Mullen visits USS Ronald Reagan at sea

USS RONALD REAGAN, At Sea - - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen, visited the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Monday while the ship operated in the Gulf of Oman in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the one-day visit, Mullen met with sailors and expressed his pride in their performance.

"You're out here on point, putting your lives on the line, and you make a job that's inherently dangerous look easy," said Mullen. "Thank you for what you do."

The chairman also reenlisted 11 sailors during his visit.

"This is about starting a new chapter in my life, and to have the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reenlist me is just the icing on the cake," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (fuels) 3rd Class (AW/SW) Heather Milligan. "It's something I'll be able to look back on and think what an amazing moment it was."

Several celebrities sponsored by the USO travelled with Mullen to visit the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier including: actors Bradley Cooper and D.B. Sweeney, NFL Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, NFL running back Warrick Dunn, and model and media correspondent Leeann Tweeden.

"I think it's great anytime celebrities visit the ship," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Noel Barker. "Its not that often people get the opportunity to meet celebrities; that lifts the morale of the crew."

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a routine deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, which includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.

Compiled from report by MC2(AW) D. Keith Simmons.