A MESSAGE FROM THE CO

To our BILLINGS families and friends,

As USS BILLINGS reaches the two-month mark of deployment in support of U.S. Fourth Fleet operations throughout the Caribbean, I want to thank you for your continued support and recognize the outstanding performance of this crew. Over the past 60 days underway, BILLINGS has traveled more than 11,300 nautical miles while executing counter-drug operations, flight operations, integrated joint missions, and around-the-clock watchstanding. Throughout this period, our Sailors have remained focused, resilient, and committed to excellence despite the demands of deployment.

This month also marked my first year in command of USS BILLINGS. Looking back over the past year—and especially over these last two months at sea—I remain incredibly proud of the professionalism, toughness, and character of this crew.

Whether standing watch at 0200, flying missions, conducting counter-drug operations, completing the Murph Challenge on Memorial Day, troubleshooting equipment, or simply checking in on a shipmate after a difficult day, our Sailors continue proving what it means to be All In and Go All Out. While this deployment has produced meaningful operational results, what impresses me most is how this crew continues to take care of one another. They continue fighting drift, sharpening their skills, maintaining standards, and finding ways to improve every day.

What has impressed me most during this deployment is not simply what this crew has accomplished, but how they have accomplished it. I continue to see Sailors mentoring one another, checking on shipmates after difficult days, stepping forward when challenges arise, and choosing teamwork over individual recognition. Those moments tell me more about the character of this crew than any statistic ever could.

Most importantly, none of this happens without our families. Every successful mission begins with a Sailor who knows their family supports them. Every long watch, every late-night maintenance action, every flight operation, and every challenge overcome at sea is made easier because our Sailors know they have people back home cheering them on. Your sacrifice matters. Your patience matters. Your encouragement matters. Thank you for standing beside this crew as we continue the mission.

Be All In. Go All Out. ATTACK!!

Very respectfully,

CDR Frank Lemene
Commanding Officer

View the May Newsletter here:  https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:f893df0a-ceb6-4005-8081-2f505468f2fb