carriers were designed so many years ago,” — the Nimitz was commissioned in 1975 — “we take for granted what we were doing, because that’s just the way things were always done. The captain’s gig and the utility boats were a classic example of that,” Carter said.

But at least one former carrier skipper said removing the gigs sent a double-message, not just about new Navy economizing but also about U.S. sea power.

“A gig is not simply for transporting the captain back and forth to the ship. When our ships are in port overseas part of their mission is to show the flag, to increase understanding of the capabilities of our Navy, to generate respect and cooperation,” said retired Vice Adm. Diego Hernandez, former captain of the carrier John F. Kennedy. “Piling distinguished visitors to an aircraft carrier in the local rented ferry will not quite measure up to what the U S Navy should be able to offer.”

What’s more, the captain’s gig is a worthwhile perk for a carrier skipper, Hernandez said, “whose responsibilities are incomprehensible for officers who have not commanded one, and whose compensation is, to put it mildly, modest.”


Article: URL TBA


What do you think about captain's gigs being taken away?

[The Universal Curmudgeon_guest]

Carrier skippers are losing a traditional status symbol under a Navy directive issued in January. ...

Admiral’s barges, another variety of boat traditionally carried aboard carriers, aren’t affected by the gig withdrawal. And captain’s gigs will stay aboard the amphibious assault ships and other surface ships that now carry them, said Cmdr. Jane Campbell, spokeswoman for Naval Surface Forces.

...

The gig withdrawal is part of a larger Navy bid to economize carrier operations, ...

What do you think about captain's gigs being taken away?


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[EALYNCH]

This is just rediculous. How much could this possibly be saving the Navy in terms of operational costs? How often is the Captain's Gig even in use? I am a submariner, not a carrier sailor, so I really would not know. But as far as I am concerned, the Gig is basically like operating a medium sized civilian pleasure cruiser. I can see the economy of the hangar deck space savings, but it is not like we are going to save enough space to add another Hornet. I just don't understand this. Further, the prestige that will be lost when we have foreign Senior Naval Officers and dignitaries come aboard will be hard to measure.

Again, this is just plainly rediculous.

-EL

[Unregistered]

Another bites the Dust
Hi I use to be in the navy for a 20 year period when the navy wants to save money they end up
waisting more go fig what a gig really cost to use you can only paint and sand so much makes me wonder there is any boat left or gig for that matter the carrier spends a great chunk of time at sea anyway and rarely makes a port call let get real with the money it cost more to operate the naval airforce then a gig do that math dugh....

[Unregistered]

I would not really be too concerned about the Gig per se. It really only accommodated a very small number of personnel relative to the size of the warship. They are an anacronism almost from the days of sail. I am more concerned about losing a Force Protection asset. Replace the chug, chug, chug Gig with another small arms mounted RHIB for force protection. If getting rid of the Gig is such a budget saver why do amphibs etc still get to keep theirs?

Aussie LCDR!

[Unregistered]

I didnt see the point in having a "seperate boat" in the first place. In my opinion we are all a part of the same crew so therefore we should all ride the same damn liberty boats. I'm sure CO's will not have any less fun without out there precious old ass bass boats...lol

[Unregistered]

It's about time someone excercised some common sense. I can't say I am going to lose any frikin sleep over this. Officers have enough perks as it is. I sure noone takes away their servant boys and wardroom socials either.

[Unregistered]

The scope of responsibility for a carrier CO is more than I could ever comprehend. I think they deserve whatever perks the Navy has to offer, including the gig.

[Unregistered]

Greetings to all of my shipmates out there that remember life in the old Navy from almost forty years ago, the way that I remember it. I started on a 30'PBR in SE Asia and after my tour ended up, I was assigned to INDY in 1972. I started off as a cox'n on 50' ub's, 40'pb's and had some time at the helm of the gig, a wooden one at that until 1974. A time when we all had pride in our ships, our shipmates and our time honored duties. And all of those boats were our transporation to the beach and we never had to rely on hired contractors to ferry us back and forth. We were still in the US NAVY and we honored and respected the officers appointed to lead us. But that was then and times have certainly changed since I have retired fifteen years ago. I personally am very sorry to see a lot of the changes but happy to see some others. But to remove a tradition and certainly NOT A PERK from the ultimate sailor's sailor. Such a loss not only to the Captain, but to the men who serve under him when some foreign flagged "hey joe" skiff ferries him off after the announcement over the 1MC of "shipe name", departing and the OOD gives orders to "hey joe" boat to shove off and make fleet landing followed by a sharp salute. As for me, I'm a retired BM1 and was proud to serve. To all of the carrier skippers out there, sorry bout that but in my book, your still worthy of my salute.

[Unregistered]

One more Navy Tradition "Down the Drain"... The good thing is that it is not happening to the Chief's Community this time... Exactly why I got out when I did... I saw "Tradition" starting to slip when they started messing w/ CPO Initiations in 1990 (or so)... Removal of the CO's gig is plain ignorant... And to sell it off as a cost savings or a way to save space on an Aircraft Carrier just goes to show you how stupid "The Admiralty" thinks the rest of the Navy is...

[longarm45@yahoo.com]

save money? It's only one boat with one little diesel engine!
he'll just use a ship's helo! or charter a yacht, at 10 times the cost!
The Navy has ALWAYS tried to pack too many men, planes and equipment on all their ships, at the cost of habitability!
commander, us navy retired

[Unregistered]

Should save billions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[General]

This sadly does not surprise me. Since the Navy adopted the nonsensical strategy of running an armed force like a business, we keep losing important traditions and customs that can't be quatified in monetary terms. With the passage of time, the all-important line between the Officer Corps and elnlisted ranks continues to erode and this is a prime example. As officers we are now cramped into rented ferries to carry to and from liberty ports and soon Commanding and Flag Officers will also have to do so as well. This might come as a surprise to many, but BOQs are long gone and now even senior officers often-times share living spaces with junior enlisted. I am by no means implying we are "better" than the troops, not at all, but officers and enlisted should have their own separate places where they live, eat and have a chance to relax among thier peers. So what's next, no more wardrooms? Might as well, sinc ethe lifting of Title Ten restrictions, we've turned the navy into a social experiment, lowered standards, discipline is all but gone so why not just go all the way and unionize? It takes three years to build a ship, but three hundred to establish a tradition. It appears the Navy is going "Full Speed Ahead" in eradicating all vestiges of that important component of any armed force. I'm glad I retire this year.

[CGOWEN]

I was the JFK's First Lieutenant immediately before Vice Adm. Diego Hernandez assumed command. During my tenure, the ship deployed to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Perth, Australia. The first order of business at the onset of any port call was to get the Admiral's barge and Captain's gig in the water. This was not to get them off the ship for fun and games before the rest of the crew. It was to pick up dignitaries for a reception (dry) and tour of the ship. And, being The Kennedy, the ship attracted dignitaries like a very strong magnet. So, the VIPs would keep coming during the course of the port call and would range from Heads of State to the local mayor. Driving up to an aircraft carrier on a small boat for the first time is extremely impressive. Later on, we spent 56 days cutting circles in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Only we and the Russians knew we were there. I still believe to this day that we would have been more gainfully employed making more port calls and fewer circles. (The ship even spent two days essentially drifting as my men hung over the sides (and some very large sharks) painting the ship.)

If local ferries were not available (which was frequently the case back then in the early 80's), we would use my other seven boats to transport the liberty party to and from the ship. We would also use those boats or the ferries to bring "regular" visitors out to the ship. In Perth, we had a liberty party of about 3,500 and averaged about 3,000 visitors a day.

In Deck Department, I had 11 officers besides myself, 3 chief petty officers, and 145 men. Besides the boats, the department was responsible for the forecastle, ground tackle, replenishment equipment and events, bridge and lookout watches, 5 high-maintenance accommodation ladders, damage control equipment, cleaning over 100 compartments per day, the B&A crane, and painting the ship (inside and out). Today’s requirements for a CVN are 5 officers, 3 chiefs and 88 enlisted personnel. The only significant workload reduction that I can think of over the past 25 years has been the removal of most of the boats. Someone will now use the gig removal as an excuse to remove two Deck billets and one for the gig engineer. It’s no longer about diplomacy and force projection, it’s all about budget protection.

[Unregistered]

Greetings to all of my shipmates out there that remember life in the old Navy from almost forty years ago, the way that I remember it. I started on a 30'PBR in SE Asia and after my tour ended up, I was assigned to INDY in 1972. I started off as a cox'n on 50' ub's, 40'pb's and had some time at the helm of the gig, a wooden one at that until 1974. A time when we all had pride in our ships, our shipmates and our time honored duties. And all of those boats were our transporation to the beach and we never had to rely on hired contractors to ferry us back and forth. We were still in the US NAVY and we honored and respected the officers appointed to lead us. But that was then and times have certainly changed since I have retired fifteen years ago. I personally am very sorry to see a lot of the changes but happy to see some others. But to remove a tradition and certainly NOT A PERK from the ultimate sailor's sailor. Such a loss not only to the Captain, but to the men who serve under him when some foreign flagged "hey joe" skiff ferries him off after the announcement over the 1MC of "shipe name", departing and the OOD gives orders to "hey joe" boat to shove off and make fleet landing followed by a sharp salute. As for me, I'm a retired BM1 and was proud to serve. To all of the carrier skippers out there, sorry bout that but in my book, your still worthy of my salute.
Hear, Hear! This BM1 has got it right, as does VADM Hernandez. As the Armed Forces goes more and more purple, it would be nice if the Navy retained some tradition, protocol, and respect for senior officers.
From an old CG sailor...

[bx2]

Sorta funny his majesty the "Naval Aviation Enterprise" chose to find scales of economy by getting rid of Captains gigs.

Something was mentioned about saving valuable space in the hangar bay for aircraft as the rationale.

That makes me laugh because back about the time CAPT Hernandez was CO of the JFK a carrier had about 80-90 aircraft aboard. Some big 'uns too- Intruders, Toms, 10 S-3's, even a couple Whales. IE-big jets.

Nowadays our big decks go out with about 65. Captains Gig taking up space? Hell there's enough room in thar for an entire boat dealership!

Gig's are just low hanging fruit for the NAE is all.....Y'all folks oughta be more excited about that number 65 vice 95, than just losing the Gig though...This kinda fitrep bullet action has been going on fer quite awhile.

ex- "Saved the USN NAE XX million over the FYDP by removing redundant legacy Captains Gigs from all US carriers". What's ironic is there are probably 10 others in that fitrep just like it more important! The way it is. LOL.

bx2

[Unregistered]

This sadly does not surprise me. Since the Navy adopted the nonsensical strategy of running an armed force like a business, we keep losing important traditions and customs that can't be quatified in monetary terms. With the passage of time, the all-important line between the Officer Corps and elnlisted ranks continues to erode and this is a prime example. As officers we are now cramped into rented ferries to carry to and from liberty ports and soon Commanding and Flag Officers will also have to do so as well. This might come as a surprise to many, but BOQs are long gone and now even senior officers often-times share living spaces with junior enlisted. I am by no means implying we are "better" than the troops, not at all, but officers and enlisted should have their own separate places where they live, eat and have a chance to relax among thier peers. So what's next, no more wardrooms? Might as well, sinc ethe lifting of Title Ten restrictions, we've turned the navy into a social experiment, lowered standards, discipline is all but gone so why not just go all the way and unionize? It takes three years to build a ship, but three hundred to establish a tradition. It appears the Navy is going "Full Speed Ahead" in eradicating all vestiges of that important component of any armed force. I'm glad I retire this year.
I think the General nailed it with his answer. Yes it will save a little space, but I doubt if this will save any money. I think the CO's should keep their GIGS. They should have their own vessel to transport VIP's in and or themselves, he is the CO he deserves that perk. He earned it.

[BM1]

Hear, Hear! This BM1 has got it right, as does VADM Hernandez. As the Armed Forces goes more and more purple, it would be nice if the Navy retained some tradition, protocol, and respect for senior officers.
From an old CG sailor...

Greetings back from BM1, one last time on this subject. And "hello's" to all that have interest on this very important topic that goes back to the very soul of Duty..Honor.. Country. For me anyway, the thought that these men, our leaders and carrier skippers have made a choice to stay Navy after serving thier nation for many years and risking their lives leaving the deck along with many other officers, doing their mission and forgoing the opportunity to sustain a normal civilian life with their families and likely with much more financial benifit, deserve this tradition and many more benifits of their earned badge of office. They have earned every bit of it. I mentioned that I was old Navy and am very proud of it and the great people that I served with and for. It now just seems that these very important basic principles are misunderstood, criticized and cast to the winds for the sake of many other reasons that I refuse to believe that measure up for a better Navy. Our Navy men and women, our Navy and Country look not only for a boat but for what it truly stands for. We have to take our people seriously. When custom and tradtion fail, we loose much more than what we believe we have gained. The Navy would be much better off with the reinstatement of eleven gig's, not to mention the pride and confidence that we have in our United States Navy. BM1 Ronald J Gould USNR(ret.) Wileecoyote677@aol.com Hudson, Fla

[Unregistered]

I believe this move is un-called for , Have spending 3yrs on the USS SARATOGA CV-60 THE nAVY NEEDS THIS . I believe like the rest of the country it,s time to down size that bunch of fools in Washington with to much time on their hands ,Time to clean them out. leave the Proud Navy Traditions alone these men deserve it .

[Unregistered]

Big Deal!!!! It's just a perk. Last I checked the skipper get's plenty of perks from his food to his sleeping quarters (wich are deserved, he is the Captiain). I'll bet most skippers don't care about the loss.

[Unregistered]

As a retired former Ak1 I am concerned that any essence of the Navy I once knew will
simply vanish. I remeber CPO intiatiions (ordering a size 13 boot and extra huge
dungarees for a fellow shipmate who made Chief)..I remember being taught in boot camp
the basics of being a NAVY man, period (Our unit got cycled a few times in that summer
of 1980) not being the politically correct babies that they have to babysit now..The
CO is boss PERIOD and that means that he should be able to reflect not only his NAVY image
but the images of the men that he serves as well. The CO of any ship or command deserves
our respect without question. You joined the NAVY so did he or she. This gig thing is a
stupid and ignorant way of getting rid of a vessel of goodwill towards our foriegn neighbors
and was a vessel that the CO could use for a spin..So what...If I learned anything it was
to respect the man/lady in charge...The NAVY could not afford to lose their leadership...

[Unregistered]

I can't believe this is a subject matter to even argue about. A skipper's gig? Sure tradition is of high importance, thats why in the future a nice book full of pictures will commemorate the so called gig. The military in itself is changing like everything else. Ive read advertisements in the past on the Navy times that read "we are better preparing our sailors for the tasks of today". Many traditions and perks have been taken away to accomodate the needs of today's Navy. Taking away the gig is a primary example of what takes priority. These so called traditions are just memories of the past. They have no use in better preparing us for the obstacles of today.

[Unregistered]

re Unregistered - "I can't believe this is a subject matter to even argue about."

I agree because it's already been done via Naval Message! We're all pissing in the wind.

"Taking away the gig is a primary example of what takes priority"

OK- brave new world, eh? LOL.

"traditions and perks"

In the same sentence? Now we know where you're really coming from....

Hey, why don't we do some real cutting o'fat & redundancy. What about we abolish the 0-6 CV Captains job and let the Adm embarked function as Captain? CSG admirals are really undertasked most of the time as resource providers, not warfighters. It would do 'em good to operate the ship and save a lot of money. Thye could keep their barge. Don't like that idea unregistered? Didn't think you would.

I may be a dinosaur but even a dino can play this game....

Bx2

[Unregistered]

About time ! Haven't been able to use the Gig for some time now. How many times have they broke down to and from the beach. The 72 Boat has had theirs off for fours now and it did make room for another Honet in the HangarBay. The real question is why didn't we take off the Admirals Barge also. It's bigger that than the Gig. They never use it because of the force protection issue. They keep it onboard because the staff wants to keep the extra billets that come with the Barge on the staff. They become the collateral duty billets for the staff. Get rid of Barge also ! More room to fix Aircraft in the Hangar Bay.

[Unregistered]

why take away the skipper's gig and not the admiral's barge? if the admiral needs a boat he can ask the skipper to use his. the other way to do it is to go ahead and get rid of the gig per se and rename the admiral's barge as the captain's gig.

[Unregistered]

Way to go, Navy. Heck, lets just paint the ships Green, put a big white star on em, and hand them over to the Army.
Every day I read another story about how tradition is going out the window like yesterday's coffee grounds. "Battle fatigues" for uniforms? No more captain's gigs? Jeezus, Admiral Truxtun must be spinning in his grave, poor soul.
Navy needs to learn how to build ships again efficiently (New LPDs and Littoral) and you'll find all sorts of money to be had. Piss poor leadership leads to a piss poor Navy with piss poor attitudes on the deckplate. Bravo Zulu.

[Unregistered]

i retired from the Navy over 13 years ago (thank god). Even before my retirement, It was clear to see that a lot of TRADITION was being phased out. It starts with a little thing here, then a little there, next thing you know, there is no tradition. Taking the Gig from the CO is absurd. I served on two flattops and know they dont take up much space, and certainly dont eat up a large cost. When will they stop killing off the traditions that made our Navy so great.

[The Universal Curmudgeon_guest]

i retired from the Navy over 13 years ago (thank god). Even before my retirement, It was clear to see that a lot of TRADITION was being phased out. It starts with a little thing here, then a little there, next thing you know, there is no tradition. Taking the Gig from the CO is absurd. I served on two flattops and know they dont take up much space, and certainly dont eat up a large cost. When will they stop killing off the traditions that made our Navy so great.Actually the Captain's Gig is a British tradition. Of course the RN, in true democratic fashion "permitted" the Captain to "maintain" one. (That, of course, meant that the Captain had to actually pay for the maintenance of anything over and above the basis cost of a "Ship's Boat" out of his own pocket [and that included paying for the cost of the Gig's Crew's uniforms {unless the Captain wanted them to look just like everyone else in the Ship's Company when he was trying to impress people with the pride and good order of his command}].)

[Unregistered]

About time, the Navy needs to catch up with 2008 and stop worrying about tradition 200 plus years ago.
Everybody just get use to the idea of change in the Navy its going to keep coming. Sorry but its not 1700's or 1800's nomore.

[Unregistered]

We tried to talk them into getting rid of the gig and barge (the admiral gets to bring his too) to repace them with some good security boats. The security boats could have taken the skipper and the admiral to the beach much faster and be back on station to provide security. But no, the gig and barge were more important than security to the most expensive asset the military has.

[MPLisa]

Just another benefit gone by the way. So tell me, don't we see the irony in all this: the Navy is trying to figure out ways to keep O-6's around longer. Taking away a command perq is the way to do it???!!!??

Same thing happened in Navy Medicine. Now any ditty-bopping nurse or physician can take command of a hospital, regardless of leadership inexperience (or lack thereof). The state of leadership in Navy Medicine is at a crisis.

[oldnavy1024]

The Captain's Gig should be left aboard.

As for space on the hanger bay, that problem increased with the requirement that we keep all garbage onboard until it could be recycled or dumped at the next port.

Considering the whole aft end of the hanger was a garbage dump made no sense. Aluminum cans, nasty plastics and assorted other stuff made the transit aft to the jet shop a foul one.

Find something to do with the trash and keep the gigs. The skipper's deserve a little prize.

Retired CPO

[kojack]

One more Navy Tradition "Down the Drain"... The good thing is that it is not happening to the Chief's Community this time... Exactly why I got out when I did... I saw "Tradition" starting to slip when they started messing w/ CPO Initiations in 1990 (or so)... Removal of the CO's gig is plain ignorant... And to sell it off as a cost savings or a way to save space on an Aircraft Carrier just goes to show you how stupid "The Admiralty" thinks the rest of the Navy is...

Sorry men but welcome to the "rankless military". Thats what happens when "everyone is now the same". Dont get upset as it happens at the lower levels...everyone gets the same'. EARNING rank doesnt mean anything because it upsets the new sailors ans soldiers...

[Foamheart]

As I completely agree about the Navy losing traditions, something to think about is, the President lost his Yacht long ago. Its now owned by an LCC.

http://www.sequoiayacht.com/aboutus.htm

I realize that the President did not earn his trumpy the same as a carrier commander does, Personally I think the US has lost its insight as to what is really important. We have too many who think we should spend a dollar to save a penny (that saying used to be a dime). We have too many who have never been there telling those that have they are doing it all wrong. It wouldn't be so bad except for some reason, even when they are wrong they still get their way. Whats next the driver? The officers mess? When will those who never served end thier penis envy retribution?

I was a Boat sailor, never served aboard a skimmer, but in my service respect was earned and rewarded. If they are taking his Launch, give him an airplane, better yet a Captain's helo.

[forcedj]

The CVs need to keep the gigs. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money. Here’s an example: In the late 80s, as a PO2, I did a shore tour at the Naval War College (NWC). Not sure if they still do it, but at the time the NWC hosted a big annual war game for the Japanese Maritime Defense Force (their Navy). It seemed like the entire Japanese Navy showed up for it. It was a big game…lasted a couple weeks…but there were only a few days of actual “gaming” because the Japanese officers wanted to be tourists every other day. But at the end of the game the President of the NWC would host a huge party for them. Our CNO and the Japanese CNO would attend. The USN (via the NWC) would spend tens of thousands of dollars for an extravagant party to impress the Japanese. It seemed like a really big waste of U.S. taxpayer’s money. But then a senior officer at the command explained something to me. He said that a few years earlier at this very same annual post-wargame party that the U.S. and Japanese CNOs worked out a plan. It was an agreement wherein Japanese ships would patrol an area of the North Pacific near North Korea where the U.S. usually patrolled. This would free up U.S. ships for other assignments and/or less frequent deployments. Thanks to that seemingly expensive party the U.S. saved millions of dollars. The same kind of things can…and probably have happened on gigs.

Dan