Petty Officer Abramowitz is an air traffic controller, responsible for the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of all air traffic to and from USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3). He also serves as an investigator in one of the ship's repair lockers, stands armed security watches as a member of the ship's self-defense force and is a member of the ship's color guard. He also holds a second-degree black belt in tae kwon do, and routinely teaches classes aboard the ship.

Petty officer Abramowitz joined the Navy to see the world and to learn an exciting trade.

His goals include earning a second warfare qualification, earning a degree in criminal justice and gaining a commission as a Naval officer.

	Faces From The Front: See More U.S. Soldiers

03.23.2003

Hey once again to everyone back in the States.

I am sure that most of you have heard and seen what is going on over here. Most of you probably know more about what is happening than I do right about now. I have been watching CNN as much as I can lately. Things have not changed as much as I thought they would aboard our ship. For the most part I still go about my daily routine just as if it were a regular day. There have been a few surprises here and there, but all together it does not feel too different.

You should hear all of the people talking about what they know and what they think might happen. So many rumors are flying around here you really don't know what to believe and what not to pay attention to. Well from what I have seen and heard myself it looks like we are doing a great job.

I feel very safe out here. They would have to go through a whole lot to reach us and I don't think that Iraq is willing to go through all that at this time. We are still training for various situations, such as chemical and biological attacks or a missile attack, just to keep our skills up ... but we all hope we never need to use those skills! The drills are very fast-paced but that's what they are supposed to be.

I talk to my friends and family back home and they all tell me how much they appreciate what me and all of the members of the Armed Forces are doing over here and they can't wait for me to get back to tell them all about it firsthand. I am somewhat upset that I will be away from home to enjoy such things as my brother's graduation from high school or even to celebrate my birthday, but I know that being in the Navy and being deployed overseas is part of the job.

It is really nice to read the e-mails that all of you are sending me and I am trying to answer all of your questions.

Josh





03.11.2003

Hey!

What's up? Josh here.

Well, [there's] nothing really new out here ... just another week of waiting to see what will come next. Personally, I think we are going to [go to war], so it's more a matter of "when" than "if." If we do, I feel that we will do what we have to do quickly but safely. Everyone out here, from all the different branches of the military, has been training day-in and day-out, and we all know what we have to do. The most common thing all of us out here have been saying is that we want to get it over with so we can get back to our friends and families.

I really don't know what else to write at this time. If any of you have any questions about what it is like to be in the Navy or what I do as an Air Traffic Controller, please just send me an e-mail and I will answer it as best as I can. Anything you want to know, just let me know.

Thanks for reading my letter! I hope to hear from more of you out there.

Josh

03.05.2003

Hey everyone,

This is Josh. The past few days have been uneventful. I have been standing what we call the Mid-Watch. What that basically means is working in the radar room from 2300 military time (which is 11 p.m.) until 0700 a.m. During that time I keep the room manned up in case we need to turn on the equipment for emergency flight operations or any other reason outside normal working hours. Mainly during that time I just answer any questions that the pilots or anyone else might have about what we will be doing the following day regarding flight operations.

There is not a whole lot to do out here during our off time, so you really have to work hard to find things to do to keep you busy. Recently I have spent most of my off time studying for my next promotion exam. I am also taking some college courses while we are out to sea. The course is online and I have to do most of the things you would normally do if you were to go to classes but I do it all on the Internet.

I try to make it to the gym and work out two to three times a week as well. We take a physical fitness test once every six months and I like to stay ready for them at any time so I don't have to cram at the last second. In addition to going to the gym I teach tae kwon do martial arts classes four times a week. That is a great workout. Along with all of this I try to stay in touch with my friends and family back home and catch up on sleep.

Lately I have not had a lot of time to listen to much music. I think the only two CDs that I have had a chance to listen to in the past two weeks is the new 50 Cent and the "8 Mile" soundtrack. I have asked that my girlfriend send me all of my CDs that I left at home and I have no clue as to when they will get here. I like to listen to all types of music. When you work so close to a group of about 20 people who range in ages from 18 to 40 and are from all different parts of the country you get a variety of music that comes with it. I used to never like to listen to anything older than from the '80s, but now that has all changed. I am really into techno or club type music. Pretty much anything that has a nice beat to it.

Among the people that I work with, there have been some mixed feelings about the whole situation going on out here with Iraq. Most of us think that it is surely going to happen but we just don't know when.  There are some that feel that we will just be out here and that it will all blow over. No matter what happens we are out here and we are ready. We have been training for any type of situation that might come up. I personally think that it is cool to be able to say that I was out here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom doing my part.  I feel pretty safe being where I am and think that nothing big will happen to me or anyone else that I work with out here on the ship.

Thanks for taking an interest in what I am doing out here.

Josh



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