ABOARD CARRIER HARRY S. TRUMAN — Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Tony Perryman, this flattop's top enlisted sailor, is a quartermaster by trade who is about to hit 26 years of service. He has tours on six ships, with two strike fighter squadrons, and served as an afloat training specialist.
Perryman is leading the 3,000-man crew through a stressful time: a seven-month deployment later this year that will come on the heels of a shortened overhaul and concentrated workups. It's his job to help the roughly 50 percent of the crew that is new integrate quickly into the Truman team.
Part of his strategy is trying to reclaim a word that often makes sailors cringe: "shipmate."Among his other In addition to his duties as the top enlisted sailor aboard the carrier Harry S. Truman, Perryman is determined to reclaim the term "shipmate" as a worthy accolade for which every sailor should strive. Navy Times sat down with Perryman sat down with Navy Times on May 31 as the carrier conducted flight deck certifications in the Atlantic Ocean.
Q. What does it take to pull off an expedited deployment after a shortened availability and with such a large turnover of junior sailors?
A. I have an awesome chief's mess. Great leaders. They are true professionals who are leading young men and women every day. We just frocked 192 sailors [on May 28]. We are talking about a chief's mess that is putting tools and materials in front of sailors. Yard period, great. Life of the ship, we are there. Trained sailors ready to maintain, we are doing great things.
You also have to be honest with the families. We push out a lot of communication through the family readiness group and ombudsmen. I've been honest with my family for 25 years. That is why my wife has let me stay out for 17 and one-half years of sea time.
Q. You arrived on board in March, just as the yard period was ramping up. What were your priorities?
A. I came in just trying to teach "shipmate." A shipmate to me is one that is willing to sacrifice everything in them to cover down for the person standing next to them, behind them, and in front of them. I am a firm believer in [the adage,] 'to whom much is given, much is required.' It is required that I come here and give them everything that I have. If I continue to put that person in front of the sailors, they will succeed.
Q. Sailors often hear the term shipmate with a patronizing tone. But you have an affinity for it? You seem to have an affinity for the term "shipmate," which is often used in a derogatory context.
A. I am always trying to steal the word 'shipmate' back because it has been used in the wrong context and at the wrong time. Shipmate carries a lot of weight around here. I need them to believe that, when the time hits, you have my back, and that is what a shipmate does.
Q. When a new shipmate reports aboard, what are your orders and expectations?
A. We get them trained up, put them through classes, give them a tour of the ship, and make them feel at home because it is home for many of these young men and women. I have a capping ceremony after they complete three weeks of indoctrination. I treat the Truman ball cap like the Navy ball cap at boot camp. It means something. You are now a true member of this family, of this team, the best of the best.
Q. Aside from mission accomplishment, what are your goals for the upcoming deployment later this year?
A. My goal is always to leave it better than I received it. Now, I received an awesome ship. This crew is very resilient. They always have a plan to succeed. They are proud of what they are doing and are giving 100 percent all the time. But if I continue to put the chief's mess in front, through their leadership all of these sailors will succeed. As I said, we just frocked 192 sailors this test cycle. My goal is to double that. I also want to maximize the number of enlisted surface warfare specialists, enlisted aviation warfare specialists, information dominance warfare specialists. I would love to bring the crew back 100-percent qualified, that is my goal.
