Nov. 12, 2013
Vol. 2 Issue 138
DAILY DIGEST
WHY WE SERVE
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MMC Tracy Walker “To me, Veteran’s Day is about the people who have gone before us and served – given up their lives to serve this country, from the Civil War until now… to do what we do to sacrifice. We sacrifice every day; not being with our children or spouses. It’s like when they play the national anthem and ask people to stand up. You know what you are – you know what you’re a part of. To me, it’s important to be proud of what you did. Be proud that you served. You stepped up and served your country, where millions of people haven’t. I see a lot of vets out there all the time. I ride a motorcycle, and do a lot of charity runs and
there are a lot of veterans out there. A lot of times, I’ll see a vet and I’ll go shake his hand and say, ‘hey, thanks for serving our country.’ But I won’t disclose that I actually am in (the Navy). I don’t do it for my recognition; I do it for theirs.”
MM3 Leedarius Robertson “I’m the first person to go into the service in my family. I knew Vets from church and everything, but they never really talked to me about what they did in the military. It’s about serving my country. I appreciate knowing that I’m held to a higher standard by being in the service. It means a lot to know that people look to me to be an example. When I think about veterans,
Story by MCSN (SW) Siobhana R. McEwen
I have a lot of respect for the fact that they fought so hard for us. I think my mom would be proud of me if I were recognized in public as being a veteran. Just for coming from the background that I did; knowing that I did something better for my life – that I’m part of something bigger than where I’m from – I think that would make her really proud.” FN William Blundell “My father is a Hull Maintenance Technician Senior Chief, stationed in Damneck, Va. When I was a kid, I always thought he looked so cool in his military uniform. Him being gone all the time wasn’t that great, but now, as an adult, he’s shown me a lot of the pros and Continued on page 3
SAILOR OF THE DAY
Story and photo by MCSN (SW) Eric M. Butler
A
irman Ndi Kinsam, from Bamenda, Cameroon, was selected Sailor of the Day Nov. 11. “It’s a very amazing feeling,” said Kinsam. As an E-2C plane captain for Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117, he held a pivotal role in the launch and recovery of four mission capable aircraft directly contributing to 400 sorties and 1,450 flight hours at a 99 percent mission completion rate. Also, as the disbursed technical publica-
tions librarian, he maintained a reference library of 15 in-depth technical manuals and processed nine publication changes ensuring the manuals were 100 percent accurate at all times. Kinsam provides advice to Sailors looking to achieve similar accolades. “All I can say is keep your head in the game,” said Kinsam. “Never do something because you expect a reward. Just do them because it’s the right thing.”
Commanding Officer
Executive Officer
Command Master Chief
Public Affairs Officer
Capt. Jeff Ruth
Capt. John Cummings
CMDCM Teri McIntyre
Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski
Editor MC3 (SW) George J. Penney III
Lead Designer MC3 (SW) Raul Moreno Jr.
Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and screening. “Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.
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cons about being in the Navy, and I decided I wanted to be a part of that life. I know it was hard for my dad leaving and coming home. It was hard for us, too, because we weren’t used to having him at home. I know he scarificed a lot – when he’d leave, he’d bust out in tears before he left. He gave up quite a bit for us. It makes me feel good, because he joined the military to help support my family. We used to go to church, and on Veteran’s Day, they’d ask all the veterans to stand up. Everybody would clap and look at him and cheer. And I’d sit there looking up at my dad and all the veterans around me and I’d think, ‘man, that’s pretty cool.’ Now, when I go to those events, I can actually stand up and have all eyes on me. It may be a little awkward, but it feels good knowing that I’m helping my country. My dad has told me numerous times he’s proud of me, and he brags to all his friends that his son is now in the Navy and doing something with his life. I understand now the sacrifices my dad made, and why he did what he did. All-in-all, this is to better my life and to help my country, so I know it’s worth it.” Lt. Mate Aerandir “I’ve been in the Navy for
eight and a half years. I’m a sixth generation service member in my family; third generation Navy and the first officer. I think that family history was significant in my joining the military. I knew that my father was very proud of the work he did, and I always admired that. I wanted that same sort of experience for myself, as well. After I got my Commissioning, I had to travel from Washington to Virginia Beach, Va., for Intel School and along the way I made a stop at Mount Rushmore. It just so happened that it was the 4th of July as well. They asked all of the people who were serving or who had served to stand. I get a little teary-eyed with patriotism sometimes - it really speaks to me, that level of pride and patriotism and the fact that everyone else was excited, as much as I was, that I as serving. I was just a brand new officer, but I was very excited to be able to be called a veteran. It just kind of reinforced the feeling of pride I had gotten from my Dad. I suppose, too, that I felt some admiration for those standing with me, and respect for what they had gone through. Before I joined, Veteran’s Day was just another day off of work or school. Sometimes they would have Veterans come in and talk to us as guest speakers in school. At the time, I 3
thought of it as just another ‘war story,’ and I didn’t really get it. Now that I’ve been in for eight years now and have become part of the military culture, I see why veterans being able to tell their stories is so important. It’s important for them – it gives them an opportunity to recount the things that they’ve done, the things that they’ve seen. It goes back to that pride and excitement they feel about serving. Now that I’ve been in too, I’ve found that I’ve kind of become that guy sometimes, telling sea stories, as we put it in the Navy. And I don’t tell it to bore people; I tell it because I want to convey that sense ‘I was there; I made an impact,’ whether it was really that big of a deal or not. When you get with other military people, it becomes kind of a brag about who has maybe dealt with more adverse conditions. But even though you’re kind of comparing yourself to someone else, there’s still that sense of pride in service. Now, Veteran’s Day, to me, is a way to make sure that the country, and people who don’t serve, have an opportunity to hear the veteran’s stories and understand the sacrifices that people make. When we’re out here for long periods of time away, doing whatever it is that we’re doing – whether we’re on the flight deck or in the fieldswe’re defending freedom.”
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Continued from page 1
X-47B
Operates Aboard Theodore Roosevelt
T
he X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCASD) conducted flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Nov. 10. The event, the most-recent in a series of carrier-based tests, demonstrated the integration of the latest in naval aviation technology with the most advanced and capable carrier. This weekend’s tests demonstrated the X-47B’s ability to integrate with the carrier environment. The aircraft performed precise touch and go maneuvers on the ship to generate data that characterizes the environment in close proximity of the carrier flight deck. In addition, the aircraft
From USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs
took part in flight deck handling drills, completed arrested landings and catapult launches. Mission operators monitored the aircraft’s autonomous flight from a portable command and control unit from Theodore Roosevelt’s flight deck during each of its 45-minute flights. “It is a tremendous opportunity for the ‘Big Stick’ to be a part of the development and testing of the future of Naval Aviation,” said Capt. Daniel Grieco, Theodore Roosevelt’s commanding officer. The UCAS is an impressive system that gives us all a glimpse into the support and strike capabilities we can expect to join the fleet in the years to come. The tactical and support possibilities for such platforms are endless, and I know the crew of TR are proud to be able to be a part of that development.” 4
A major objective for the UCAS-D program is to demonstrate a digitized carrier controlled environment to allow for robust communications between the aircraft and all carrier personnel involved with launching, recovering and controlling the aircraft. A digitized carrier environment will ultimately increase flexibility and improve safety. “This weekend’s resumption of carrier-based flights for the X-47 continues our efforts to mature critical unmanned enabling technologies and reduce the technical risk for the follow-on Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) system,” said Capt. Beau Duarte, the Program Manager for Unmanned Carrier Aviation. Current and future test events will continue to mature unmanned technologies and
refine concept of operations to further inform unmanned carrier requirements. These program successes represent significant advancements in naval aviation technology and provide a glimpse into the future integration of manned and unmanned aircraft aboard the carrier fleet. “Today, we took another significant step toward integration of unmanned capabilities into our carrier airwings and aircraft carrier environ-
ments,” said Rear Adm. Mat Winter. “The Navy remains steadfast in its commitment to maturing today’s technologies which have established a realistic path to tomorrow’s affordable, flexible unmanned carrier aviation capabilities for our warfighters.” Carrier-based tests of the X47B began in December 2012 with flight deck operations aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Carrier testing resumed in May 2013 aboard 5
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), where the X-47B completed its first carrier-based catapult launch, followed by its first carrier-based arrested landing in July. Join the conversation with TR online at www.facebook. com/USSTheodoreRoosevelt and www.Twitter.com/TheRealCVN71. For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/.
By MCSN Anthony N. Hilkowski
The experimental X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) conducts an arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).
By MCSN (SW) Derek Harkins
AD3 Christine Choi, assigned to VAW-117, takes a break.
Sailors, assigned to VFA-154, wash an F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight deck.
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By MCSN (SW) Siobhana McEwen
By MCSN (SW) Kole E. Carpenter
AM2 Kyle Christy, assigned to HSC-6, performs maintenance to prevent corrosion in equipment for an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter.
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